To be eligible to participate in the training, applicants must meet level 4 - Proficient and above. Below describes the levels:
Level 5 – Mastery
The interviewee can negotiate meaning with precision, use persuasive and hypothetical discourse, and provide nuanced commentary on a wide range of topics. They are able to tailor ASL communication to diverse audiences, demonstrating cultural and linguistic sophistication.
4 - Proficient
The interviewee can support opinions, hypothesize, and discuss topics in abstract terms in ASL. They can handle linguistically unfamiliar situations and sustain communication using extended, multi-paragraph signed discourse.
3 - Competent
The interviewee can engage in conversations on a variety of topics related to personal and public interests. They can narrate and describe events across time frames (present, past, future) and manage complications using connected, paragraph-length discourse in ASL.
2 - Developing
The interviewee can participate in simple, face-to-face interactions on familiar topics. They can ask and answer questions, handle routine exchanges, and create simple sentences in ASL, though communication may still show inconsistency in accuracy and expansion.
1 - Emerging
The interviewee can communicate basic personal information and meet limited, immediate needs using memorized or formulaic signs, lists, and simple phrases. Communication is highly dependent on context and repetition.