A group of fifth graders from Peoria, Illinois are being praised this week after they gave up their playtime to learn sign language so that they could better communicate with their deaf classmate.

Rhemy Elsey is a deaf little boy who has cochlear implants, but he still relies on signing for much of his communication. When his classmates learned this, they decided to give up recess every Wednesday to form an American Sign Language club. Every week, they practice their sign language skills as Rhemy coaches them.

Rhemy was completely overwhelmed when he heard that his classmates were willing to give up recess just so that they could communicate with him.

“It’s like they want to be like me,” Rhemy said.

Tammy Arvin, Rhemy’s translator who helps out with the club, said that she is also touched by what his classmates are doing.

“The other neat thing about it for a deaf child in a mainstream situation, it can be really hard for them from a social and emotional standpoint to have an interpreter following them around all day long. It can feel somewhat isolating,” she said. “So it’s wonderful to see him have interactions with students that are one-on-one and that are more natural interactions that make him feel less isolated in the school setting.”

“The students are just having fun,” she added. “They don’t necessarily realize they’re learning … about deaf culture by participating in this club. It really gives them a perspective on this other culture within the U.S. that they previously weren’t aware [of], so they’re benefiting ginormously just in terms of learning about diversity and having a broader perspective on the world around them.”

Find out more about this in the video below!