I have a question for you guys...?

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loriinwa

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I'm "hearing"...ahh I feel so awkward. Anyway I'm visiting China near a deaf/mute school, and some of the staff there have asked me to help teach them English. I'd love to help, but don't want to be inconsiderate or do anything that offends any of them. Also, I can speak and write Chinese fluently, for an introduction or if they have any questions, but I still prefer English, since it's more natural for me.
I don't think I know much about this community, but a while ago I watched a lot of "Switched at Birth". It's stupid that basically what I know about the whole community is from a TV show, but from some of the threads I read, I feel like it portrays the deaf community, at least, pretty accurately (or at least better than most things).
Anyway, I'd just like some advice for when I go (which will be soon, since I'm leaving this part of China in a little less than a week!). Any tips?
Thanks guys, and I really want to apologize for the rude and ignorant people posting things online about deaf/mute people.
 
Please don't say "mute". Deaf is the proper word, not deaf/mute.

Are you talking about teaching deaf Chinese students ASL or English? If they asked you to teach them how to read/write English, how do you communicate with them if you don't know Chinese sign language?
 
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Mute: is non speaking according to the dictionary. Some "deaf" can speak.
aside: I can speak as I became bilateral DEAF - December 20, 2006.
 
drphil said:
Mute: is non speaking according to the dictionary. Some "deaf" can speak.
aside: I can speak as I became bilateral DEAF - December 20, 2006.
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It is also consider offensive to some people . I have a feeling most deaf and hoh person find it offensive. I do not like it , as it once meant a person was slow and I bet some people still use the word 'mute' in this way.
 
Use "non-oral" or "non-speaking" instead of mute.
 
saywhatkid said:
Use "non-oral" or "non-speaking" instead of mute.
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Why does everything has have a label put on it. It is really no one business how a person chose to communicate and I feel it is up to the people to decide
what feel OK to them self . I do not like other people going around saying I am deaf as this made some people feel very uncomfortable talking to me. I got a ride from COA once and COA told the guy that I was deaf and when I got into his car he was really uncomfortable and did not say a word to me. I finally said something and the guy said " he did not know if I could hear at all."
 
I agree with you guys, the hearing community just needs a little more education, my daughter needs some goods friends hearing or deaf her name is Rachael 25, rapdiva16@gmail.com, she's looking for some help with employment, she feels the hearing is so discriminatory! And she is correct
 
AirDeafAdvocate said:
I agree with you guys, the hearing community just needs a little more education, my daughter needs some goods friends hearing or deaf her name is Rachael 25, rapdiva16@gmail.com, she's looking for some help with employment, she feels the hearing is so discriminatory! And she is correct
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your daughter is an adult , she should be finding her own friends , it is time for you to cut your apron cord and let your daughter grow up .
 
whatdidyousay! said:
Why does everything has have a label put on it. It is really no one business how a person chose to communicate and I feel it is up to the people to decide
what feel OK to them self . I do not like other people going around saying I am deaf as this made some people feel very uncomfortable talking to me. I got a ride from COA once and COA told the guy that I was deaf and when I got into his car he was really uncomfortable and did not say a word to me. I finally said something and the guy said " he did not know if I could hear at all."
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Or you can say that you are hard of hearing, aren't you?
 
whatdidyousay! said:
your daughter is an adult , she should be finding her own friends , it is time for you to cut your apron cord and let your daughter grow up .
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Come on, leave him/her alone. Helping adult children is a part of love as long as it's ok with them.
 
To complicate matters: what "label" should one apply to "deliberate voice off persons (able to speak but don't/won't)". Only ASL et al utilized.

Another intramural exercise in Sociology-"self labeling" sub section.?
 
whatdidyousay! said:
Why does everything has have a label put on it. It is really no one business how a person chose to communicate and I feel it is up to the people to decide
what feel OK to them self . I do not like other people going around saying I am deaf as this made some people feel very uncomfortable talking to me. I got a ride from COA once and COA told the guy that I was deaf and when I got into his car he was really uncomfortable and did not say a word to me. I finally said something and the guy said " he did not know if I could hear at all."
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There comes a time when a label makes sense. The OP is asking us for our opinions on what works. To not have a label sometimes leaves a lot of assuming for an outsider.
 
why not guy no reason! posts #1 , person didnt' reading odd!? she leaving ? serious!! I wonder?
 
Reba said:
School for the Deaf. Period.
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Since you are a certified interpreter, you know that we, deafies always sign "deaf school" rather than "school for the Deaf". As for making a resume or filling out a job application or whatever, of course we write it down formally like "(name of state or city or person) School for the Deaf".
 
Reba said:
School for the Deaf. Period.
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CrazyPaul said:
Since you are a certified interpreter, you know that we, deafies always sign "deaf school" rather than "school for the Deaf". As for making a resume or filling out a job application or whatever, of course we write it down formally like "(name of state or city or person) School for the Deaf".
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If you noticed, I did not mention school in my original post. I was offering better word choices besides "mute." I don't plan to name schools anything. I was referring to a condition.
 
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