Filipino teachers use sign language in teaching English to Thai students with no handicaps

BANGKOK - Nov. 24, 2014 - PRLog -- Dr Pranee Nookhao, the director of Wat Kaew Silaram School at Phanat Nikhom, Chonburi thanked Fate for holding a fun-filled and motivating English conversation camp at their school from 15-16 November 2014.

Twelve Filipino teachers and volunteers from five schools participated, namely: Daruna Ratchaburi School, Keera-pat International School (KPIS), Siam International, Sarasas Witaed Suvarnabhumi and Minburi.

“It is with great pride and joy to congratulate Filipino Ajarns Toward Education (Fate) for spearheading the English Camp. Kudos to all Teacher Volunteers as well who shared their time and effort to make this activity a reality. KPIS International School remains steadfast in its commitment to support outreach programs such as English camps for our neighbouring Thai communities,” says Ms Dew Intakanok, Director for Academics (KPIS).

Keera-pat International School (KPIS), which provided funds to the camp, was represented by six teachers and volunteers.

The 2-day-free English camp was also supported by Leo Club Plaikaew, a youth organisation of Lions Clubs International.

At their free English camp, Fate taught children from Prathom one to Mattayom 3 (grades one to nine) to sing and act out the lyrics of Fate’s theme song “We are Friends,” which they wrote to the tune of “This Old Man” or more popularly known as the “Barney – I Love You” nursery song.

“It helps children to learn and remember the English words of songs theyare learning by acting them out but it is quite challenging to act out a full sentence or phrase. However, complete sentences can be easily acted out by even the most simplified version of a sign language,” says Mary Rose Alberto, a Fate coordinator from KPIS.

“As long as the children are having fun singing the song and as long as the simplified sign language serves as a helpful visual references to the sentences they are learning, sign language can be useful,” says Abigail Alvarez, a Fate member from KPIS and the MC of the English camp.

Miss Alberto said that the Fate song “We are Friends” underpinned the goal and teaching style of the group’s brand of English camp.

Nutwaree Mene, a Mattayom 3 student, who also got the “Best English Camper Award” in the Mattayom level category, said: “The English camp is good as we are able to practice our English.  We get the chance to string together new and familiar words into a sentence, win gifts for our efforts and have fun along the way.”

Narawan Khumlanghan, a Prathom 6 student, said: “I love every activities the Filipino teachers taught us during the 2-day English camp, though it had to be organised during weekend. Learning during the English camp has helped us have more confidence speaking in English.

“I told the Thai volunteer that we, the students, wished to learn more English sentences and vocabularies related to daily life, conversation skills and how to construct words into sentences, which will be very beneficial to us. Additionally, attending the English camp also help us develop our English capabilities in the classrooms.”

In agreement with one another, Prathom two students Pornsawan Pailin, Kanyarat Aerin and Anuchit Munlakorn and Prathom three student Janjira Jantabut added: “We were very happy when our school teachers announced there would be a two-day-free English camp by Filipino teachers. We said we would love to come. We learnt many things. We had opportunities to speak in English with Filipino teachers. They are fun to study with and their teaching style is very good. We wish they could teach us every month.”

“Actions songs at many English camps worldwide have proven themselves as effective learning tools. For instance, the song “If You’re Happy” can associate the word “happy” with “clap your hands,” the word “angry” with “stomp your feet,” and so on,” says Ms Alberto.

She added many action songs however had difficulty acting out full sentences, while a sign language could convey sentences and phrases more easily with just their fingers and hand gestures.

“As long as it is properly used and it is fun, sign language is an effective visual tool for learning English,” she said.

Six KPIS teachers and volunteers joined the English camp, including Abigail L Alvarez, Genevieve D Albades, Khristin Eve B Culajara, Margrette Rozen G Paraiso and Mary Rose G Alberto.

Carmel Grace C Mabale of Daruna Ratchaburi School in Rachaburi province took a series of vans all the way to Phanat Nikhom to join the English camp.

Roshenna May Rioja and  Yvon Claire P. Lacson  represented Sarasas Witaed Suvarnabhumi, and Zennaida Paler represented Siam International School.

NOTES:

A short video of the English camp can be viewed at YouTube from these links:

Music video: 1.26 minutes          http://youtu.be/8IjmI-a-23Q



Full video: 4 minutes          http://youtu.be/UgM5kcjZRw0