Why a book on Lao Sign Language?
Laos is not a rich country. There is a severe lack of learning resources. Getting an education is especially difficult for the deaf as they are unable to effectively express their needs and be understood.
Though there are more than 22,000 deaf in the Lao PDR according to a 2005 report (1), only three small schools are operating, serving less than 150 students total. There are no programs for early intervention and language development. Because of the lack of resources, most students are unable to read and write well enough to find good jobs and either go back to their villages or make money through heavy labor.
The majority of rural children is isolated and never develops a communal language. Even in semi-urban areas, communication is limited to small pockets of signers. Without stronger social support, access to the Internet and video capable mobile phones, Lao Sign Language cannot develop quickly.
I am hoping that “Thumbs Up” will help. Many students object to using Thai books and there has been no reference book in their hands until now. “Thumbs Up” appears to delight students since most could not imagine that such a book could exist.
What kind of education is available in Laos for the deaf?
In the capital city of Vientiane, there is one publicly run school. Hearing teachers at the school have been trained in Thailand. It is run by the Ministry of Health rather than the Ministry of Education and I have observed a disappointing lack of enthusiasm and resourcefulness among the teachers.
I have never seen a book or even a notebook in the school and there is little communicative interaction initiated by the teachers. I saw one teacher berate a student and tell him he was stupid. On another occasion, a teacher said outright that the students are unable to learn. I am convinced that this is not true.
For several weeks, I experimented with Xeroxed worksheets for simple English lessons. Many are interested in learning English. I included pictures, signs and exercises in writing and thinking. Older students would assess the level of the worksheets and distribute them to the younger children. Most students completed the worksheet. They would come individually to have me check them and show satisfaction when they could understand something new. I have never experienced this in hearing schools.
There are two other small schools, one in Luang Prabang and the other in Savannakhet. They will be financed by the Vatican through the Nuncio in Bangok for the first few years (2). Here, I see more nurturing and care from the teachers and classes that are run well. On a recent visit, I could see that all the students had copies of “Thumbs Up” and had lovingly covered them in recycled paper for protection. One teacher is adamant in defending the students’ ability to learn saying that they are inquisitive and don’t hesitate to ask questions. Their persistence is not dismissed. The teachers are able to articulate what they need in the way of learning resources and @My Library, a community library run by Carol Kresge, has responded by providing Lao children’s books, tools for drawing and painting and even a deaf-friendly bingo game.
What comes next?
3,000 copies of “Thumbs Up” were printed. 400 copies have been distributed to all the schools. I will try to sell the rest to get a return on my investment so that I can start new projects. The books are not just for the deaf, but for hearing students and teachers of English as well. I have found that using gestures and sign language is effective when teaching English to Lao students, especially with oversized classes of mixed levels and students with minimal experience in reading and writing. Most Lao students respond extremely well to kinesthetic learning and their concentration and retention is noticeably improved. I will focus my efforts on teacher training to promote the use of Lao Sign Language as a method (Action English) for teaching English. Response so far has been very encouraging.
For the future, digitally animated signing will be the best way to develop a more comprehensive dictionary. Digital data can be used to produce hardcopy books, videos and most appropriately for Laos, transmitted through mobile phones.
Closing notes
Finally, someone has written a book about the problems of development aid in Laos (3). One 2006 report claims that foreign loans and aid equal to about 80 per cent of the state budget (4). This money is not necessarily translated into human development. In my personal observation, dependence on foreign aid stunts initiative and resourcefulness. In the worst of cases, projects are stonewalled until money is paid into certain pockets.
1. Clark, R. Service for deaf children in Cambodia and Laos. 2005
www. Idcs.info
2. http://www.fides.org/aree/news/newsdet.php?idnews=24123&lan=eng
3. Probe International
http://www.probeinternational.org/export-credit/lao-banks-aid-donors-losing-patience
4. Phraxayavong, V. History of Aid to Laos: Motivations and Impacts, Mekong Press 2009
