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.
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!
). 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...
). 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.