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Ms. Carmel Grehan
Assistant Professor, C.L.C.S.
Assistant Professor, Centre for Deaf Studies

Biography

Carmel Grehan is Assistant Professor at the Centre for Deaf Studies where she contributes to teaching across the Bachelor in Deaf Studies programme. She is a Course Director of the Bachelor in Deaf Studies (BDS) programme. She holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Teaching and Learning (TCD), an M.Phil in Applied Linguistics (TCD) and a B.Sc and a Dip. Deaf Studies (University of Bristol).

She has led work to map Irish Sign Language (ISL) curriculum to the Common European Framework of References for Languages (CEFR) in the degree programme and, with Lorraine Leeson, piloted the use of the European Language (ELP) for sign languages with learners at A2-B1 level. This work has fed into a European Centre for Modern Languages project, ProSign II, which seeks to support sign languages instructors across the Council of Europe. Her work also involves the linguistics of ISL and curriculum development and assessment techniques.

Academic supervisor for undergraduate students engaging in research and thesis writing.

Serve as a consultant/advisor to Primary Sample Module/Language Connect from June 2021 to present

Gave few lectures for Deaf Interpreting Training Programme from December 2020 to November 2021

Advisor and assessor for Dublin City University Assessment (3 months period)

Her research interests include gendered language variation - and particularly, female, signing in the Irish Deaf Community of which she completed her thesis as part of her M.Phil programme. and issues relating to teaching and learning. She covered various teaching Linguistics in ISL in Irish Deaf Society's Further Education Training (FET). She formerly served as Chairperson of the Irish Deaf Society.

Publications and Further Research Outputs

Peer-Reviewed Publications

Carmel Grehan and Lorraine Leeson, BRIDGING THE GAP: The European Language Portfolio and L2 Irish Sign Language Learners at A2-B1 Level., 21st Association of University, Language Communities Annual Conference, Maynooth University, 9-10 January 2020, 2020 Conference Paper, 2020 URL

Beppie van den Bogaerde, Tobias Haug, Christian Rathmann, Lorraine Leeson, Carmel Grehan and Thomas Geißler, 'Sign languages and the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages', Graz, Austria, European Centre for Modern Languages, Council of Europe, , European Centre for Modern Languages (ECML) www.ecml.at/prosign, 2020, - Digital research resource production, 2020 URL

Carmel Grehan and Lorraine Leeson, Bridging the gap: The European Language Portfolio and L2 Irish Sign Languages Learners at A2-B1 level, Teanga, 2020, p100-119 Journal Article, 2020 URL

Use of Corpora in L1/L2/Ln Sign Language Pedagogy in, editor(s)Rosen, Russell , Routledge Handbook of Sign Language Pedagogy, London , Routledge, 2019, pp339-354 , [Leeson, Lorraine, Jordan Fenlon, Johanna Mesch, Sarah Sheridan and Carmel Grehan] Book Chapter, 2019

Irish Sign Language in, editor(s)Hanson, Julie, Bill McGregor, Goedele De Clerck and Sam Lutalo-Kiingi (eds.) , Sign Languages of the World - A Comparative Handbook, Preston & Berlin, Ishara Press & Mouton de Gruyter, 2015, pp449 - 473, [Lorraine Leeson, John I. Saeed and Carmel Grehan] Book Chapter, 2015

Irish Sign Language in, editor(s)in, editor(s)Hanson, Julie, Bill McGregor, Goedele De Clerck and Sam Lutalo-Kiingi (eds.) , Sign Languages of the World - A Comparative Handbook, Ishara Press & Mouton de Gruyter, 2015, pp449 - 473, , 2015, pp449 - 473, [[Lorraine Leeson, John I. Saeed and Carmel Grehan]] Book Chapter, 2015

Critical Care Required: Access to interpreted healthcare in Ireland. in, editor(s)Melanie Metzger and Brenda Nicodemus , Healthcare Interpreting, Washington DC, Gallaudet University Press, 2014, pp185-233 - [Lorraine Leeson, Asim Sheikh, Carmel Grehan, Ilana Rozanes and Patrick A. Matthews] Book Chapter, 2014

A Common European Framework for Sign Language Curricula? D-Sign(ing) a Curriculum Aligned to the Common European Framework of Reference in, editor(s)Maria Mertzani , Sign Language Teaching and Learning. Papers from the 1st Symposium in Applied Sign Linguistics Centre for Deaf Studies, University of Bristol, 24-26 September 2009, Bristol, Centre for Deaf Studies, University of Bristol, 2010, pp21 - 34, [Lorraine Leeson and Carmel Grehan] Book Chapter, 2010

