Educators and language development researchers have broadly refuted the
popular belief that different communication modes compete or interfere with
each other. Some examples of disproven assumptions include:
- Young children should not experience bilingualism because it will
cause them to learn neither language well.
- Hearing impaired children should be prevented from signing because
sign language will block their acquisition of oral language skills.
- Taking notes will prevent you from developing your verbal memory and
ability to remember long stories.
The Total Communication movement, whether in English as a Second Language,
foreign languages, or in special education, has amply demonstrated that the
various communication modalities reinforce each other. Indeed, the use of
one modality can actually improve one's proficiency in other modalities, and
the best instructional methods employ all available modes to reinforce learning.
