<font color='black' size='2' face='arial'>MY TEACHING EXPERIENCE IN UAE BY DENNY VORECK<br>
<br>
<div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><span>The American School
for the Deaf (ASD) collaborated with the Zaye<font size="2">d</font> Higher Organization (ZHO)
to provide educational services for deaf pupils in the United Arab
Emirates (UAE). The ZHO requested two teachers
from the US to teach American Sign Language (ASL) and English to deaf
children and teachers of deaf children for eight weeks in February and
March. ASD posted the advertisement regarding the request by the ZHO on
Deaf Digest. After I read it, I applied for
this lifetime opportunity without any hesitation because I always
wanted to teach deaf children in a foreign country since I was 13 years
old when I visited a Deaf school in Graz, Austria where my parents had
graduated. </span></div>
<div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><span> </span></div>
<div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><span>I was eventually
selected as one of two teachers out of 30 applicants by the ZHO, which
runs the children with disabilities programs in the state of Abu Dhabi
in the UAE. The other teacher is Patricia Pangborn,
a teacher at American School for the Deaf in West Hartford, CT. We
agreed that I would teach deaf classes in Abu Dhabi, a capital of the
country and she would teach in Al-Ain, 100 miles east of Abu Dhabi.
After the ZHO learned that I am Deaf, they had some
reservations because they never had a deaf teacher before and thought
that they would have some communication difficulties with me. Jeff
Bravin, Executive Director of ASD, assured them that they would be fine
with me.</span></div>
<div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><span> </span></div>
<div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><span>On Saturday evening, <span tabindex="0" class="aBn" data-term="goog_1306687651"><span class="aQJ">January 30th</span></span>
I departed from Phoenix, Arizona, my residence for three years, and
took a flight to John F Kennedy Airport. I arrived in the airport next
morning. Andy Berke, Director
of Transportation, greeted me at the airport and drove me to ASD. I
discovered that the school campus had several feet of snow and since I
did not have experience with snow walked awkwardly to my temporary
residence. </span></div>
<div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><span> </span></div>
<div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><span>From <span tabindex="0" class="aBn" data-term="goog_1306687652"><span class="aQJ">Monday, February 2nd to Wednesday, February 4th</span></span>,
Ms. Pangborn and I reviewed curriculum materials and developed the
lesson plans for UAE students and teachers. We departed from ASD campus
in the very
early morning on Thursday, February 5th We took Etihad Airlines, which
is owned by UAE entrepreneurs and flew for 13 and half hours. </span></div>
<div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><span> </span></div>
<div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><span>On <span tabindex="0" class="aBn" data-term="goog_1306687654"><span class="aQJ">Friday, February 6th</span></span>
we arrived in Abu Dhabi. The ZHO driver greeted us at the airport and
drove us to Armed Forces Officers Club and Hotel. We were overwhelmed by
this elegant five-star hotel. We stayed
at the hotel for a couple of days to acclimate to the Arabian Peninsula
climate and time difference.</span></div>
<div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><span> </span></div>
<div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><span>On Sunday afternoon, <span tabindex="0" class="aBn" data-term="goog_1306687655"><span class="aQJ">February 8th</span></span>,
Patty and I met with Nahyan, ASD student's parents at the hotel lobby.