To the Lexicon and Beyond: The Effect of Gender on Variation in Irish Sign Language in, editor(s)Mieke Van Hereweghe and Myriam Vemeerbergen , To the Lexicon and Beyond: Sociolinguistics in European Deaf Communities., washington DC, Gallaudet University Press, 2004, pp39 - 73, [Lorraine Leeson & Carmel Grehan] Book Chapter, 2004 URL

Deaf students' views on access to public examinations at Second Level in, editor(s)McDonnell, Patrick, Deaf Studies in Ireland: An Introduction , Deaf Studies in Ireland: An Introduction, Colewell, Uk, Douglas McLean, 2004, pp50-64 , [Grehan C.] Book Chapter, 2004

Non-Peer-Reviewed Publications

SUPERVISED: Laila Anshasi, The acquisition of sign language in Deaf students in Ireland during the oralism period , Trinity College Dublin , 2021 Thesis, 2021

John Bosco Conama and Carmel Grehan, Micro-ethics with a focus on microaggressions , Microethics , Dublin, 13 and 20 October, 2021, Sign Language Interpreting Services Invited Talk, 2021

SUPERVISED: Caitlin Claffey, Toward an Irish Sign Language (ISL) curriculum in the Leaving Certificate (Established) Do Ireland have the materials/resources upon which they can draw to create an ISL curriculum for the Leaving Certificate (Established)?, Trinity College Dublin , 2020 Thesis, 2020

SUPERVISED: Heidi Veldheer, How do Deaf adult Cochlear Implant users in Ireland, who already had Irish Sign Language prior to implantation after the age of eighteen, experience working with interpreters? , Trinity College Dublin , 2020 Thesis, 2020

SUPERVISED: Teresa Farrell, To investigate the use of Common European Framework for Reference when teaching learning and assessing students. Reflecting on my own student experience being taught through CEFR., Trinity College Dublin, 2019 Thesis, 2019

SUPERVISED: Emma Rice, The effect of dyslexia on fingerspelling comprehension and production in second language learners of Irish Sign Language, Trinity College Dublin, 2019 Thesis, 2019

Lorraine Leeson and Carmel Grehan, European Language Portfolio for Sign Languages (ELP-SL), Pro-Sign II Network Meeting , European Centre for Modern Languages, Graz, 5-6 April 2018, 2018 Oral Presentation, 2018

SUPERVISED: Edel Walsh, Access to Public Services for the Deaf Community: A Comparative Study, Triinity College Dublin, 2018 Thesis, 2018

SUPERVISED: Eimear Mowlds, Enchaning ISL students' Self Assessment abilities: The Influence of Feedback and the European Language Portfolio for Sign Languages, Trinity College Dublin, 2018 Thesis, 2018

Leeson, L & Grehan (2018) , BRIDGING THE GAP: The European Language Portfolio and L2 Irish Sign Language Learners at A2-B1 level, ProSigns Conference, Belgrade: University of Belgrade, Serbia, 2 October, 2018 Invited Talk, 2018 TARA - Full Text

SUPERVISED: Anita Nolan, Cultural adjustment in the European Language Portfolio for Sign Languages: Does Role Shift need to be addressed?, Trinity College Dublin, 2018 Thesis, 2018

Carmel Grehan and Lorraine Leeson, European Language Portfolio for Sign Languages (ELP-SL), ISL Academy Workshop, Deaf Village Ireland , 16 June 2018, 2018 Oral Presentation, 2018

Lorraine Leeson and Carmel Grehan, The Common European Framework of Reference and Signed Language Curricula, ISL Academy Workshop, Deaf Village Ireland, Dublin, 27 January 2018, 2018, Irish Sign Language Academy Invited Talk, 2018 URL

Carmel Grehan, Open forum - "What is ISL?" - looking at the context of the language and development of ISL over hundreds of years., Full Inclusion with Sign Language - Irish Sign Language Awareness week 2017, Deaf Village Ireland, Dublin 7, 20th September, 2017, Irish Deaf Society, Dublin 7 Invited Talk, 2017

SUPERVISED: Luke Carey, Teaching Methods for Deaf and Hard of Hearing students in mainstream schools, Trinity College Dublin, 2017 Thesis, 2017

