(The interview was conducted on 13th April, 2018)
Legend:
K: Katrina, YA: Deaf Youth A
K: So we’ll start now, it’ll be really quick.
YA: Mm.
K: Could you introduce yourself? How old are you? Are you studying or working at the moment?
YA: I am 20 this year.
K: 20 years old, right.
YA: Yes. But... I have not graduated from secondary school.
K: Mm.
YA: Right now, I am working long-term. But not full-time.
K: Mm... part-time?
YA: I’m working part-time.
K: Mm, what industry are you working in?
YA: The food and beverage industry.
K: The food and beverage industry. I would like to ask if you studied in a mainstream school or...
YA: My primary school was a mainstream one.
K: Mm.
YA: I studied in a mainstream school until Secondary One.
K: Secondary One, right.
YA: My mum noticed that I was being bullied in school so I was transferred to a special school.
K: Mm, um...
YA: Because I have two older brothers who also, sorry... (interrupted by teammates)... Because I have two older brothers who studied in that (special) school, my mum and the teachers there know each other quite well. So I was transferred to that school.
K: Do you and your brothers have the similar condition of hard of hearing? How is your hearing ability?
YA: Um... it’s severe.
K: Oh, it’s severe.
YA: But it’s not the kind of severe you think. Even if I did not wear my hearing device, and someone next to me... for example playing the drums, I can still hear the sound.
K: Oh I see. When you say hearing device, do you mean a hearing aid?
YA: Yes, I have hearing aids.
K: Oh, do you need them for both ears?
YA: Um... I have two hearing aids but I only wear one when I go to work.
K: Mm. Why do you work instead of continuing your studies?
YA: I...
K: Why do you choose to work since you are studying?
YA: No, I’m not studying now.
K: Oh you’re not studying. Oh you’re working part-time.
YA: Yes.
K: How did you find this job? Did you look for it yourself or did a friend introduce you?
YA: It’s a family business.
K: Oh it’s a family business.
YA: So I help out.
K: So you help out. Oh I see. Do you mind sharing about your job? Are you happy working there? Or are there any [memorable] experiences after working all this time?
YA: About my work?
K: Mm.
YA: Um... For my work, we serve bubble tea and we have some blenders. That day we took the morning shift and there were only two of us working. But we had to deal with transactions at the cashier, fill the drinks, fry food in the kitchen and prepare tea. So usually it is difficult for two people to handle everything. We can’t handle so much.
K: Yes, it would be difficult to handle so much.
YA: And then suddenly there were a lot of customers that morning. [We had to prepare] over 10 cups of bubble tea. I was the one preparing the drinks and a customer from behind called me “Miss, excuse me, is my order ready?” But I couldn’t hear it then. The customer felt that I ignored him/her and that I completed everyone else’s orders first on purpose and pretended not to hear him/her. Afterwards he/she gave me the long face, said that I was very rude and left. In the afternoon, the office WhatsApped me and told me that I was being complained about on Facebook, so they asked me what happened. Afterwards I went onto Facebook to check it out. In the paragraph, he/she posted that “the girl with the pink hair pretended not to hear [me] and ignored me”. (getting louder) That moment I really wanted to tell him/her I genuinely can’t hear. But...
K: But you never thought he/she would take that step (to complain online).
YA: Yeah I felt very helpless.
K: Yes, helpless.
YA: My colleagues will now look out for me.
K: So, did your company help you respond to the post on Facebook?
YA: Um... our company did not care about the customer but also did not punish me.
K: Mm, so your company supports and understands you.
YA: They know I am hard of hearing but also reminded me to be more alert by looking around more often.
K: So do you think you are open to sharing with others about your hearing condition? Or would you prefer keeping it from others?
YA: I don’t mind telling others. But I really dislike it when others discriminate. They would say “oh you can’t hear” and pretend to be your friend. But then turns out they gossip about you behind your back.
K: Mm. What are your plans for the future? Do you plan to continue working long-term for your family business or would you look for other jobs?
YA: Actually this is my first job. So if I apply for jobs outside, I might need to go through interviews and they might ask about previous working experiences. For people who are hard of hearing -- forget about English -- even Chinese may not be pronounced properly. You can hear it (from me).
K: Mm.
YA: So [I] might not be able to find other jobs.
K: So you have concerns about such issues too.
YA: (defeated) Yeah...
K: I see. How do you identify yourself? Do you see yourself as a member of the Deaf community or do you wish for others not to see you as Deaf after putting on the hearing aid? Would you be against this identity?
YA: Actually I’m okay with both. Because (gestures right hand) this is a Deaf person and (gestures left hand) this is a hearing individual. I am a fusion in-between. Because I have other hearing-abled friends and they know I am hard of hearing. Originally they thought by talking loudly, I would be able to hear them. But I slowly interacted with them and taught them how to communicate [with me]. So eventually it became easier to interact with one another. So Deaf identity or not, I am okay with it.
K: I would like to know more about your secondary school. You mentioned you transferred to a special school. Do they offer sign language and oralism together during lessons?
