Inspirational teacher Maryam Alghawi is planting the love for sign language in her students at an early age … with an added touch of national pride.
The art teacher at Al Khawarazmi Primary Boys School has been instructing children from the ages of six to 12 on how to use it in their daily lives.
Her ‘Let’s Hear Them with Love’ initiative launched six years ago involves studying the basics of the language, as well as how to sign the Bahrain national anthem.
“This is a bridge that connects hearts and opens the doors of understanding and communication with a very precious part of our society,” she explained.
“I think the more people that learn sign language the more we show this incredible community how much we care. The aim is also to make those with hearing issues feel invited and welcome to any space they go to.”
Ms Alghawi teaches students Arabic sign language and helps them to use it, targeting the children’s natural curiosity to explore and learn new skills.
“From the start the children have been very curious and particularly excited to apply what knowledge they had learned,” the 34 year-old Bahraini from Muharraq told the GDN.
“Our students express great enthusiasm and have shown they are able to memorise what they learn very quickly.”
The graphic design graduate from Applied Science University, who has been in the education field for around nine years, also encourages older people to learn sign language, assuring them that it is easy and rewarding. “Begin with the basics and continue learning by daily practice. Practice makes perfect,” she added.
Those showing true interest in signing soon make direct communication with members of the deaf community and that experience alone greatly increases their skill and fluency.
The GDN reported previously that the Bahrain Deaf Society had called for the teaching of sign language in schools and universities to be expanded.
Society chairman Hasan Al Ghuraifi said at the time that there were more than 2,200 deaf people in Bahrain registered with the Social Development Ministry who often faced serious challenges in communicating with others.
He stressed the need to support the hearing-impaired by providing them with specialised equipment such as doorbells, fire alarms and other warning systems in bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens and bathrooms.
In addition, Mr Al Ghuraifi said that 80 per cent of those hearing-impaired in Bahrain use the visual contact service launched and managed by Bahrain’s eGovernment Authority through its National Contact Centre.
rima@gdnmedia.bh
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