I’ve been teaching a Sign Language enrichment class as a part of a much bigger ELT initiative this school year at ECCHS. This is the last week I will have with this group since the students will select new classes after the holidays. Back in August in our very first class, I told them that Sign Language isn’t just some “cool trick” to amaze your friends and family, nor should it ever be used as a form of mockery. It’s a real language used by millions of deaf people across the globe as their primary form of communication. It is the language I learned to use first in my life… the language of my parents… and it is VERY important to me that it is respected. I could tell from the beginning that these students understood and would honor that throughout the learning process. That understanding was made abundantly clear to me today because we had a special visitor in class this week….my Mama! In essence, this week, she was their living, breathing “final exam”. First, they signed random sentences to her (drawn out of a bucket), and she assessed their progress thus far. The, she came back today to carry on real-life conversations with them while we enjoyed some food and fellowship together. I am SO incredibly proud of these students and how welcoming and respectful they were to her this week. Each time I'm with them, they warm my heart and give me hope. By the way, after it was all signed and done, each of these young people got the Mary Thomas seal of approval! (They already had mine!) :) |
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