From left to right: Amongla Walling, Admin and Co-founder of DBM Dimapur, Christina Walling, Principal, DBM Dimapur, Kevirale-ü Kerhou, Director SCERT and Kerüüpfeü Rüpreo, Additional Director SCERT and Daniel Thong Seb, Sr Lecturer SCERT.
Kohima, November 13 (MExN): The inaugural programme of “Certificate course on Sign Language with specific reference to Nagaland Sign Language” was held at the SCERT conference hall-1 on October 28 last.
Chairing the programme, Sr Lecture SCERT Kohima, Daniel Thong Seb gave a brief introduction and set the table for release of the Module developed by SCERT, Kohima and DBM, Dimapur. The module was released by Amongla Walling, Admin and Co-founder of DBM, Dimapur; Christina Walling, Principal, DBM, Dimapur; Kevirale-ü Kerhou, Director SCERT, Nagaland; Kerüüpfeü Rüpreo, Additional Director SCERT, Nagaland and Daniel Thong Seb, Sr Lecture SCERT, Nagaland.
Director SCERT, Nagaland, Kevirale-ü Kerhou in her inaugural speech stated that the Deaf Biblical Ministry, Dimapur has contributed a lot in Sign Language. “Over the years they have also worked with SCERT in several workshops but today will be a red-letter day as jointly with them we have developed a module and this will be used during the training,” Kerhou stated.
“The certificate course in Sign Language with specific reference to Nagaland Sign Language is unique and one of the first of its kind so far. All the signs are contributed by the Deaf Community with DBM taking the lead role,” Kerhou stated.
Taking in cognition of the principle of the NEP 2020 where the local sign language is to be respected, we have jointly organised this course to popularize our local sign language, she added.
Christina Walling, Principal, DBM Dimapur, in her keynote address assured that the present training will be a fruitful one. She stressed on the use of correct terms for addressing the deaf people and requested the trainees to be empathetic towards them and mentioned the sign language is very rich in expression, however for the certificate course the module will suffice.
Daniel Thong Seb explained about the strategy involved in this certificate course, starting with two days contact training followed with 15 days of assignment at inclusive schools where the trainees will perform their assignments. At the end of 15 days, the head of the school will certify their assignments by signing and giving their official seal for approval. This certificate with completed assignments will enable them to join another course on Master’s Level Sign Language and Interpreter. This certificate will also be one criteria to join the Master Trainer Course to be introduced later on.
Team of international trainers advised the trainees to keep on practicing to retain the new sign language which they have learned and hopped to see them at the Master Level Trainer and Interpreter course.
During the valedictory programme, Pekruzeto Kesiezie, Additional Director, SCERT, Nagaland opined he was impressed to see the trainees communicating in sign language and witnessed each representative of different institutes expressing their profound gratitude to the International trainers through Nagaland Sign Language.
