An English-Tunisian teacher develops an application that helps the deaf and dumb to learn English through interactive videos using sign language.
Teacher Manal Barqawi, 28, prepared a book called Let's Handspeak English for the deaf and deaf and then, with the help of a friend, developed a book-based smartphone app.
The app, LET'S Learning English Through Signs, is designed to help deaf people learn English for free wherever they are. The app allows audio-visual materials to teach them a foreign language using Tunisian sign language.
"The idea of the book is different from the books we use for native speakers, because teaching deaf people is different from teaching native speakers," Manal said. The book was different, based on images, videos, and topics different from what we study for speakers. "So I thought of a phone-based book application that is addressed to anyone who can't come to the association. They can use the app for free at home."
"This application contains a very simple book, and also contains video and songs translated from English into Tunisian sign language."
The application helped students like Aziz Musakni, who had little chance of learning English at school.
The young teacher, who is self-funding her project, explained that the application is still in the pilot phase and that it intends to include materials that serve different levels of English.