Comments on: A Personal Revolution in Teaching http://www.foundinceylon.com/2006/11/06/a-personal-revolution-in-teaching/ A deaf American volunteer goes to Sri Lanka to work at a school for deaf children in Matara. Tue, 06 Jan 2009 07:18:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.3 By: Found In Ceylon | Return to Ceylon http://www.foundinceylon.com/2006/11/06/a-personal-revolution-in-teaching/#comment-9269 Found In Ceylon | Return to Ceylon Fri, 11 Apr 2008 22:40:54 +0000 http://www.foundinceylon.com/2006/11/06/a-personal-revolution-in-teaching/#comment-9269 [...] understand nine months in Sri Lanka, I have been blessed to receive visits in San Francisco from Anne East and Jenny Jones; maintain regular e-mail contact with Ginette and Sophie, Nerissa and David; endear [...] […] understand nine months in Sri Lanka, I have been blessed to receive visits in San Francisco from Anne East and Jenny Jones; maintain regular e-mail contact with Ginette and Sophie, Nerissa and David; endear […]

]]> By: Rosebudz http://www.foundinceylon.com/2006/11/06/a-personal-revolution-in-teaching/#comment-94 Rosebudz Fri, 10 Nov 2006 19:33:00 +0000 http://www.foundinceylon.com/2006/11/06/a-personal-revolution-in-teaching/#comment-94 Your tales continue to fascinate.The writing down of words to get to know the shape of it. WOW! Life in Serendib must keep you alert to life all over....xo,unkcaH Your tales continue to fascinate.The writing down of words to get to know the shape of it. WOW!
Life in Serendib must keep you alert to life all over….xo,unkcaH

]]> By: soph http://www.foundinceylon.com/2006/11/06/a-personal-revolution-in-teaching/#comment-93 soph Mon, 06 Nov 2006 16:00:46 +0000 http://www.foundinceylon.com/2006/11/06/a-personal-revolution-in-teaching/#comment-93 Oh my... who, what, when, why, where, which.... been there done that and i am SO wearing that t-shirt everytime i think about teaching the kids those new signs. When trying to teach them the BSL sign for 'why' (which is actually used as the sign 'why' in another deaf school in sri lanka) the kids were like "no, that sign means imitate, like making a joke out of someone by copying them", so you can imagine my frustrations when asking them questions! I feel your pain adam! I hope the deaf association will accept that they probably do need these signs.. maybe if you mention at the ICPH (Islamic centre for the physically handicapped) in thihariya in sri lanka (gampaha province) they do use different signs for the different questions.... Good luck! Soph x x Oh my… who, what, when, why, where, which…. been there done that and i am SO wearing that t-shirt everytime i think about teaching the kids those new signs. When trying to teach them the BSL sign for ‘why’ (which is actually used as the sign ‘why’ in another deaf school in sri lanka) the kids were like “no, that sign means imitate, like making a joke out of someone by copying them”, so you can imagine my frustrations when asking them questions! I feel your pain adam! I hope the deaf association will accept that they probably do need these signs.. maybe if you mention at the ICPH (Islamic centre for the physically handicapped) in thihariya in sri lanka (gampaha province) they do use different signs for the different questions….
Good luck!
Soph x x

]]> By: Marilyn http://www.foundinceylon.com/2006/11/06/a-personal-revolution-in-teaching/#comment-92 Marilyn Mon, 06 Nov 2006 14:34:35 +0000 http://www.foundinceylon.com/2006/11/06/a-personal-revolution-in-teaching/#comment-92 You are truly an incredible BONUS... Teaching seems to have captured your heart... It's amazing how we learn something new each day and how useful this becomes throughout our lives. Just reading your blog teaches me so much. I can only imagine watching you work with these students and seeing the joy in their eyes as they light up with the knowledge of what they've just been taught. Thanks as always for this journey... I'm learning too. Love Marilyn You are truly an incredible BONUS…

Teaching seems to have captured your heart… It’s amazing how we learn something new each day and how useful this becomes throughout our lives. Just reading your blog teaches me so much.
I can only imagine watching you work with these students and seeing the joy in their eyes as they light up with the knowledge of what they’ve just been taught.
Thanks as always for this journey… I’m learning too.
Love
Marilyn

