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Zhang painting a bright future for his students

By Tang Zhe (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-12-14 09:54

Zhang Hui is a source of inspiration at the Guangzhou School for the Deaf. [Photo by Zou Zhongpin / China Daily]

Art teacher promotes optimism and a never-say-die spirit

Guangzhou - Although they couldn't hear the birds singing or the river murmuring, Zhang Hui and his students paint no less splendidly than anyone else.

Zhang started working as an art teacher at the Guangzhou School for the Deaf after graduating from university more than 10 years ago and says his greatest ambition is to see more deaf children live more colorful lives through painting.

"Deaf people are in no way inferior to the general population. We live just as well through our own efforts," said Zhang. "More than 100 of my students have won national prizes in art and I have won gold awards at national art competitions many times."

Zhang is especially proud that many of his students have passed the national college entrance examination and have gone on to study fine arts at university.

While Zhang teaches his students how to draw and paint pictures, he also shows them how to live life with an optimistic attitude and a never-say-die spirit.

Through years of study, Zhang is able to read lips.

"My mother taught me when I was a little child," said Zhang, who also works as the chairman of the Guangzhou Tianhe Association of the Deaf. "A friend of my mother, who is a teacher at a normal school, also helped me a lot because the best way for the deaf to improve their communication skills is to speak with normal people."

According to Zhang, a kindergarten is affiliated to his school and the deaf children there play with other children to practice their speaking skills; many of them can enter normal primary schools if they reach a certain level.

The communication tools in the information age also provide more assistance to deaf children as they can communicate with others via the Internet; that also helps to build their confidence.

China Daily