Carmel Grehan, How the history of segregation influences into Women's signs, Introduction to Deaf Studies in partnership with University College Ultrecht, 7-9 South Leinster Street, Dublin 2, 21st June, 2017, Univeristy College, Ultrecht Invited Talk, 2017

Carmel Grehan, How the history of segregation influences into Women's lives today, Through the Arch, St. Mary's School for Deaf Girls, Remembering 170 years from 1846 - 2016, St. Mary's Deaf Heritage Conference , Deaf Village Ireland, 22nd June 2013, edited by Jospehine O'Leary and Alvean Jones , 2017, pp172 - 174 Conference Paper, 2017

Carmel Grehan, Are women's signs a valuable component of ISL?, Irish Sign Language Awareness Week, Limerick, Ireland, 21st September, 2016, Deaf Community Centre (LimerickO Invited Talk, 2016

Carmel Grehan, Are Women's signs a valuable component of ISL?, Public Lecture Series, Cork, Ireland, 9th October, 2016, Cork Deaf Association Invited Talk, 2016

SUPERVISED: Jennifer McCormack, The Impact of the Smart Phone on the Deaf Community , Trinity College Dublin, 2016 Thesis, 2016

Carmel Grehan, Are Womens' Signs Rich Irish Sign Language? , Galway Deaf Centre, Public Talk, Galway, 24th June, 2016 Invited Talk, 2016

Carmel Grehan, What is Irish Sign Language , Dublin Language Garden , Trinity Long Room Hub, , 25th September, 2015 Invited Talk, 2015

Carmel Grehan, Deaf People's Experiences of Healthcare in Ireland, Medisigns Healthcare Interpreting Conference, Trinity College Dublin , 1-2 March, 2013, Medisigns Invited Talk, 2013

Carmel Grehan, Developing and Implementing the CEFR for ISL in training programme - the effect the different approach has on the students' learning and leaner's learning and ELP, CEFR for Signed Language seminar, University of Applied Sciences Utrecht, The Netherlands, 29th November, 2013, Beppie van den Bogaede Invited Talk, 2013

Carmel Grehan, CEFR descriptors, testing and assessment (network meeting), PRO-Sign Workshop, Graz, Austria , 12-13 March, 2013 Invited Talk, 2013

Lorraine Leeson and Carmel Grehan, A Prescription for Change, AVLIC 2012, Univeristy of Calgary, Canada, July 2012, 2012 Conference Paper, 2012

Carmel Grehan and Lorraine Leeson, The Common European Framework of Reference and Signed Language Curricula, Public Lecture Series, Zurich, Switzerland, 15 September 2011, 2011, Dr. Tobias Haug Invited Talk, 2011

Carmel Grehan, Communication Islands: The Impact of Segregation on Attitudes to Irish Sign Language among Irish Women in Ireland, , EdSign Lectures, Heriot Watt Univeristy, 24th October, 2011, EdSign Lecturs Invited Talk, 2011

Carmel Grehan and Lorraine Leeson, Toward a CEFR-aligned curriculum for Irish Sign Language, ESF Exploratory Workshop on the CEFR for Sign Languages , Zurich, Switzerland, 15-17 September 2011, 2011, Dr. Tobias Haug and Dr. Jorg Keller Invited Talk, 2011

Carmel Grehan, Are Women's Signs rich language?, Irish Deaf Women's Group, Public Talk Series, 40 Lower Drumcondra Road, Drumcondra, Dublin 9, 16th April , 2010, Irish Deaf Women's Group Invited Talk, 2010

Carmel Grehan, Communication Islands: The Impact of Segregation on Attitudes to ISL among Irish Deaf Women, London, UK., DCAL, 29th January , 2009 Invited Talk, 2009

Carson, Lorna, Laura Sadlier and Carmel Grehan, Public Lecture. Language learning, teaching and assessment: A brief insight into the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, Centre for Deaf Studies Public Talk Series, Trinity College Dublin, 10 December, 2009 Invited Talk, 2009

Carmel Grehan and Lorraine Leeson, "A Common European Framework for Sign Language Curricula? D-Sign(ing) a Curriculum Aligned to the Common European Framework of References, 1st Symposium in Applied Sign Linguistics, Bristol, UK, September , 2009 Invited Talk, 2009

Carmel Grehan, Gendered signing: it's impact and implications in Irish Deaf Women., The 4th International Deaf Academics and Researchers, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland, June, 2008 Invited Talk, 2008