YA: Yes. And also a mainstream school would have thirty to forty students in a class. But for special schools, each class consists of around ten to twenty-five students, which is not a lot. There will be one or two teachers during lessons. They use the blackboard and speak slowly.
K: They speak slowly.
YA: Yes, to help us learn.
K: So do all the teachers know sign language and oralism, and use them both to teach?
YA: Um, the teachers will speak slowly and they know a little bit [of sign language]. Even if they don’t know sign language, they will use their body gestures to help [convey the message].
K: Are the teachers hearing individuals or are they a mix of hearing and Deaf persons?
YA: All of them are hearing-abled.
K: All of them are hearing-abled?
YA: Yeah.
K: Do you think it would make a difference if your teachers had similar hearing conditions as you? Or do you think both hearing and Deaf teachers are fine?
YA: Both are not a problem.
K: Mm. Are you able to sign without difficulty?
YA: (shakes head) because all my family members sign to one another.
K: Oh okay. Regarding your family, are your parents...
YA: My mum is completely deaf. My dad is half-hearing.
K: So after putting on your hearing aids, do you think there are any inconveniences in class or at work?
YA: Usually when I put them on, I won’t have any problems.
K: Mm.
YA: But sometimes if I can’t hear properly, I will ask the customer “sorry, could you repeat your order once more?” So it is important to maintain a good attitude.
K: Yes, I see. I would like to ask a little more. Do you think the Hong Kong government provides enough resources to the Deaf community?
YA: Sorry?
K: (slowly) The government-
YA: (trying to catch the words) the government-
K: providing resources and aid to the Deaf community – are they sufficient?
YA: Right now, there are some live television shows that do not have subtitles. Sometimes I really want to watch them but I have no idea what they are saying. Also, we have some seniors who requested the government to include some sign language or subtitles [for the live television shows] but the government did not respond to them.
K: The government did not respond to them, right. Do you think the policy and resource allocation are enough? For example, you have friends from both the hearing and Deaf community. From my knowledge, there are only two schools for the Deaf in Hong Kong. Do you think this fulfills the demand [of the Deaf students]?
YA: Assets?
K: Resources.
YA: Resources, oh. What resources?
K: For example, schools or subsidies to help the Deaf community. Do you think it fulfills your daily needs? Or do you think it’s not enough.
YA: Right now, there are only two special schools for the Deaf. This year, one of them is closing down. Because most of the hearing impaired students have been fused into the mainstream schools and have lessons together [with the hearing-abled students]. I’m not very sure if it’s helpful as I only studied until around Form 3 because of family issues, so I stopped my education. Maybe it’d be better if you ask the others.
K: Oh okay, I see. I think this is about it. Thank you!
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(The interview was conducted on 13th April, 2018)
Legend:
K: Katrina, YB: Deaf Youth B, I: Interpreter
K: Could you introduce yourself? How old are you now?
YB: Twenty-five years old.
K: Are you working?
YB: (nods)
K: Do you mind sharing what are you working as?
YB: As a freelancer.
K: As a freelancer, okay. Um... were these jobs introduced to you or did you look for it yourself?
YB: A friend introduced to me.
K: Are you happy working there?
YB: Okay, I’m happy.
K: Um... do you mind sharing some unforgettable working experiences?
YB: No, there’s nothing special.
K: What do you think about the interaction with your colleagues at work?
YB: Okay.
K: Are there any negative experiences?
YB: No.
K: Oh okay. That’s great. Um, how is your treatment at work?
YB: (Signs) Okay.
I: Delayed payment?
K: Delayed payment!
YB: (sheepishly) Very little.
K: Your boss delayed your payment?
I: Did your boss disappear?
YB: Trying to get the pay back [now].
K: There’s delaying in payment, I see. Do you have a good relationship with your colleagues?
YB: They’re great.
K: So they would help you?
YB: (nods)
K: Mm... they would help you. That’s good. Do you think the Hong Kong government provides sufficient assistance to you?
YB: A little. There is very little financial aid.
K: Mm, very little financial aid.
YB: They did not help us find jobs.
K: So you think the government did not help you find jobs. Um... so what do you think the government can do more other than finding jobs for you?
YB: (with certainty) Lower positions. Provide more lower-positioned jobs for us.
K: Like having referrals?
YB: We can’t find jobs with high pay because we can only find jobs with low positions.
K: Is it kind of being exploited?
YB: Yes, a little.
K: Mm, do you mind sharing a little about your education?
I: For example?
K: Did you study in a special school?
YB: I studied in Chun Tok School.
K: Which year did you finish school?
YB: Secondary 6.
K: Secondary 6, I see. Did you take the public examination?
YB: Yes.
YB: (signs and tries to spell aloud)
K & I: DSE!
K: Do you mind sharing your [HKDSE] results?
YB: It’s average.
K: But did you want to pursue further studies like the associate degrees?
YB: No, I could not.
K: Um... so would you like to work full-time or continue working as a freelancer?
YB: Yes, will look for [a full-time job] later.
K: Mm, I think that’s about it. Oh, may I know if you are the only hearing-impaired in your family?
YB: It’s only me.
K: I see, okay thank you!
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