At the closing conference for Phase I of the Sign Language Teaching Programme this morning (5 November), Ms Phan Thi Bich Diep – Standing Vice Chairwoman of the Hanoi Association of People with Disabilities – said: The programme has received many positive responses from deaf people and their families, as well as from people who love sign language.
Previously, from 14 September, the 100 lessons of the Phase I Sign Language Teaching Programme had completed broadcasting on VTV2 – Vietnam Television.
This is the first sign language teaching programme on television, organised with the efforts of the Hanoi Association of People with Disabilities in coordination with the Science and Education Department of Vietnam Television, the Centre for Special Education Research – Vietnam Institute of Educational Sciences, Xa Dan Primary and Secondary School, Nhan Chinh Private Primary and Secondary School for Deaf Children and the Hanoi Association of Deaf People.
The 100 broadcast lessons cover many different topics that are close to deaf people, such as themselves, their families, school, their homeland… The sign language used in the lessons is taken from the four sign language books compiled under the direction of the Vietnam Institute of Educational Sciences and already used in the education sector.
According to Ms Phan Thi Bich Diep, the programme has given not only deaf people but also their families and interested people across the country the opportunity to access and learn the unified sign language system. The programme has also partly addressed the shortage of sign language teachers and teaching materials, and the inconsistent use of sign language systems across regions.
As one of the organisations involved in implementing the programme, Nhan Chinh Private Primary and Secondary School for Deaf Children has used the televised sign language lessons as its official textbook in the school from grade 1 to grade 5. In addition, the school also uses this textbook in inclusive classes, for teachers, pupils and students, every Friday, to increase learners’ practical use of sign language.
For Xa Dan Primary and Secondary School, after taking part in implementing the programme, the school’s leaders and teachers have raised their awareness and have begun teaching sign language as a foreign language for deaf people.
The lessons have now been posted on the website of the Hanoi Association of Deaf People and on social media such as YouTube and Facebook, so that learners can follow them anytime, anywhere. According to preliminary statistics, some sign language lessons have received more than 13,300 views on the websites.
In addition, the sign language lessons have also been printed and copied onto DVDs, so that centres and schools teaching deaf people, and organisations of deaf people, can use the discs as their main textbook for teaching sign language.
At the conference, the Hanoi Association of People with Disabilities expressed its hope to receive the agreement, support and help of all relevant parties so that the programme can continue to be developed and broadcast in 2014.
Hieu Nguyen – http://giaoducthoidai.vn