When 7-Year-Old Deaf and Hearing Preschoolers Learn Side By Side

At this kindergarten, children with moderate to severe hearing loss learn side-by-side with their hearing peers. It’s the first preschool under Singapore’s Ministry of Education (MOE) to enrol students with such needs.
Since 2022, kids with hearing loss have been receiving support in learning sign language at MK@Mayflower. Preschool is the first time some learn how to express themselves in language and vocabulary. During inclusive classes, a dedicated sign language teacher helps these students follow lessons alongside their hearing peers.
The friendships that blossom between the children, however, happen naturally all on their own.
00:00 Intro
01:08 About the MK@Mayflower initiative
02:08 Combined lesson for deaf and hearing preschoolers
03:34 Classroom adapted for hearing-impaired kids
04:42 Learning sign language from age 5
08:40 Why teachers learnt to sign
09:55 How inclusive learning benefits all students
12:00 Preparing deaf kids for Primary 1
14:18 Can inclusive classrooms be the norm?
16:43 Hopes for a child with hearing loss
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[@solarmoth4628]

This school looks like it has a really great community. You can see how happy the kids are. The Deaf students had a difficult task coming to school with little to no language but now they express themselves so well.

[@cloudyday1617]

This brings tears to my eyes, because I'm happy for these less privileged children that they are given the help and support from the teachers, love from their classmates, principals, schools overall and the Education Ministry to give them a head start to be able to blend into our society comfortably when they grow up.

[@stud6414]

True. I've never seen such good teachers.

[@deadiraterobot]

This is fantastic work! Kudos to both the teachers features, the Centre Head, and Moh For putting in so much love and effort to integrate everyone! ❤

[@Jay-ru2cw]

Love this initiative. I hope that more preschools can be more inclusive so that the children (and future adults) can learn how to live harmoniously with people who are different from them.

[@eccentricat]

It's so refreshing to see schools embrace differences in learning and integrating Sign into the curriculum. However, all hearing loss kids should also be given access to speech learning, regardless of their level of hearing loss. Bilingualism widens their options - they can choose and switch languages (Sign and spoken) depending on the situation - especially when they're older and living in what is essentially a hearing world.

[@bsong4225]

This is so heartwarming 🥹 Teacher Bernadette is doing an amazing job! She seems very sweet & dedicated to everything she does. Thanks for sharing this video!

[@charleneene]

this is wonderful! more schools should do this as well! 🙏❤

[@cbkia]

16:22 🥹

[@Itspavi98]

Amazing integration! Can’t wait to see more schools follow this method! :)

[@FujiNara]

My sister have two adult children in their twenties who are hearing impaired. Both received cochlear implants before the age of two and underwent early intervention and speech therapy. By the time they entered kindergarten, they were able to speak simple sentences. They have not learned sign language and still do not use it today. Despite this, they have faced no difficulties transitioning into mainstream primary, secondary, polytechnic, junior college, and university education. I'd like to share that with the appropriate hearing devices and speech therapy, hearing-impaired children can develop the ability to speak normally.

[@tanhuichuin9696]

I wish we have had this at my school as well. It is really cool to learn sign language and then we can communicate with deaf and mute people too

[@anziar3038]

Great! Embracing diversity and inclusivity. 👍👍

[@yumingsu9263]

This is sooo wholesome and adorable!!! I hope more schools integrate this approach!!! ♥♥♥

[@aiqi4664]

This is very sweet. A step in the right direction.

[@ling9144]

The teacher is a Hero

[@JayJay-st1jj]

This is amazing and the kids are all very sweet

[@cloudyday1617]

❤

[@edelynagan6456]

You are blessed to have deaf school. congrats

[@Jesus_for_eternity]

I am really very proud to be in this school ❤❤

[@CurvyCass1982]

Great idea having both languages together.

[@visual_honey]

This is really amazing! ❤️ wow

[@cheskydivision]

Wow English, sign language and high reading level.

[@KillJoy_Since2017]

That’s amazing

[@b.k.4747]

My dream. Everybody signs. 😊

[@maximpestsolutions3696]

🙏💛.

[@nataliewan5671]

While this is a great integration, it seems to give the idea that hearing impaired kids cannot communicate which isn't true. They should learn speaking through speech therapy since young as it is easier to pick up the language then. I wonder if the disparity from young will cause the kids with hearing impairment to already feel different from the other kids since young, causing a long-term insecurity to instil in them

[@popppp1234]

thanks for sharing your personal experience can really help the general public and new parents know that hearing impaired children can learn to talk, as you have been through the whole process yourself first hand

[@stud6414]

Singapore is so lucky to have normal teachers that aren't working to overthrow the society.

[@marquisdehoto1638]

It would be great if everybody knows some basic sign language. At least to understand if someone needs help.

[@Happyrls]

Raiqa me !