Workshop for Teachers |
Jaana Keksi-Levijoki (left) and Jaana Aaltonen are both teachers at a deaf school in Turku, Finland. At the workshop for teachers of deaf children, their main presentation was on three different communications systems used in instructing deaf children: oralism, signing spoken language, and bi-lingualism. But a major part of their impact was just their presence as deaf professionals. Teachers of deaf children here needed to see successful deaf adults to really be convinced that the children in their care can succeed beyond minimal expectations.
We were quite fortunate that our two presenters were so flexible. At the end of yesterday's workshop for administrators of deaf education programs, we decided to simplify greatly today's program, and the two Jaanas were able to make the switch without hesitation.
Charlie Dittmeier was part of the workshop planning committee with Liza Clews, Neang Phalla, Punya Droz, and Colin Allen. In the morning today, he gave a brief presentation on three different models of classroom environments used in deaf education in Cambodia in addition to serving as facilitator for today's program.
These attentive participatns are from Krousar Thmey, the local NGO that has four deaf schools in different cities and also has 28 deaf classrooms integrated into government schools around the country. Altogether Krousar Thmey educates about 600 deaf children under the age of 15.
The mid-morning and mid-afternoon breaks were part of the dynamics of the workshops, a chance for people to get to meet each other and start to know each other as friends and colleagues all involved in deaf education. A lot of good contacts were made and good ideas exchanged as the different organizations mingled at the breaks.
With the larger numbers at the workshop for teachers, the eating area was moved to an outdoor but under-cover area in another building. A local restaurant caters the food which is delivered, along with all the cups and glasses and silverware, in a three-wheeled human-powered cyclo.
In the afternoon, the presenters divided the participants into small groups based on the schools where they taught. Their task was to discuss and list the things that would help them to teach better. Here the hearing and deaf teachers from the Deaf Development Program converse.
Jenny and Michelle, two sisters of Liza Clews, a program advisor at DDP, were visiting Phnom Penh at the time of the workshop and helped with various tasks. Michelle was also one of the official Australian Sign Language interpreters.
Punya Droz from the Disability Action Council took notes during the first three days of workshops. Here the interpreters look at some of the notes to prepare themselves for the interpreting task that lay ahead.
