Sign Language – New Language for PYP Students
Communications between deaf-mute and non-deaf-mute people have always been a challenging task. In the frame of the Unit of Inquiry ‘Signs & Symbols’ PYP grade 4 students invited a sign language teacher together with her 3 students with special needs.
The project aimed to facilitate children by means of a hand based deaf-mute communication system. Our students were taught basic sign language. They were involved in discussions and games which made students’ learning experience fun! It was so emotional when the 4th graders found it very interesting and challenging to share their thoughts and feelings with deaf-mute students using sign language. One of the fourth graders said: “I can never forget the time when I managed to express all of my emotions and feelings without saying a word! I appreciate the abilities we have from birth, whereas, for someone else, that is only a dream.”
This activity helped students to develop their tolerance and empathy as well as their non-verbal communication skills and foster further inquiry in the unit.
