Deaf teacher hopes to build bridge between the deaf and hearing communities

SINGAPORE – When Mr David Lee was in Primary 3, he had a mathematics teacher with a hearing disability similar to his who fluently and clearly explained mathematical concepts in sign language.

The teacher’s “passion for learning and his dedication to sharing knowledge with students left a deep impression on me”, Mr Lee, 56, told The Straits Times. “It was then that I began to dream of becoming an educator like him.”

On July 9, Mr Lee was among 721 students who graduated from the National Institute of Education (NIE) and Nanyang Technological University, receiving the Postgraduate Diploma in Education (Primary).

He currently teaches mathematics and science at Mayflower Primary School, which is one of many mainstream schools in Singapore that take in children with hearing loss. There, he works alongside subject teachers to ensure deaf and hearing students can learn together in the same classroom.

“I hope to nurture an inclusive environment where hearing and deaf communities collaborate, learn from one another and celebrate differences,” he said.

Mr Lee’s journey to fulfil his childhood dream of becoming a teacher took a few detours, as he worked in different industries as a mechanical and an electrical engineer, as well as a quantity surveyor.

Throughout that time, the itch to teach gnawed at him. In 2000, he decided to pursue a Diploma in Special Education, after which he had two stints teaching at the Singapore School for the Deaf, which he believed was his calling.

NIE, where Mr Lee enrolled in 2023, supported him with advance access to lesson notes, voice-to-text assistive technologies and sign language interpreters.

Mr Lee said sign language allows him to explain academic concepts visually, which helps students.

With hearing students who are unfamiliar with sign language, he communicates with them through the written word.

During discussions and meetings in school, the use of assistive technology like the Otter.ai app, which converts speech to text in real time, enables him to be engaged.

Mr Lee also teaches students and colleagues simple conversational Singapore Sign Language to build a bridge between the two communities.

“I see such moments as opportunities to improve communication and foster mutual understanding,” he said. “I want every student – regardless of their hearing ability – to feel seen, heard and empowered.”

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Source: The Straits Times © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction.