Last Saturday, I gave a presentation at the De La Salle - College of Saint Benilde entitled “Essential Software for Business.”
What made this talk special was that it was for students of CSB’s School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies, specifically those under the Business Entrepreneurship track. My partner (read: interpreter) for this presentation was Ms. Ninfa J. Viernes, head of the Office of the Academic Programs.
It was quite a different experience, having no need to modulate one’s voice (you only need be heard well by the interpreter, who did the real work). Instead, you need to be slow (so that your interpreter can catch-up with you) and concise (so that your interpreter won’t get tired). Jargon should be kept at a minimum because these usually have to be spelled-out letter-by-letter in sign. Sometimes some signs for terms have to be made up — I was particularly amused at the sign for “piracy” and “pirated software”; a clenched fist lightly jabbed into the right eye, mimicking the medieval pirate’s eye-patch.
The lack of spoken words didn’t hinder the students from expressing their enthusiasm and appreciation, despite the fact that in they live in a society that does not completely accept them and address their needs. Given the difficulties faced by entrepreneurs who have all five senses intact, they need all the help that they can get to be able to set up their own trade.
I really enjoyed doing this talk, and I’m looking forward to doing a repeat of the presentation I made — and maybe learn a little more of sign language along the way.
6 responses so far ↓
1 Bonn Juego // Mar 25, 2007 at 5:53 am
Interesting. I really think you could be a very good teacher. Why not consider teaching even as a part-time endeavour?
And yes, this reminds me of one of the lessons in travelling: never ever think that nobody could understand you, even in places where you could not communicate with any words at all! It’s actually the same thing as getting your message to these students with disability. I have a number of funny but hearty stories when hand, body, and facial gestures did the best communications I’ve had wandering round this wonderful world.
By the way, as a former lecturer at DLSU-CSB I truly admire that institution for their commitment to the education of our brethren with disabilities. Sad though that we could actually feel how harsh the Philippine social institutions are to the welfare of our brethren, not to mention the productivity-based global economy we have.
2 Jon Limjap // Mar 27, 2007 at 11:16 pm
Actually, Ms. Viernes and Ms. Noemi Lacambacal (coordinator for the Business/Entrepreneurship track) were hinting that I would make a good professor for the deaf. I actually liked the idea… tutal nasa dugo ng pamilya namin ang pagiging guro.
I am considering it for the future Bonn. Pero hindi pa muna siguro.
3 ems // Apr 1, 2007 at 9:32 pm
wow jon! big time ka na ha.. nag talk ka pala sa CSB! Gosh I wasn’t able to nominate you sa PBA (Philippine Blog Awards) malaki laki din ata ang premyo. Who knows diba? baka nanalo ka pa.. hehehe
4 Jon Limjap // Apr 4, 2007 at 6:30 am
Ngyah! Hindi naman ako bigtime ate ems, big lang. hehehehe
Ayos lang yung sa PBA… di rin naman mananalo kasi hindi ako naguupdate ng content as often as I should. Hindi ko na talaga mapagtuunan ng oras itong blog ko. Saka di naman mahalaga yung awards, basta nasasabi ko yung gusto ko sabihin sa blog ko, masaya na ako
5 noemi // Jan 1, 2008 at 10:51 pm
hi jon,
sorry but i’ve just read your blog today almost one year na pala and i am still thankful to you for granting that request to give a seminar to our Deaf student. i just want to make a correction that your interpreter for that day was Ms. Ma Teresa Buenaventura. thanks again and hope that we can work together again for our Deaf students.
6 Jon Limjap // Jan 2, 2008 at 7:17 pm
Naku Ms. Noems, almost one year na palang mali yung pangalan! Hehehe. Thanks for the correction.
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