teaching myself to sign...<3

lyn123468

lyn123468

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i am 19 years old planning on being a teacher and interpreter for the deaf. iv been teaching mydrkf to sign for two years and its been a journey. thoughts?
 
Get some formal language and interpreter training, preferably college-level, if you plan on working with the Deaf in any kind of professional capacity. Frankly, it'd be irresponsible not to.
 
get yourself some deaf FRIENDS. trust me when I tell you that it'll do you a world of good. and don't just do it for purposes of advancing your career aspirations cuz they're wise enough to see right thru that.
 
lol whoa dont get judgemental, thats my plan! :) they make you take tons of ASL classes befote you teach, or interprete. trust me i WANT somone to teach me. i just dont know anyone who is deaf, thats why i joined this website
 
society's_child said:
get yourself some deaf FRIENDS. trust me when I tell you that it'll do you a world of good. and don't just do it for purposes of advancing your career aspirations cuz they're wise enough to see right thru that
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lyn123468 said:
lol whoa dont get judgemental, thats my plan! :) they make you take tons of ASL classes befote you teach, or interprete. trust me i WANT somone to teach me. i just dont know anyone who is deaf, thats why i joined this website
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:hmm:
 
Someone who wants to be an interpreter, but have no interest in participating in "silent" events or deaf outings won't last long in interpreting profession.

I've more respect for interpreter who actually is knowledge of "Deaf World" rather than someone who just show up, interpret, and then go home.
 
How exactly are you "teaching yourself ASL" ?

Really the only way to learn any language is to learn it from people who are already fluent ...if you're trying to learn from books etc more likely than not you're learning a lot of bad habits, and little or no grammar.

There are a few online courses, which are better than nothing but still a last resort since you have no one to make sure your forming signs correctly, using grammar correctly, and even more important you aren't actually involved with anyone who uses the language - which is the point of learning ASL, especially if you think you want to be an interpreter (which unless you've had some exposure to the Deaf community would be a hard thing to "know" you wanted ... It's more than just learning ASL, it's learning an entirely different culture and way of thinking and interacting)
 
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man, you guys are mean. i dont start my asl classes until may, its not like im just going to start int. or teaching withought any langudge skills, i will be tought i just wanted some help, but you guys are ganging up on me like im doing something wrong by trying to learn so im ahead of the class. and no its not like im just going to do my thing and leave, i think deaf culture is amazing and beautiful. stop being jerks.
 
lyn123468 said:
man, you guys are mean. i dont start my asl classes until may, its not like im just going to start int. or teaching withought any langudge skills, i will be tought i just wanted some help, but you guys are ganging up on me like im doing something wrong by trying to learn so im ahead of the class. and no its not like im just going to do my thing and leave, i think deaf culture is amazing and beautiful. stop being jerks.
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Most ADers are not mean but can be blunt, and do have have high standards for ASL acquisition and use.

As a hearing person and terp, let me give you a heads up. In the fields of interpreting and/or deaf ed, having a defensive attitude, name calling, oversensitivity, or impatience will not serve you well. You have to be able to put aside a lot of your personal feelings and reactions. You will learn those things when you get into the training program.

Rather than trying to teach yourself sign language, wait until you do have a live teacher or at least a deaf mentor. Otherwise, you might have to unlearn a lot of bad habits.

That doesn't mean you can't get a head start. I suggest you use the time to read about Deaf culture and the Deaf experience. Reading some Deaf autobiographies or books on Deaf history and culture would be a good introduction to the world you will be entering. Also, reading thru these forums will give you some insight into what Deaf kids' school experiences were like.

All those elements are just as important as learning the mechanics of ASL.

There are some excellent VLOGS and youtubes online by Deaf signers but you have to be very careful and selective. Some signing done on youtube is not ASL despite how they're labeled.

Finally, if you're going to be either an interpreter or a teacher, you must improve your writing skills. Maybe it's the texting habit but your spelling, punctuation, and grammar are not ready from prime time teaching.

