ANHS FSLLP Batch 2 Commences Summer Training

Recently 7 ANHS participants dedicated their summer vacation in learning Filipino Sign Language at De La Salle College of St. Benilde School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies. ANHS participants range from subject teachers of Math, Science and Christian Living to Clerk, School Counselors and an Interpreter.

FSLLP Training is designed to gain and learn Filipino Sign Language and Deaf culture especially for Level 1 participants. With activities ranging from discussion with the Director of CEAD, Hearing and Deaf experts, communication assistance with the Deaf Buddies and others.

This summer training is made possible through the partnership of LSGH ANHS headed by Mr. Rheal D. Dayrit with DLS CSB Center for Education Access and Development headed by Mrs. Theresa Benitez-Dela Torre. The PDL Moderator hopes that it will not end after the sessions but more so all participants could apply lessons learned and got an unforgettable experience from this training. We from the LSGH ANHS Program for Deaf Learners would like to thank all of the following:

Mr. Rheal D. Dayrit - Principal, LSGH ANHS

Miss Maria Veronica Templo-Perez - Dean, SDEAS

Mrs. Theresa Christine B. Dela Torre - Director, CEAD

Miss May Cabutihan - Coordinator, SEcI

Mrs. Bernadette Infanta - FSL Trainor

Miss Anabelle Salazar - Assistant Coordinator, Educational Interpreting Program

Gladys, Ma. Rosario, Richard, Shenna and Jommer - Deaf Buddies

Miss Agnes Canayon and Mr. John Xander Baliza -Lecturers

Final Week: Uniting FSL Sessions and Teaching

The participants learning was a pleasant surprise for this week. Miss Infanta rallied a group of Deaf students that will serve as buddies to aid the participants as they communicate with them. This is a perfect opportunity for all to hone and assess initially what we had trained for for the last 2 weeks. This interaction with other Deaf individuals (Rosario, Gladys, Richard, Shanne and Jommer) is a wonderful encounter most specially when the participants can communicate using the magic language of signs. In the afternoon of Monday, participants watched a film entitled "Beyond Silence" which portray the life of a CODA - Child of Deaf Adult and how she serves as a conduit between her Deaf parents and the hearing world.

The speaker Mr. John Xander Baliza (Coordinator) continued to surprise veteran teachers of the Deaf in positive ways. Mr. Baliza shared with us some more pointers regarding Deaf culture, the different models as how people view deafness. Eventually the discussion was lead to how CSB and LSGH share the same concerns and strategies in improving the life of our Deaf students. Participants shared some issues and how they overcome or the lack of it that should be address in the future. Afterwards, the discussion ended with a renewed vision of what to do once confronted with the issues presented. As we walk home this Wednesday afternoon we are still discussing what to present on the Monday of our graduation, something that will encapsulate all of our training for this summer, so we thought of a song number in signs.

On a personal note, there is a saying that "It takes more to plow a field than merely turning it over in your mind." The partnership that LSGH ANHS PDL and DLS CSB SDEAS is truly a beneficial one as it help both institutions create a future for Deaf students. The training should not end after we received our certificates but it should also morphed us being educators of our Deaf students and to start realizing what we can truly contribute for them. I personally believe that we should invest with our faculty and school personnel's training, to hone them till we can produce teachers that are reflective in her ways and purposeful in her teachings.

Week 2: Faculty Professional Development: Continuing FSL Session

This training was proposed by Mr. Que, PDL Moderator and submitted for approval to Mr. Dayrit, LSGH ANHS Principal and Mrs. Techie Benitez-Dela Torre, Director of Center for Education Access and Development CEAD. Once approved by both partners the Secondary Education Initiative (SEcI) headed by Miss May Cabutihan will plan for this special summer arrangements with the faculty and staff of ANHS. Both institutions supported and agreed to train ANHS faculty to learn Filipino Sign Language (FSL). The second week of training goes to an in-depth understanding of basic signs for Level 1 wherein participants usually questions the trainor Miss Infanta why such signs are being used. Fortunately the trainor was able to answer the querries of the group based from her experiences, knowledge of the sign and learning as she herself were trained by other Deaf professionals at CSB.

In the afternoon, the Level 2 participants were enlightened regarding the use of signs as a Noun and as a Verb coupled by individual demonstrations.

Participants were initially asked regarding their insights and they respond by saying that they were happy to learn FSL and getting to know their trainor; they need a Deaf or an expert that they can ask for review; and it is overwhelming that there are a lot of signs even at the basic level. In particular, the participants wanted to learn more about why signs differ from one school to another and even from one Deaf to another Deaf and the knowledge to learn about Deaf culture which they believe would support them in their future learning efforts in educating their Deaf students.