horsegal
New Member
- Joined
- Jan 5, 2011
- Messages
- 23
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Hey there!
I am an interpreting student. I have a few Deaf friends and that is helping my ASL skills progress, but the thing I am most struggling to overcome is to stop attaching English words to my signs. I was recently watching a video by Austin Andrews on youtube, whose signing is very pure ASL. Halfway through the first video I realized that I was RUINING it with my English-oriented brain. It would be so much more enjoyable if I could shift my thinking to thinking in a VISUAL language.
My question is this -- to anyone who has any opinions or answers -- are there any thoughts, ideas, or strategies to shift thinking like this? I know native signers already think visually, but for me to constantly interpret my thoughts back and forth and always attaching English meaning to a sign is making it very cumbersome. I would love any input from you guys! Thanks so much, and for being so patient with us learners. You are all fantastic!
I am an interpreting student. I have a few Deaf friends and that is helping my ASL skills progress, but the thing I am most struggling to overcome is to stop attaching English words to my signs. I was recently watching a video by Austin Andrews on youtube, whose signing is very pure ASL. Halfway through the first video I realized that I was RUINING it with my English-oriented brain. It would be so much more enjoyable if I could shift my thinking to thinking in a VISUAL language.
My question is this -- to anyone who has any opinions or answers -- are there any thoughts, ideas, or strategies to shift thinking like this? I know native signers already think visually, but for me to constantly interpret my thoughts back and forth and always attaching English meaning to a sign is making it very cumbersome. I would love any input from you guys! Thanks so much, and for being so patient with us learners. You are all fantastic!