I say all this not to be mean but to be enlightening. :)
 
JanatheShort said:
Out of curiosity... how does one stop being hearing? :hmm:
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She means having a "hearing attitude" rather than being a hearing person who truly wants our knowledge and advice EVEN if it isn't really what they want to hear/think we "should say" etc.

I'm going to be blunt and truthful.
I think a lot of hearing people come here thinking we're all going to gush that they're learning ASL (from ASL dictionaries, which is impossible) and say they want to "help deaf people" by being interpreters - but they've had with little or no contact with actual (fluent) ASL users and know nothing whatsoever about Deaf Culture and the Deaf Community.

Don't get me wrong - it's great that hearing people want to learn ASL ... the thing is if they want to learn ASL, they need to understand and respect that it's a complete language, not putting together a few signs that you've worked out from one of the ASL dictionaries online (or worse in print) in some kind of order and thinking that's ASL.
It's also something that (like all languages, but espeically signed ones) you simply can not learn by yourself, and can not learn if you don't have at least a Deaf ASL fluent mentor teaching you and correcting you at every step.

Over the years I've seen dozens of hearing ASL students who've decided to "learn signs" on their own before starting ASL classes ... they think they're getting a head start, but often they end up behind and very frustrated because they've taught themselves and memorized wrong signs, incorrect signs (formed wrong) and created some kind of odd "grammar" to connect signs together ... all of which they have to UN-learn before they can start learning correctly, and it takes 3 or 4 times as long to "un-learn" something as it does to just learn it correctly.


We're not being mean, we're being honest.

If people aren't looking for honest responses, they're going to be unhappy here (and in the Deaf Community) because it's a fairly consistent and important part of Deaf Cultures all over the globe.
 
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Thanks Reba - I was hoping a 'terp would jump in !!


Honest and "mean" aren't the same thing, and as you know us Hoh/Deaf tend to be to the point/blunt/ honest when it comes to questions like this.
 
Great posts from Reba and Anij.. But the kid has probably chosen a new career by now, where she won't ever run into any people as mean as us! :P
 
dereksbicycles said:
Someone who wants to be an interpreter, but have no interest in participating in "silent" events or deaf outings won't last long in interpreting profession.

I've more respect for interpreter who actually is knowledge of "Deaf World" rather than someone who just show up, interpret, and then go home.
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agree! My favorite terp, very involved in Deaf culture, she has 2 Deaf kids, and is very understanding of my life and of Deaf culture... I have another terp wo isn't involved, and she isn't as good... go to deaf events, find deaf people... get involved... to get know us for us... and not just the language we use. Also, do not go just for your "career" but go because you want to be involved. Yes we are blunt, that is part of the culture... my advice... get used to it.
 
lyn123468 said:
man, you guys are mean. i dont start my asl classes until may, its not like im just going to start int. or teaching withought any langudge skills, i will be tought i just wanted some help, but you guys are ganging up on me like im doing something wrong by trying to learn so im ahead of the class. and no its not like im just going to do my thing and leave, i think deaf culture is amazing and beautiful. stop being jerks.
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They're not really being mean so much as blunt. Hang around deaf people enough and you'll get used to it. :P If they were being jerks, they likely wouldn't give you the time of day. Or they'd do nothing but make jokes about you.

So are you planning on being a terp or a teacher? 'Cause those ARE different career paths. For instance, I'm currently at the only Deaf Ed program in my state, and I'll be spending next year living at ISD (the meeting for the ISD program is in less than an hour! :D). My school does not offer a terp major. Another school I looked at had two terp programs: an intensive one that covered everything you need to know, and one with a shorter program and a lesser course load for those fluent in ASL with prior framework (which I thought about maybe taking after getting my Deaf Ed BA, but probably won't end up doing...:hmm:). It does not have a teaching program. However, if you manage to get into someplace like Gallaudet, they have both. :P

In my college's Deaf Ed program, there are a lot of courses to take, including ASL courses, Deaf studies/history/culture courses, Deaf Ed courses, special education courses, general ed courses, and the university core (math, history, science, English, public speaking, etc). Some of the core classes have versions tailored to teachers, which may be easier or harder than previous classes (in HS or college) you may have taken. For instance, my Physics for Teachers class was WAY easier than my HS physics class, but my math class right now is harder than previous math classes, mostly because it's the two "easier" classes combined into one semester. You also have to take classes on how to teach some of the core subjects (some have this built in, like the physics class I mentioned, but some, like my math class, have a separate class to teach you how to teach it).