We had very productive two hour conversation covering various topics
including education of deaf
in the UAE.</span></div>
<div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><span> </span></div>
<div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><span>On <span tabindex="0" class="aBn" data-term="goog_1306687656"><span class="aQJ">Tuesday, February 9th</span></span>,
I was so excited for my first day of work with Deaf UAE students and
teachers today. A personal school driver picked me up at the hotel and
drove me to the ZHO, a school site for
special education students. Someone escorted me to the department of
Hearing Impaired. Some minutes later, several male and female deaf
students greeted me and asked if I am deaf. I replied that I am deaf,
the same as them. We chatted to break the ice. We
walked to the lecture room where I would be teaching. Approximately 16
deaf pupils and 10 staff were in the class. Male pupils and staff were
sitting separately from their female counterpart. Most female students
and staff wore headscarves. Male are forbidden
to touch a female unless the male is a relative or married to her. I
was caught off guard when a female administrator learned of my marital
status; she announced in the class that she was going to look for Arab
woman for me so I could live here. I smirked
awkwardly and have to be open-minded to their different culture. I was
pleased that I had a great start at the school.</span></div>
<div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><span> <img tabindex="0" class="CToWUd a6T" name="14de3fa2d816c616_ACCOUNT.IMAGE.5745" src="https://ci6.googleusercontent.com/proxy/VZmEVLJcj1KpfSHnyyDHNHB5-cz8E2igUBmM6dPKh59FcSQqc4oXdhLlWmf4w7SVOfHgDo1NZaL-zqNRoNJhjLbcRPbBwJs6dQPHIpU5KNoin1wHvdA_Nasg1667YXdkwzrb=s0-d-e1-ft#http://files.ctctcdn.com/665a6088001/883ada1f-1945-4b88-95a2-3ea1b8bc6bd5.jpg" border="0" height="338" hspace="5" vspace="5" width="450"></span></div>
<div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><span>(UAE deaf students saying "Hello to the America")</span></div>
<div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"> </div>
<div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><span> </span></div>
<div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><span>On <span tabindex="0" class="aBn" data-term="goog_1306687657"><span class="aQJ">Friday, February 13</span></span>,
I left for Dubai, a popular tourist destination in the UAE and met a
longtime friend, Helene and her little daughter there and visited a
desert.</span></div>
<div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><span> <img tabindex="0" class="CToWUd a6T" name="14de3fa2d816c616_ACCOUNT.IMAGE.5746" src="https://ci5.googleusercontent.com/proxy/l6zaSvHjVV3PpOV75NTF4O_rtS2hhxmNtHT2cisSiUDKQ6khY4zpubhduW99837Z9E0jIuOl8H5AlvN668G7DgCeE2WmyOQRbAfBvWkDwgF80OAoq-6_5ZgOe5Apgdx00-CQ=s0-d-e1-ft#http://files.ctctcdn.com/665a6088001/6b9a5aec-ca8f-49c0-8d19-4bae12c548be.jpg" border="0" height="338" hspace="5" vspace="5" width="450"></span></div>
<div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><span>(My long-time Austrian family friend, Helene, her daughter, and myself riding on the camel)</span></div>
<div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"> </div>
<div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><span> </span></div>
<div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><span>On <span tabindex="0" class="aBn" data-term="goog_1306687658"><span class="aQJ">Friday, February 20th</span></span>,
the father of Nahyan, the UAE student attending ASD, picked me up at
the hotel. We went to Qasr Al Hosn Festival in downtown Abu Dhabi. It
displayed the culture and history of Abu
Dhabi. The city used to be a desert town. After the discovery of oil,
the city became a booming metropolis including a lot of skyscrapers. We
toured different booths, dancing performance, and the fort. It was a
first government building and palace during the
birth of a nation - the United Arab Emirates. I learned about different
parts of date plants, palm trees, dying the stuff, knitting with palm
leaves, and history of the palace.</span></div>
<div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><span> <img tabindex="0" class="CToWUd a6T" name="14de3fa2d816c616_ACCOUNT.IMAGE.5747" src="https://ci3.googleusercontent.com/proxy/PwRHkOzQ_t3JWFXzaAG06yRiiqzt2vN3aXlDuGaa4D4-hTj6_y14DOc2b7ZMuAaKHxC2qPxE1AG07JFCN3QyjTBhAZT9-Jz_xtFtlbx9y8rliZxOIqwoZ2DgwQBVKWpwZLQH=s0-d-e1-ft#http://files.ctctcdn.com/665a6088001/c45d9d33-4164-4902-9f18-51c3385b2c15.jpg" border="0" height="338" hspace="5" vspace="5" width="450"></span></div>
<div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><span>(Nahyan's dad and I toured at Qasr Al Hosn festival)</span></div>
<div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"> </div>
<div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><span> </span></div>
<div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><span>On <span tabindex="0" class="aBn" data-term="goog_1306687659"><span class="aQJ">Thursday, March 12th</span></span>,
Jeff Bravin, ASD Director paid a visit to my class with Deaf and Hard
of Hearing students. He talked about the ASD program and had a
discussion with Dr. Mariam, Director of the ZHO
to allow female students to attend ASD. All female students in my class
wanted to go to the US. Jeff also had a meeting with my Deaf and Hard
of Hearing teachers in next class session. He gave a presentation about
the ASD program and how did the UAE students
fare at ASD. Some teachers asked about an oral program, and if it
benefits Deaf and Hard of Hearing children's education. Jeff replied
that it depends on an individual. They were impressed that Jeff and I
are so well educated despite the fact that we could
not speak. They asked us if there are deaf people in America like us.