Carmel Grehan, The Female Variation of ISL as a minority within the Irish Deaf Community, CLSLR3 workshop, Preston, UK, 10th February, 2008 Invited Talk, 2008

SUPERVISED: Carmel Grehan, Communication Islands: The Impact of Segregation on Attitudes to ISL among a Sample of Graduates of St. Mary's School for Deaf Girls, Trinity College Dublin, 2008 Thesis, 2008

Carmel Grehan, What is ISL? (Irish Sign Language) , Deaforward Citzenship Project, 30 Blessington Street, Dublin 8, December , 2005, Irish Deaf Society Invited Talk, 2005

Lorraine Leeson, Patrick A. MAtthews, Alvean Jones, Carmel Grehan, Susan Foley-Cave and Ellen Lennon-Bowman, Encouraging Signs: Developing Deaf Studies in Ireland, September 9-11, 2004, In:Encouraging Signs: Developing Deaf Studies in Ireland, 2005, Trinity College Dublin, Douglas McLean, (2), 21, Deaf Worlds: International Journal of Deaf Studies, 1-S104 Meetings /Conferences Organised, 2005

Carmel Grehan, How to do Curriculum Planning, EEI, Kerry Deaf Resource Centre, Tralee, Co. Kerry, 3-4 December, 2005, Catherine White Invited Talk, 2005

Lorraine Leeson and Carmel Grehan, Gender Variation in Contemporary ISL, Encouraging Signs: Developing Deaf Studies in Ireland, Dublin, 9-11 September 2004, 2004 Conference Paper, 2004

John Bosco Conama and Carmel Grehan, Is There a Poverty in the Deaf Community? Report on the interviews of randomly selected members of the Deaf Community in Dublin to determine the extent of poverty within the Community., Irish Deaf Society, Irish Deaf Society, 2002 Book, 2002

Research Expertise

Description

Her research interests include gendered language variation - and particularly, female, signing in the Irish Deaf Community (which was her topic of research for her M.Phil in Applied Linguistics dissertation), and issues relating to teaching and learning.

Projects

  • Title
    • Medisigns
  • Summary
    • This project represents a ground-breaking initiative that focuses on providing language and communication skills to Deaf people, interpreters, and those in the medical profession. This is the first time that such an approach has been applied in Europe and this project has secured the support of (amongst others) the World Federation of the Deaf, the World Association of Sign Language Interpreters, the European Union of the Deaf and the European Forum of Sign Language Interpreters. In 2013, this project was awarded the prestigious European Language Label.
  • Funding Agency
    • European Commission
  • Date From
    • 2010
  • Date To
    • 2012
  • Title
    • D-Signs
  • Summary
    • This project aims to develop a signed language curriculum for special purpose (with a focus on learners in employment) for five signed languages, Irish, British, Czech, Cypriot and Greek signed languages. The curriculum will be linked to Common European Framework of References (CEFR), and delivered wholly online. The lead partner is Bristol University.
  • Funding Agency
    • European Commission
  • Date From
    • November 2008
  • Date To
    • October 2010
  • Title
    • Poverty in the Irish Deaf Community
  • Summary
    • The research aimed to determine by the National Ant-Poverty Strategy which makes a distinction between absolute and relative poverty. A report was published. Co-author with John Bosco Conama
  • Funding Agency
    • Combat Poverty Agency and Irish Deaf Society
  • Date From
    • January 2001
  • Date To
    • October 2001

Keywords

Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR); Deaf Education; Deaf Studies; History of education; History of women's education; Irish Sign Language; Women's studies

Recognition

Representations

Chairperson of Irish Deaf Society 2007 - 2010

Secretary/Board Director of Irish Deaf Society 2001 - 2007

Board Member of the Irish Sign Link 2005-2007

Member of the Partnership Group on Deaf Education (CIDP-IDS-DeafHear-Schools for the Deaf-CDS) 2009 - 2011

Member of ISL Academy 2012 - present

Committee member on Irish Sign Language Academy - a representative body of ISL teachers and researchers under the aegis of Irish Deaf Society. 2005 to 2012

Irish Sign Language Teachers (CISLT)

European Forum of Sign Language Interpreters

Awards and Honours

Bank of Ireland Millenium Scholarship 2001

Memberships

Quality Assurance Committee (QAC) to Irish Deaf Society Further Education & Training (FET) Oct 2021 – present

Board Director of Sign Language Interpreting Service Sept 2021 – present

ISL Academy 2006 – present

College Tutor 2004 – 2006