Teacher teaches deaf children with the language of the heart

In the small classroom of Ca Mau Province Special Education School, cheerful giggles mixed with hand gestures create a meaningful scene. In the middle of the class is a middle-aged teacher patiently guiding each child how to spell in sign language, practicing writing their first letters. That is teacher Doan Thi Thao, who is dedicated to teaching deaf students, even though she herself is fighting every day with the terrible cancer.

Ms. Doan Thi Thao (53 years old) has nearly 30 years of experience in the job of "knocking children's heads", including nearly 15 years of teaching hearing-impaired children at the Ca Mau Province Special Education School. Currently, she is assigned to teach first graders there.

Ms. Doan Thi Thao, a teacher who teaches deaf students, even though she herself is fighting cancer every day.

Discovering she had cancer more than 7 years ago, in the early days, she almost collapsed, thinking that the road ahead had closed, but when she looked at her family, thinking about the innocent eyes of her students, she told herself: "I cannot fall down".

Ms. Thao's class does not have mumbled words but eye contact, smiles, hand gestures, a kind of language of deaf children.

Ms. Thao recalls: After each chemotherapy session, her body felt very tired and her hair gradually fell out. Worried that her students would be scared, she asked for leave to stay home for treatment. One time, by chance, a student called her on video , and out of habit, she picked up the phone. The student, seeing her face at that time, burst into tears because he felt sorry for the teacher facing the disease. Seeing that the student was not afraid but loved her more, Ms. Thao had more motivation and decided to continue teaching in class.

“ If I just stay at home, my illness will get worse, but being able to stand in front of the class and see my students makes me forget all my fatigue , ” Ms. Thao shared.

When a child makes a mistake in a sign or writes a letter, she gently holds his hand and corrects each movement, her eyes always shining with patience and affection.

Like other classes at the special school, Ms. Thao's class does not have mumbled words or shouts in unison, but instead there are eye contact, smiles, hand gestures, and the language of the deaf.

Every time she sees the children write a word or understand a sentence, Ms. Thao feels happy as if she herself has just defeated the disease.

According to Ms. Thao, for deaf students, teaching is not only about imparting knowledge but also about instilling confidence, teaching how to feel the world with the heart. Ms. Thao understands that better than anyone. She spends a lot of time creating new teaching methods, lively lessons to help students understand more easily. When a student makes a mistake in a sign or writes a letter, she gently holds his hand to correct each movement, with all patience and affection.

According to Ms. Thao, the children's maturity is a valuable "spiritual medicine".

Cancer has made her health increasingly weak. Currently, she cannot do heavy work, sometimes she has to stop teaching to receive treatment, but with her love for the job and children, when her health is stable, Ms. Thao goes back to school and teaches.

Ms. Thao said that what makes her happiest is not the compliments or rewards for teaching, but seeing her students integrate into the community and confidently communicate with their hands and hearts.

“ You may not be able to hear sounds, but you can feel life through the light of love. I just want to be the one to light that light , ” Ms. Thao said emotionally.

Each student is provided with a hearing aid to facilitate teaching and access to knowledge in class.

Just like that, Ms. Thao’s class is filled with bright images of little hands diligently practicing sign language, writing their first letters. Ms. Thao still teaches, even though she is fighting against her illness, she still diligently explains each movement, imparts knowledge with eyes full of love.

Nguyen Thi Truc Huong now communicates well in sign language and writes beautifully. She is considered an outstanding student in Ms. Thao's class.

When her health was stable, every morning, Ms. Thao, in her worn-out ao dai, diligently went to class. Her face still had a smile - the smile of a teacher who considered teaching as her life's purpose.

Although not expressed in words, Ms. Thao’s love is spread through a special language - the language of the heart. Ms. Thao’s journey of “not giving up” has given more motivation to the hearing-impaired children on the difficult road ahead. That is also the most miraculous thing that Ms. Thao wants to “mark” in this life./.

  Van Dum

Source: https://baocamau.vn/co-giao-day-tre-khiem-thinh-bang-ngon-ngu-trai-tim-a124348.html