He replied again that it depends on individual and everyone is
different.</span></div>
<div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><span> <img tabindex="0" class="CToWUd a6T" name="14de3fa2d816c616_ACCOUNT.IMAGE.5748" src="https://ci3.googleusercontent.com/proxy/6_NVgwaAo6xjhJE4DUm7gekvWUtqcdhO57fV0RLONX_PltN4lrh6K__VzXci1-9UgPLeHPAQRt5s5YaRv8kVt7H6Qw-uFltgXYv4lBNGI2aI3eWvvcHYvh1ERdGaL6DF6Vnx=s0-d-e1-ft#http://files.ctctcdn.com/665a6088001/c2257541-2ff4-4b1e-925c-b838b738faaa.jpg" border="0" height="450" hspace="5" vspace="5" width="450"></span></div>
<div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><span>(Jeff giving ASD picture to Amoon, the principal of Deaf Section in Zayed Higher Organization)</span></div>
<div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><span> </span></div>
<div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><span>On <span tabindex="0" class="aBn" data-term="goog_1306687660"><span class="aQJ">Friday, March 13th</span></span>,
Jeff Bravin invited ASD alumni and Nayhan's family for dinner buffet at
the hotel. We had grand time and were chatting about different
subjects. I realized that ASD makes a big impact
on deaf community in the UAE because many deaf people know ASL. Some of
them are ASD alumni.</span></div>
<div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><span> <img tabindex="0" class="CToWUd a6T" name="14de3fa2d816c616_ACCOUNT.IMAGE.5749" src="https://ci4.googleusercontent.com/proxy/_PovCkEB7QVzqkmeA1dR-vp9WkRPW7-D2bULFsG9zlO9Ssq3VZXzQ0SlU2GpaU5ZSsHXtAIQsAMrzhTfQ5gcZlMs9lC6l99b22AocT8-iGXDvXZByTXzKLNhf_Vn54S6uPUF=s0-d-e1-ft#http://files.ctctcdn.com/665a6088001/282c6b27-31c6-4cf6-a558-d56f034733a1.jpg" border="0" height="450" hspace="5" vspace="5" width="450"></span></div>
<div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><span>(ASD alumni, two fathers, Jeff, Janice Knauth, and myself at the hotel buffet gathering)</span></div>
<div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"> </div>
<div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><span> </span></div>
<div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><span>On <span tabindex="0" class="aBn" data-term="goog_1306687661"><span class="aQJ">Wednesday, March 25th</span></span>,
I felt sad because it was my last day with Deaf and Hard of Hearing
students. Two months flew quickly. The students kept asking me if I
would return, and I replied that I didn't
know. I told them that I promise that I would advocate on behalf of
female students so that they would be allowed to attend ASD one day.
ZHO and ASD might make a compromise to send a female teacher with a
group of female students to ASD. </span></div>
<div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><span> </span></div>
<div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><span>On <span tabindex="0" class="aBn" data-term="goog_1306687662"><span class="aQJ">Thursday, March 26th</span></span>,
I provided final ASL exams to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing teachers.
Two teachers asked me to meet them at the mall after the exam and gave
me a bag with a card and a small box.
It was "Thank You" with signatures by teachers. I opened the box and
was utterly shocked to find new Calvin Klein watch! I will never forget
their generosity.</span></div>
<div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><span> </span></div>
<div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><span>I am currently teaching PE class at ASD until the end of this school year.</span></div>
<div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><span> </span></div>
<img tabindex="0" class="CToWUd a6T" name="14de3fa2d816c616_ACCOUNT.IMAGE.5750" src="https://ci6.googleusercontent.com/proxy/cz_w8u9ZYcy-pYWNs-MG2Llytf2IC5wSwm5FR-uXGHyNoFYWRZ46KAyPZx47LtOGewzrZD8IIMTV4w9Lu6sV37NgqhDxrKYljcXcUZuMS6WXmwEfxTJN1uN25LCeOih6-9G8=s0-d-e1-ft#http://files.ctctcdn.com/665a6088001/dbc60528-ca5a-4ffa-945f-6046a70ccdd3.jpg" border="0" height="600" hspace="5" vspace="5" width="450">
<br>
<div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><span> </span></div>
<div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><span>(Receving a nice Calvin Klein watch by UAE Deaf and Hard of Hearing teachers)</span></div>
</font>
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