ASL Professional Ethics & Standards 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary purpose of a professional code of ethics for ASL instructors?
- To limit the instructor's creative teaching freedom
- To provide a framework for ethical decision-making and protect stakeholders (Correct answer)
- To serve as a legal contract with students
- To standardize all lesson plans nationally
Correct answer: To provide a framework for ethical decision-making and protect stakeholders
A professional code of ethics guides decision-making, protects students and instructors, and upholds the integrity and credibility of the profession.
Question 2: An ASL instructor notices that a student from a hearing family is being pressured by parents to stop learning ASL. What is the ethical response?
- Side with the parents to avoid family conflict
- Support the student's autonomy while providing resources about Deaf culture and bilingualism (Correct answer)
- Contact the parents without the student's knowledge
- Remove the student from the course per the parents' request
Correct answer: Support the student's autonomy while providing resources about Deaf culture and bilingualism
Ethical instructors respect student autonomy and provide informational support without taking sides or violating the student's privacy.
Question 3: Which of the following represents a conflict of interest for an ASL instructor?
- Teaching both beginner and advanced courses
- Grading a family member's exam without disclosure (Correct answer)
- Using multiple textbooks from different publishers
- Attending Deaf community events outside of class
Correct answer: Grading a family member's exam without disclosure
Grading a relative's work without disclosing the relationship creates a conflict of interest that can compromise objectivity and fairness.
Question 4: Cultural humility in ASL instruction means:
- Assuming all Deaf people share the same cultural values
- Continuously reflecting on and learning about Deaf culture while acknowledging the limits of one's own knowledge (Correct answer)
- Teaching only from a hearing perspective to remain neutral
- Avoiding discussions of Deaf identity to prevent discomfort
Correct answer: Continuously reflecting on and learning about Deaf culture while acknowledging the limits of one's own knowledge
Cultural humility requires ongoing self-reflection and openness to learning, recognizing that no instructor fully represents or understands all of Deaf culture.
Question 5: What is the ethical obligation of an ASL instructor when they make an error in class, such as using an incorrect sign?
- Ignore it and hope students did not notice
- Acknowledge the error, correct it, and use it as a teaching moment (Correct answer)
- Blame the textbook for the misinformation
- Only correct it privately after class, never in front of students
Correct answer: Acknowledge the error, correct it, and use it as a teaching moment
Acknowledging and correcting mistakes models academic integrity and critical thinking, reinforcing a culture of honesty in the learning environment.
Question 6: An ASL instructor is offered a gift by a student after final grades are submitted. What is the most ethical response?
- Decline all gifts regardless of timing to avoid any appearance of impropriety
- Accept small tokens of appreciation after grading is complete and no future grading relationship exists (Correct answer)
- Accept the gift but reduce the student's grade retroactively
- Accept the gift without disclosing it to the institution
Correct answer: Accept small tokens of appreciation after grading is complete and no future grading relationship exists
Accepting modest gifts after grading is complete and when no future grading relationship exists is generally considered acceptable under most institutional policies.
Question 7: Why is it important for ASL instructors to stay current with evolving ASL vocabulary and Deaf community norms?
- To pass periodic recertification exams only
- To ensure instruction is accurate, culturally relevant, and respectful of how language naturally evolves (Correct answer)
- Because ASL grammar changes completely every decade
- To keep students from learning outdated signs on their own
Correct answer: To ensure instruction is accurate, culturally relevant, and respectful of how language naturally evolves
ASL is a living language that evolves with the Deaf community; ethical instructors have an obligation to provide accurate, up-to-date, and culturally respectful instruction.
ASL Professional Ethics & Standards 3
What is the primary purpose of a professional code of ethics for ASL instructors?