Which approach emphasizes learning both a Deaf child's primary language and a second language?

The Bilingual-Bicultural approach emphasizes the importance of learning both a Deaf child's primary language, often sign language, and a second language, typically a spoken language such as English. This method recognizes the cultural and linguistic richness of the Deaf community and aims to provide a balanced educational framework. By fostering proficiency in both languages, this approach allows Deaf children to engage fully with both Deaf and hearing cultures, promoting cognitive and social development.

In contrast, the monolingual approach focuses solely on one language, which does not accommodate the unique linguistic needs of Deaf children who benefit from sign language as their primary form of communication. The immersive approach typically refers to educational settings where one language dominates, potentially excluding the primary language of Deaf students. Lastly, English as a Second Language (ESL) focuses explicitly on teaching English to non-native speakers, which doesn't inherently support the bilingual development that the Bilingual-Bicultural approach actively promotes.