Nueva Zelanda: Nelson school kids enthused with sign language

Oceanía/Nueva Zelanda/12 de Agosto de 2016/Autora: Samantha Gee/Fuente: Stuff

RESUMEN: El lenguaje de señas de Nueva Zelandia en el programa de Escuelas está a cargo de la Asociación Audiencia Nelson y posible gracias a un legado de la Fundación Benéfica O’Brien para ayudar a los niños con deficiencias auditivas o sordas en la región de Nelson. Las clases comenzaron en 2012 y ahora se imparten en seis escuelas en Nelson. Durante las clases semanales, de media hora, los niños a aprender las señales para diferentes palabras, el modo de firmar canciones y el dedo deletrear sus nombres. Gutschlag ha sido la enseñanza de clases de la escuela la noche durante los últimos ocho años. Creció con sus familiares sordos y aprendió a firmar hace 15 años.
Desde que comenzaron las clases, se dio cuenta de la lengua de signos pop-up en toda la comunidad. Le habían dicho a sí mismos de los niños que introducen a los miembros de la comunidad sorda y tenía padres dedo deletrear sus nombres a ella después de haber sido enseñado el lenguaje de signos por parte de sus hijos.Se alimentó su pasión para continuar la enseñanza. Mientras que los niños estaban siempre entusiasta, ella dijo que era la entrada de los profesores que hicieron un éxito. maestro de la Escuela de San José Michelle McLeod comenzó a aprender el lenguaje de signos de este año y ahora lo usa todos los días en el aula.

Hunt was born deaf, she wears a hearing aid that helps her to communicate and this year she has begun to learn sign language with her class.

Other than the occasional giggle or exclamation, the classes are «voice off» which means there is no speaking unless Gutschlag asks a question.

When things get a bit unruly, she stamps her foot.

The students respond straight away when Gutschlag signs for them to sit down or stand up, they recognise it when she signs their names and they join in when she signs

In this class, they are learning the signs for different sports. Netball, rugby, tennis.

Primary school students in Nelson are the only ones in the country who have weekly sign language classes of this kind at school.

The children can sing the national anthem in English and Te Reo Maori while using sign language, encompassing all three of the country’s official languages.

When the class is over, Hunt joins Gutschlag next door, helping teach other kids to learn the language too.

Hunt’s mother Emma King also attends the classes and she also goes to night classes to further her understanding of sign language.

She said it was «absolutely incredible» to do something that encompassed the whole family to benefit Hunt.

«It is becoming something that Greta isn’t being disadvantaged for, it is becoming like her superpower,» King said. «Suddenly she is not disabled, she is bringing this special talent.»

The New Zealand Sign Language in Schools programme is run by the Nelson Hearing Association and made possible by a bequest from the O’Brien Charitable Trust to help deaf or hearing impaired children in the Nelson region.

The classes first began in 2012 and are now taught at six schools in Nelson.

During the weekly, half hour lessons, kids learn the signs for different words, how to sign songs and finger spell their names.

Gutschlag has been teaching night school classes for the last eight years. She grew up with deaf family members and first learnt to sign 15 years ago.

Since classes began, she noticed sign language pop up all over the community.

She had been told of children introducing themselves to members of the deaf community and had parents finger spell their names to her after being taught sign language by their children.

It fuelled her passion to continue teaching.

While the children were always enthusiastic, she said it was the input of the teachers that made it such a success.

St Joseph’s School teacher Michelle McLeod began learning sign language this year and now uses it every day in the classroom.

«Greta has been a huge blessing to our class, we have learnt so much from her,» she said.

«Signing is something I am trying to make as normal in the day as I can so that in the playground, if the children want to speak with Greta they have a way of communicating with her.»

Gutschlag said the classes were a taster that she hoped encourage people to continue learning sign language as it would benefit the community.

«The more hearing people that can sign, the more inclusive our community is for deaf.»

Fuente: http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/83039640/nelson-school-kids-enthused-with-sign-language