Week 2
Day 1
Activity 3: ‘Dear Jacinda’ [6 points]
Dear Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern
I very strongly believe that sign language should be a part of our school
education. I am going to persuade you to think about if you or someone in your
family was deaf and you had to learn Sign Language.
education. I am going to persuade you to think about if you or someone in your
family was deaf and you had to learn Sign Language.
Did you know that Sign Language is one of our three official languages in New
Zealand. They are Sign Language, Maori and English. We already learn Maori in
schools but probably not enough, so I think that we would need a good hour a
day to learn Sign Language. I think that one of the reasons that we don’t learn it in
schools is because the teachers don’t know Sign Language. It would take a while
for them to learn it and then teach it to us. Some people think that it would be
cool to learn Sign Language.
Zealand. They are Sign Language, Maori and English. We already learn Maori in
schools but probably not enough, so I think that we would need a good hour a
day to learn Sign Language. I think that one of the reasons that we don’t learn it in
schools is because the teachers don’t know Sign Language. It would take a while
for them to learn it and then teach it to us. Some people think that it would be
cool to learn Sign Language.
The reason that you would learn Sign Language is because there may be
someone in your family that is deaf, or at your school. Can you imagine how sad
it would be if you could never speak or hear anything again? It would be worse if
you couldn’t even communicate with anyone. I think that it would be helpful
because you might come across someone in your lifetime that you might be
working with or going to school with that is deaf and you want to be able to
communicate with them.
someone in your family that is deaf, or at your school. Can you imagine how sad
it would be if you could never speak or hear anything again? It would be worse if
you couldn’t even communicate with anyone. I think that it would be helpful
because you might come across someone in your lifetime that you might be
working with or going to school with that is deaf and you want to be able to
communicate with them.
Some people wonder when you’re deaf why can’t you speak. Well if you were
born deaf then you have never heard a word before so you wouldn’t know how to
pronounce it. But if you became deaf then you wouldn’t know the volume of your
voice so you could be yelling when you think you are just talking normal. If you
want to test this just put on ear muffs then try to speak and get your friends to tell
you if you are yelling or not.
born deaf then you have never heard a word before so you wouldn’t know how to
pronounce it. But if you became deaf then you wouldn’t know the volume of your
voice so you could be yelling when you think you are just talking normal. If you
want to test this just put on ear muffs then try to speak and get your friends to tell
you if you are yelling or not.
This is why Sign Language should be apart of our learning. I know that there are
more than 9000 deaf people in New Zealand and they would want this to change.
more than 9000 deaf people in New Zealand and they would want this to change.
Thank you for taking your time to read my letter
Yours sincerely
Jess
ReplyDeleteHi Jess,
Wow, what a thoughtful and insightful letter you have written for Jacinda Ardern. I like that you have started your letter with a statement to make the reader (or Jacinda herself) to think about how it would feel for them. Making personal connections with your reader definitely helps to highlight your issue in a real-life context.
I think that your suggestion that perhaps the reason it isn’t taught in many schools is because teachers don’t know how do sign language could have some truth to it. Being a teacher myself, I know that we do not get taught sign language at university. I am interested to know if you know any sign language? I don’t know a lot but can say thank you and can sign my own name. I would love to learn more.
Can you think of another way to teach students sign language in schools, without all teachers needing to know it themselves. Perhaps a special online programme could be created? What do you think?
I really enjoyed reading this post Jess. You’re doing fantastic. Keep it up!
Leisha
:)
Hi,
Deletethank you
my mum did a sign language course and I know how to do my name but thats it. my friend was learning a different language at her school by skyping someone else. I thought that that was a good idea on how to learn it in a class. maybe even the teachers could learn it at university.
thanks
Jess