After arriving, the teachers pull out all the appropriate pictures for the day’s lesson. While one deaf student looks on, this group of hearing men are fascinated by the idea of a language where there are hand gestures for different things they encounter every day.

The hearing field worker is responsible for making reminder calls about the class to the families of deaf adults.

Slowly the students trickle into class.  DDP staff begin to communicate with them using a mix of Cambodian Sign Language and their home signs.

The children playing at the Wat are always interested to see what is happening, especially when they see deaf people signing.  DDP field workers always invite the hearing people to sit behind the deaf and also participate in the sign language class.  If these kids have an interest in learning, field workers are happy to welcome them.

These men who were gathered playing chess at the Wat are also interested to see what it happening – for many, the idea of deaf people being able to communicate is completely foreign.

Soon, the lesson begins. Field workers show the deaf students pictures on a card and then demonstrate the sign for that picture. Today’s theme was family.

Even the monks were interested to learn some signs, or at least see what was happening.

The deaf students very quickly catch on and realize they are supposed to repeat back the sign. And, learning the language begins!