There is a class of listening with eyes speaking with hands

There is a small, quiet classroom in the heart of the city. The class has only about 20 students - deaf children. Those children still create an exciting lesson, thanks to their special sounds.

Tran Ngoc Diep, born in 2011 in Ninh Khanh ward (Ninh Binh city). Diep was born deaf and mute. But her parents still tried to send her to school to integrate since she entered preschool age.

But every day at school for Diep is still a lonely journey, even though she receives love from her teachers and friends. Because she has no way to communicate with the world. In schools, there are no specialized teachers to communicate with her. After first grade, Diep's family let her quit school and began to try to find opportunities for her to integrate and develop like her peers.

Ms. Vu Thi Ha, Diep's mother, shared: I took my child to Hanoi and continued to visit many places, hoping to find a ray of hope to cure her disability, but the results were still the same. Every time I saw Diep's deadlock and helplessness when she wanted to express something, I felt extremely heartbroken.

"I decided to accept the reality and find the best solution for my child to live happily with his disability. Even though he cannot speak with his mouth, he can still listen with his eyes and speak with his hands, so I decided to send him to a special class. But the classes in Hanoi are quite expensive, not to mention that he has to live far from home, and the family does not have the conditions to accompany him," said Ms. Ha.

More than 3 years ago, Ms. Ha was introduced to a special class, a specialized class for deaf students right in Ninh Binh city, taught directly by teacher Bui Nam Ha. Teacher Ha is also deaf .

On the first day Diep went to class, she met deaf friends and was taught sign language by the teacher for the first time. Diep felt very happy. She persistently went to class and studied hard. By participating in the study, Diep not only learned sign language for deaf people but also learned culture, life skills and participated in many other cultural and sports activities for deaf people.

After a period of studying, Diep, a shy and even irritable girl at home, has become much more active and cheerful. Diep can help her parents with many things, from taking care of her younger siblings to cooking family meals. Ms. Ha also researched and learned simple sign language to be able to communicate with her child.

Coming from the remote Gia Vien district, Dinh Ngoc Anh's daily journey to school has now become much simpler. Before, when she first started school, her parents took her there, and her teachers allowed her to stay behind. But now, Anh confidently takes the bus to and from school every day.

Ms. Vu Thi Ha and Le Thi Huyen were happy when looking at the picture drawn by their children.

Attending her daughter’s graduation ceremony, looking at the drawings expressing her love for the people in the flood-hit areas, Anh’s mother, Le Thi Huyen, was moved to tears. Huyen shared the happiness of the whole family at the unexpected progress of her disadvantaged daughter. Huyen said, “Before, I had to go to other provinces to learn about classes for the deaf, but I just learned about them and did not have the conditions to send my child to study. Fortunately, in my province, there was a deaf teacher who opened a class for children with disabilities.”

"To join the class, we only have to pay a tuition fee of 1 million VND/month. But the children receive so much in return, from the love, sharing and care of teachers and friends, to receiving knowledge and skills to integrate into the community. This year, my child is 13 years old, although she has only studied up to grade 4, she is still a playful girl, also having the joys and sorrows of adolescence. I am really happy because I can listen to her share even with special symbols. After finishing grade 5, she will complete the curriculum. But I hope that after that, she will be able to stick with the class to learn more with her friends and perfect her knowledge and skills; and learn a suitable profession so that she can take care of herself" - Ms. Huyen shared.

The teacher of this special class is Mr. Bui Nam Ha. Mr. Ha became deaf and mute after a serious illness when he was young. Not accepting being lost in a big world, Mr. Ha was taught sign language by his family. When he grew up, he went all the way to Dong Nai to attend classes for the deaf, including culture, skills, talent development, etc. Mr. Ha was also granted a certificate to teach the deaf.

Through the interpretation of his wife, Ms. Nguyen Thi Hien, teacher Bui Nam Ha shared: Opening a class to teach deaf children is my biggest dream. Currently, the Ninh Binh Deaf Sign Language Support Branch is the only specialized educational facility for the deaf in Ninh Binh province. The branch is educating 15 students from localities in the province. Last school year, with the dedicated teaching of teachers; the companionship of parents, the students made efforts to overcome their physical disabilities, striving to achieve achievements in studying and cultivating. Of which, the good completion rate was 25%; the completion rate was 50%...

It is great that this year, 8 students have completed the 5th grade program. They are all very happy and can integrate well into the community. I hope that there will be more deaf children who can hear, speak, and communicate with the community using special signs. Not only are they equipped with knowledge and skills to integrate well into the community, the class is also an opportunity for students to explore their potential, develop their strengths, create unique marks, and spread positive energy to people with disabilities. The further wish is to be able to teach vocational skills and create jobs for them. However, to make this happen, I really hope to have the companionship and support of relevant levels, sectors, and businesses.

Dao Hang-Ngoc Linh

Source: https://baoninhbinh.org.vn/co-mot-lop-hoc-nghe-bang-mat-noi-bang-tay-/d2024100213406912.htm