If you plan on becoming both, I wish you the best of luck! You have a lot of work ahead of you.

And I second what Reba said. I started teaching myself (through a kids' video series that is actually okay as a supplement to classes, but probably not as good alone) at 12, and when I got to HS, there were a few habits I had to unlearn. Most of my "habits" were signs that weren't really used around this region, or where a completely different sign was used when I learned it in class, though one habit was a misuse of a sign where another sign would be better used (the sign in question wasn't "wrong" per se, it just wasn't right :P). That one was the one I had trouble unlearning. It's okay to teach yourself, but don't try to teach yourself too much. Trust me, it's much better to learn sign from a real, living, breathing teacher. And it's more fun!

EDITED TO ADD: LOL, I used the tongue sticking out smiley three times in one message. :laugh2:
 
No i have not chosen a diff carreer. i will not. its my dream to do both, it is what i was ment to do.
 
Anij said:
She means having a "hearing attitude" rather than being a hearing person who truly wants our knowledge and advice EVEN if it isn't really what they want to hear/think we "should say" etc.

I'm going to be blunt and truthful.
I think a lot of hearing people come here thinking we're all going to gush that they're learning ASL (from ASL dictionaries, which is impossible) and say they want to "help deaf people" by being interpreters - but they've had with little or no contact with actual (fluent) ASL users and know nothing whatsoever about Deaf Culture and the Deaf Community.

Don't get me wrong - it's great that hearing people want to learn ASL ... the thing is if they want to learn ASL, they need to understand and respect that it's a complete language, not putting together a few signs that you've worked out from one of the ASL dictionaries online (or worse in print) in some kind of order and thinking that's ASL.
It's also something that (like all languages, but espeically signed ones) you simply can not learn by yourself, and can not learn if you don't have at least a Deaf ASL fluent mentor teaching you and correcting you at every step.

Over the years I've seen dozens of hearing ASL students who've decided to "learn signs" on their own before starting ASL classes ... they think they're getting a head start, but often they end up behind and very frustrated because they've taught themselves and memorized wrong signs, incorrect signs (formed wrong) and created some kind of odd "grammar" to connect signs together ... all of which they have to UN-learn before they can start learning correctly, and it takes 3 or 4 times as long to "un-learn" something as it does to just learn it correctly.


We're not being mean, we're being honest.

If people aren't looking for honest responses, they're going to be unhappy here (and in the Deaf Community) because it's a fairly consistent and important part of Deaf Cultures all over the globe.
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Thanks for the explanation... that makes sense. No one likes someone coming into their culture and saying "I came here, please worship me for being so great"

How does one find a Deaf ASL mentor? :hmm: I hadn't looked hard, because I felt like I needed to prove myself by learning a decent amount of signs first...
 
Reba said:
There are some excellent VLOGS and youtubes online by Deaf signers but you have to be very careful and selective. Some signing done on youtube is not ASL despite how they're labeled.
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That reminds me... I meant to ask about two VLOGS I saw online. I wondered if they are ASL or SEE or what?

11anners's Channel - YouTube This is Anne Reuss... she seems to be becoming quite the social media celebrity. I thought hers might be good for me to watch, if they are in ASL, because she was located pretty near where I live.

thematterathand's Channel - YouTube This is a random VLOG from very far from where I live... but I find the things she talks about to be pretty interesting. I thought this might be a nice one for me to learn random signs from?

Anyway, if anyone has a few extra minutes and could look at these, I'd really appreciate the feedback.

:ty:
 
lyn123468 said:
No i have not chosen a diff carreer. i will not. its my dream to do both, it is what i was ment to do.
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It would help if your first assumption about the community here wasn't that people are being mean or acting like jerks. To that I will say welcome to your first taste of Deaf culture. As Reba said, you need to be humble and open-minded if you plan on being a terp.
 
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