2023.06.26
“Hello, welcome! Welcome to the 7-ELEVEN Jiaoxi branch.” Something seems a bit unusual today. The voices of the staff appear to be a bit more youthful than usual. Upon a closer look, we find out that our children with hearing loss are serving as one-day store clerks!
“Teacher, can I help customers at the counter later?”” Store manager, can I help put the drinks in the refrigerator?” The children in their tiny uniforms, radiating enthusiasm and energy. They can’t wait to pull the sleeves of their fellow clerk brothers and sisters, beginning a morning of service.
Overcoming Complex Ambient Noise and Listening with Care
“Hello, I’ll ring you up. The total is 125 NT dollars. You’re giving me 150 NT dollars, and your change is 25 NT dollars. Thank you for visiting!” At the first station, the children stand at the checkout counter, ringing up customers. Despite their young age, their service is far from casual. “Please give me an extra straw and a spoon!” Many customers present their specific requests. Despite the interference of ambient noise from other customers’ conversations and in-store announcements, the children make a genuine effort to overcome distractions and listen carefully to provide the best service to the customers. “This little girl is so cute, and you’re doing a great job! I’ll buy another cup of coffee from you!” Customers witnessing the children’s smiles and their serious work demeanor find themselves uplifted by the joyful atmosphere.
After experiencing the cash register work, the children begin restocking items for customers. In addition to patiently placing identically packaged biscuits, candies, and bread on the shelves, they must also carefully inspect the packaging from both sides, ensuring they don’t make mistakes. The beverage refrigerator is another intriguing space, and as they step inside, the children reveal surprised smiles. They come to appreciate the hard work of the store clerks. “So it’s really cold inside here!” The children’s expressions reflect their amazement, and they now understand the challenges faced by the store clerks. “Turns out, the store clerks have to restock drinks in here every day. It’s really tough! I won’t be careless with the drinks anymore!”
Experiencing the Joys and Challenges of Being a Convenience Store Clerk
“I thought she’d be too nervous to talk, but she actually approached customers for a chat!” “She was so excited yesterday that she couldn’t sleep. Even with her eyes almost closing, she made a diligent effort to complete all her tasks. She’s really responsible!” Despite the short four-hour experience, parents have observed improvements in their children and share their pride and joy with other family members. “Our little manager’s experience was a success!” “I’ll wait patiently in line the next time I’m at the counter; I won’t get impatient anymore.” “Rearranging the products is tiring, and restocking drinks in the freezer is freezing. I used to haphazardly place things I didn’t want to buy, but not anymore.” The children share their thoughts, one after another, and this experiential activity not only allows them to gain a simple understanding of the life of store clerks but also helps them experience the challenges behind the profession, fostering empathy and a friendly attitude towards others.
