Latest news with #signlanguage
Irish Times
5 hours ago
- Health
- Irish Times
Leaving Cert student diary: ‘I'm proof there's an alternative to incredibly stressful exams'
I'm only young, so it's fair to say I don't follow the ins and outs of education policy. But I do hear, from my friends and on the news, about how incredibly stressful the Leaving Cert is and how it needs to be reformed. I and the other 4,512 students sitting the Leaving Cert Applied [LCA] are living proof that there is a different way. The LCA means students like me, who prefer practical and vocational approaches, are not left behind. I know Ireland is trailing other European countries in terms of offering this vocational option, although the numbers sitting the LCA are growing every year. The LCA offers entry routes to college too. I am hoping to get into a post-Leaving Cert course: nursing studies at Moate ETB [education and training board]. It gives us a foundation in nursing, includes practical experience and a work placement, and is also linked to a general nursing course at TUS [Technological University of the Shannon]. READ MORE Over the past few years, I decided to learn sign language. I'm not doing it as an examined subject, but I felt that it would be a really useful skill for a nurse to have, as it means I can communicate with more people. I'm not fluent, but I can hold a basic conversation and I hope to improve. As for the exams? It's a case of so far, so good. I appreciated the layout of the papers and they haven't been as difficult as I expected. English and communications was probably my best so far, as a lot of the topics I studied appeared. Hotel catering and tourism, however, was probably the most challenging, although still achievable. In this subject, we learn about restaurants, tourist sites and we work on menus for parties and for people with food allergies and intolerances, such as coeliac disease. LCA students have already done a lot of projects and continuous assessment throughout the year, so that relieves the pressure of a single, high-stakes exam. [ Leaving Cert and Junior Cycle: Record 140,000 to sit State exams Opens in new window ] I can't believe the end is in sight, as I finish up on Tuesday with an exam on construction and graphics. I'll miss my classmates in school. There's only been eight of us in the entire LCA programme, so we became tight-knit. I currently commute for over an hour every day to and from school. This is because we moved a few years ago but I wanted to stay in the same school. I wish there was better public transport, particularly for rural areas, as there's currently only two buses a day. It's safe to say that I won't miss this commute. – Amy Cox is a Leaving Cert Applied student at Athlone Community College
CTV News
a day ago
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Sign for your supper
Ottawa Watch Dark Fork in Ottawa's ByWard Market has opened a sign language patio. As CTV's Shaun Vardon report, diners will need to use sign language to order.
Free Malaysia Today
4 days ago
- General
- Free Malaysia Today
Sign-language interpreter Tan Lee Bee receives royal award
Veteran media personality and sign-language interpreter Tan Lee Bee with her Bintang Ahli Mangku Negara award. (Bernama pic) KUALA LUMPUR : For her dedication as a sign-language interpreter spanning more than four decades, Tan Lee Bee received the Bintang Ahli Mangku Negara (AMN) from Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim yesterday. Tan, who often graces the corner of the television screen during news broadcasts, described the award as a 'great recognition' in her 'silent struggle to convey the voices of the voiceless'. 'I feel happy, moved, I feel like crying, too… I feel very grateful,' the veteran media personality told Bernama after the investiture ceremony in conjunction with the king's official birthday celebration at Istana Negara. 'This recognition is not just for me, it's a symbolic tribute to every interpreter who works silently for a fairer inclusivity in Malaysia,' the 64-year-old added. Tan was among 16 individuals who received the AMN at the ceremony, during which Attorney-General Dusuki Mokhtar and armed forces chief Gen Nizam Jaffar were bestowed with the Darjah Panglima Mangku Negara, which carries the title Tan Sri. Tan's journey as an interpreter began out of love for the person closest to her heart: her younger sister, who is deaf. 'I learnt sign language because of her … people always ask me how I learnt sign language, and they're always surprised to know I never took formal training before I began my career,' she told FMT in 2021. She then served as a teacher for the deaf for 17 years, which she initially found challenging. 'I found it very hard to teach the deaf and I would sometimes cry. At times I just could not make my students understand.' Tan is best known for gracing the corner of TV screens during news broadcasts with her dynamic signing and compelling facial expressions. (Tan Lee Bee pic) During those years, she also served as an interpreter with the federal court. Tan went on to become Malaysia's first court sign-language interpreter in 1994. Still, one might be surprised to learn that her contribution to the world of broadcasting began much earlier, when she appeared on television circa 1985 on the show 'Selamat Pagi Malaysia'. Her facial expressions and signing actions became important visuals in news broadcasts as well as in official communication videos, advertisements, and various broadcasting mediums. Apart from RTM, Tan provides her services to companies with employees who have disabilities. She told FMT five years ago that she derived great satisfaction from serving the deaf community. 'Whatever we interpret, it has to be understood,' she said. 'I have to make sure my interpretation is clear and that I do not make any mistakes. 'As an interpreter, when the deaf understand you well enough and are happy about it, they will come to tell you. As long as my hand is able and my mind is still okay, I will go on interpreting … it is my passion.'