]]> By: Debby http://www.foundinceylon.com/2006/11/06/a-personal-revolution-in-teaching/#comment-91 Debby Mon, 06 Nov 2006 03:33:21 +0000 http://www.foundinceylon.com/2006/11/06/a-personal-revolution-in-teaching/#comment-91 Amanda's question - "are they fluent in their own language" - let me clarify - which langauge is "theirs"? The sign language used, or the so-called spoken (or should I say written) language? I know there are some exceptions, but I truly believe that if a deaf child is able to master the language most natural to them at the earliest age possible, this creates a "mold" of language (or open a channel of language recognization") in her/his mind/brain. So, once a child is able to communicate freely and comfortably in his NATURAL langauge, he is open to picking up many more langauges. It is because the exposure to the natural language helps the brain understand lingusitic patterns, and how to comprehend/express concepts in order to communicate. I think this is the key reason TLC was very successful for Amanda and me - we felt comfortable communicating, and felt safe to be introduced to a whole new language. I am not saying Adam's students are without hope if they haven't mastered their sign langauge, but I think they would understand a new language much better if they understand the one they use the most. Amanda’s question - “are they fluent in their own language” - let me clarify - which langauge is “theirs”? The sign language used, or the so-called spoken (or should I say written) language? I know there are some exceptions, but I truly believe that if a deaf child is able to master the language most natural to them at the earliest age possible, this creates a “mold” of language (or open a channel of language recognization”) in her/his mind/brain. So, once a child is able to communicate freely and comfortably in his NATURAL langauge, he is open to picking up many more langauges. It is because the exposure to the natural language helps the brain understand lingusitic patterns, and how to comprehend/express concepts in order to communicate. I think this is the key reason TLC was very successful for Amanda and me - we felt comfortable communicating, and felt safe to be introduced to a whole new language. I am not saying Adam’s students are without hope if they haven’t mastered their sign langauge, but I think they would understand a new language much better if they understand the one they use the most.

]]> By: amanda http://www.foundinceylon.com/2006/11/06/a-personal-revolution-in-teaching/#comment-90 amanda Sun, 05 Nov 2006 19:06:33 +0000 http://www.foundinceylon.com/2006/11/06/a-personal-revolution-in-teaching/#comment-90 just wanted to put in here what i had texted you: your blog made me recall my days at the learning center for the deaf, such fond memories! and the point about how to take words, labels, and turn them into sentences that convey a concept or idea reminds me of how we at TLC (and I've observed the same thing at public "hearing" schools), would have to draw picture stories and then add sentences at the bottom, essentially creatinga picture book.. the teacher would work with the students and help them, but the main idea was to get the students to understand and learn how to communicate the same ideas in the picture, but in written language.. curious: are the students fluent in their own language? this sounds like alot of time to spend on a 2nd language if htey are not yet fluent in their own language - im sur eyou have writtena bout thi sbefore, but my memory is failing me! :) just wanted to put in here what i had texted you:

your blog made me recall my days at the learning center for the deaf, such fond memories! and the point about how to take words, labels, and turn them into sentences that convey a concept or idea reminds me of how we at TLC (and I’ve observed the same thing at public “hearing” schools), would have to draw picture stories and then add sentences at the bottom, essentially creatinga picture book.. the teacher would work with the students and help them, but the main idea was to get the students to understand and learn how to communicate the same ideas in the picture, but in written language..

curious: are the students fluent in their own language? this sounds like alot of time to spend on a 2nd language if htey are not yet fluent in their own language - im sur eyou have writtena bout thi sbefore, but my memory is failing me! :)

]]> By: sasha http://www.foundinceylon.com/2006/11/06/a-personal-revolution-in-teaching/#comment-89 sasha Sun, 05 Nov 2006 17:06:02 +0000 http://www.foundinceylon.com/2006/11/06/a-personal-revolution-in-teaching/#comment-89 Hello Adam, This is Sasha's Mom... Sasha introduced me to your Blog, needless to say I am humbled by the depth and breadth of your passion and the courage that you have shown. I can not even begin to imagine what it may be like to go to a country where you dont share that language and to start from scratch, not as a reciever but as an imparter of knowledge. Your life will be richly blessed by the daily small differences that you make in the lives of these children. It is amazing to note that ultimately learning becomes reciprocated and you go away with much more than you thought you brought. God Bless and Godspeed, Vipul Hello Adam,

This is Sasha’s Mom… Sasha introduced me to your Blog, needless to say I am humbled by the depth and breadth of your passion and the courage that you have shown. I can not even begin to imagine what it may be like to go to a country where you dont share that language and to start from scratch, not as a reciever but as an imparter of knowledge. Your life will be richly blessed by the daily small differences that you make in the lives of these children. It is amazing to note that ultimately learning becomes reciprocated and you go away with much more than you thought you brought.

God Bless and Godspeed,
Vipul

]]> By: Adamzfamilyfriend, Debbie http://www.foundinceylon.com/2006/11/06/a-personal-revolution-in-teaching/#comment-88 Adamzfamilyfriend, Debbie Sun, 05 Nov 2006 16:58:22 +0000 http://www.foundinceylon.com/2006/11/06/a-personal-revolution-in-teaching/#comment-88 Adam, You obviously care about your students and want to make a difference in their lives. That might very well be more powerful than differentiating "who, what, where." But, good luck with that one just the same! My experience teaching in the inner city of Chicago gives me this perspective. I believe if you can connect with your students, even one student, and let them know that you believe in and care about them, you have done your work. You may never know how being with a student in this way can touch his/her life in profound ways. Look forward to hearing more of your adventures. Fondly, Debbie Adam,
You obviously care about your students and want to make a difference in their lives. That might very well be more powerful than differentiating “who, what, where.” But, good luck with that one just the same! My experience teaching in the inner city of Chicago gives me this perspective. I believe if you can connect with your students, even one student, and let them know that you believe in and care about them, you have done your work. You may never know how being with a student in this way can touch his/her life in profound ways.
Look forward to hearing more of your adventures.
Fondly,
Debbie

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