Quote:
Originally Posted by Reba
You guys are so blessed to have all these resources to help you learn ASL. I feel like I was learning during the Stone Age. 
"Back in my day" the most technology available for learning ASL was books and VHS tapes. That was about it. And there weren't that many of those either. Classes and workshops were harder to find, and weren't consistent in quality.
Now, there's the internet with forums, like AllDeaf, online video dictionary sites like aslpro, signingsavvy, lifeprint, and handspeak, and examples of real life signing on vlogs, and youtube. You can buy, check out, or borrow DVD's, and you can chat with deaf friends via videocameras. It's great!
There are so many youtube ASL videos that I can't keep up with them. That's a good problem to have.  |
I know!!
being able to pop online, find basically anything you need, see how to correctly form the sign, compare multiple sites for regional and stylistic differences etc ... just wow (I learned before the days of internet, cell phones, VPs etc ... )
In some ways though, I kinda miss the "good old days" - before online video sign dictionaries etc ASL students HAD to get out into the Deaf Community if they wanted to learn. There was no such thing as "I'll just post on a message board and someone will give me the answers", all without actually MEETING a "Deaf Person" in real life or even having to use any ASL at all to ask and see the answers!!!
It was better back then ... we where expected to get together, attend events, meet the other ASL teachers, find out about and attend various ASL functions and support the ASL/Deaf/Hoh community.
It's easier now to find and use resources, but I'm not entirely sure it's "better" in terms of what learning ASL is suppose to be about