Malay Mail
5 days ago
- General
- Malay Mail
‘I feel like crying': Malaysia's first court sign interpreter Tan Lee Bee receives AMN after decades of silent service
KUALA LUMPUR, June 2 — With more than four decades of dedication as a sign language interpreter, Tan Lee Bee was amply recognised when she was received the Bintang Ahli Mangku Negara (AMN) from His Majesty, Sultan Ibrahim, the King of Malaysia today. Often gracing the corner of the television screen of news programmes with expressive facial expressions, Tan, 64, described the award as a great recognition for her in the 'silent' struggle to convey the voices of the 'voiceless'. 'I feel happy, moved, I feel like crying too... I feel very grateful,' the veteran sign language interpreter conveyed to Bernama after the Investiture Ceremony in conjunction with the King's official birthday celebration, at Istana Negara today. Although the award was celebrated in a ceremonial atmosphere at the palace, for Tan, it came with long memories and the twists and turns of life in a career that received little public attention. 'This recognition is not just for me but a symbolic tribute to every interpreter who works silently for a fairer inclusivity in Malaysia,' she said with a tearful tone. Tan was among 16 individuals who received the AMN award at the ceremony. — Bernama pic Tan was among 16 individuals who received the AMN award at the ceremony, which also saw Attorney General Tan Sri Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar and Armed Forces chief Gen Tan Sri Mohd Nizam Jaffar being bestowed with the Darjah Panglima Mangku Negara (PMN), which carries the title of Tan Sri. Tan's journey as a sign interpreter began not because of ambition, but because of love and empathy for the person closest to her heart, her younger sister, who is deaf. 'I have a deaf sister... I learned sign language because of my sister. Then I started working as a teacher for the deaf. 'I was a teacher for 17 years. While I was a teacher, I also served as an interpreter with the Federal Court of Malaysia,' she said, who was also the first court sign interpreter in Malaysia in 1994. The contribution of the native of Segamat, Johor to the world of broadcasting began earlier than many expected, around 1985 when she appeared on television through the show Selamat Pagi Malaysia. Her face and sign language actions became important visuals in news broadcasts on RTM as well as in official communication videos, advertisements and various broadcasting mediums that played an important role in conveying information to special groups. Apart from RTM, Tan also provided her services to corporate companies with employees with disabilities, offering information, meetings, and briefings. Meanwhile, Deputy Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay, who was bestowed with the Darjah Panglima Setia Mahkota (PSM), which carries the title of Tan Sri, said the award was a great recognition for him as well as an honour for the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM). 'Thanking His Majesty for this gift, I will continue to carry out the duties and responsibilities entrusted to me as DIG with full commitment, to ensure that the country's security is always maintained,' he said. He also called on all enforcement officers at various levels to uphold the spirit of Sultan Ibrahim's decree, which requires them to carry out their duties with trust and integrity. Present at the ceremony was Her Majesty, Raja Zarith Sofiah, the Queen of Malaysia. Also present were the Prime Minister's wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Speaker of Dewan Rakyat Tan Sri Johari Abdul, Speaker of Dewan Negara Datuk Awang Bemee Awang Ali Basah, Minister of Communications Datuk Fahmi Fadzil and other members of the cabinet. — Bernama
CTV News
28-05-2025
- General
- CTV News
You must order using sign language at this ByWard Market restaurant this summer
Diners will be required to 'sign for their supper' while sitting on the patio of a restaurant in Ottawa's ByWard Market this summer. Dark Fork opened its restaurant in the ByWard Market last September, the city's first 'dine-in-the-dark restaurant.' Patrons eat in a dark dining room where cellphones and other sources of artificial light are forbidden. With the arrival of patio season, Dark Fork is launching the first ever sign language dining experience on its patio on George Street. 'This summer, Dark Fork – famous for its 'dining in the dark' experience – is stepping into the sunlight with a powerful new concept: a patio where guests 'sign for their supper,'' Dark Fork said in a statement. Starting in June, diners enjoying their meal on the heritage stone patio will be required to place their orders in sign language. 'Staffed by deaf and hard-of-hearing servers, the new outdoor space offers a one-of-a-kind opportunity to engage with deaf culture in a welcoming, hands-on way,' the restaurant said. Dark Fork says 'easy-to-follow visual guides' will be placed on each table to show diners how to sign 'please,' 'thank you,' and 'check' along with clear illustrations for each menu item. The 'sign for your supper' patio experience will run from June 4 until the end of the summer. 'This initiative is a collaboration with the Tourism Workplace Accessibility Clinic and is about more than food,' Moe Alameddine, founder of Dark Fork, said in a statement. 'It's about connection, inclusion, and being part of someone else's world for a little while.'
