[nabs-l] Foreign language

[Jedi]

Huh. that's interesting. I don't remember seeing those dot 
combinations, especially the 4-6 combination.

Respectfully Submitted


Original message:
> One correction: capital letters are actually written as dots 4 and 6 and
> periods are dot 3.

> Serena


> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Jedi" <loneblindjedi at samobile.net>
> To: <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Monday, March 30, 2009 12:46 PM
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Foreign language


>> Hi.

>> I have taken a foreign language in college with little to no experience
>> beforehand. I took American sign Language (ASL). ASL presents some unusual
>> challenges that you won't have to deal with in Spanish. For example, I
>> needed a tactile interpreter, or someone who would mimic what he or she
>> saw as people sign throughout the classroom so I know who's saying what
>> and what's being said. Additionally, having a tactile interpreter also
>> meant more intimate practice with communication, most especially when my
>> interpreter was deaf. I was able to obtain this service through my DSS,
>> and it was filed as interpretive services and was provided through the
>> deaf/HH program already in place. As usual, I handled everything else in
>> the way of accessibility.

>> I have also taken spanish in high school, and I think that my experience
>> in high school is relevant to your question. First and foremost, you will
>> certainly want your text book in an accessible format. I would highly
>> recommend getting your book in Braille if at all possible so you can learn
>> how things are spelled and practice your reading and writing skills. Most
>> spanish text books produced for english speaking students are produced in
>> grade one spanish Braille. There are only minor differences between this
>> style of Braille and English Grade 1 Braille. All letters are the same
>> except letters with acute accents. I will list the acute letters and other
>> special characters below near the end of this message. You may have to do
>> some negotiating to get your book. I would suggest working on the book end
>> of things a quarter or semester prior to your entrance into the class.
>> Also note that many electronic note takers support Braille in foreign
>> languages. That said, you may be able to obtain an electronic Braille file
>> from a transcriber so you won't have to carry volumes of Braille.
>> Otherwise, a standard file will suffice, just don't try to read it with
>> English speech synthesizers as they won't know how to decode what's
>> written. Incidentally, writing in Braille using a note taker is doable
>> with a standard Braille file, just don't try to decode it with speech
>> synthesizers unless you have a preinstalled language pack. Your disability
>> service should pay for the transcription of your text book. If not, check
>> with rehab. If not rehab, this might be a good use of any scholarship
>> money you have, particularly if Spanish is part of your major or course of
>> study. Best case scenario, a local transcriber will already have the
>> material and simply charge you for the file. check around at all the usual
>> hot spots for Braille texts; you may find what you're looking for.

>> Frankly, there's no real need to audit the class before actually taking
>> it. If your girlfriend wants to take the class first, by all means, her
>> experience should be helpful when you decide to take the class. Besides an
>> accessible text book, I would highly recommend hiring a reader for the
>> class. Your reader's responsibility is to read any text not readily
>> available in an accessible format, or text that isn't usable by a KNFB
>> Reader with spanish software if you have one. Your reader can also scribe
>> tests for you if you've decided that such an arrangement is appropriate.
>> Your reader would serve one final function: she or he would be responsible
>> for providing you descriptions of visual material such as information
>> while watching films in spanish, descriptions of objects used to convey
>> concepts such as pictures or actual objects that you are to describe in
>> Spanish, or any other necessary info. For example, your teacher may hold
>> up a ruler and ask you to name it in Spanish. Your reader would tell you
>> it's a ruler in English or hand you a ruler to touch for your
>> identification. I would recommend that your reader be a
>> Spanish speaker or an experienced student who has already taken the class.

>> I have used these techniques in both spanish and ASL classes with
>> excellent success. You may encounter weirdness on the part of the
>> instructor who might not see a way to properly educate you as a blind
>> student. No worries. You will simply have to explain how you will do what
>> just as always.

>> One more word on texts and homework. I would highly suggest doing your
>> homework using a Braille note taker if you have one. This way, you can
>> practice reading and writing skills and prepare a printed copy for your
>> instructor either in paper or by electronic means. Otherwise, do the
>> homework in Braille, then meet with your scribe who will take dictation
>> from you into print based on what you've written in Braille.

>> As promised, here is a brief table of Braille acute letters. Others may
>> add or amend to this summary if need be.

>> Capital letters are the same in Spanish Braile as in English Braille.

>> Periods and commas are also the same. So should be true of dashes, colons,
>> and semi-colins.

>> Numerals are the same and are often written in literary format as opposed
>> to Nemmeth format.

>> Exclamation and question marks are placed on either end of a sentence in
>> print and in Braille. In print, the preceding mark is inverted while the
>> mark at the end of the sentence appears as usual. in Braille, exclamation
>> and question marks also appear both at the beginning and end of the
>> sentence, but there are no inversions (the marks look the same on either
>> end). The question mark is written with dots 2 and 6, then is followed by
>> capital signs, the sentence itself, then the final question mark written
>> again with dots 2 and 6. Exclamation marks follow the same rules but are
>> written with dots 2, 3, and 5. Quotation marks are the same in Spanish as
>> they are in English Braille.

>> Acute letters

>> A is written with dots 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6.
>> E is written with dots 2, 3, 4, and 6.
>> I is written with dots 3 and 4.
>> O is written with dots 3, 4, and 6.
>> U is written with dots 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.
>> I believe the "ch" letter of the Spanish alphabet doesn't change; it is
>> still written with dots 1 and 6.
>> Double L is written simply as two L's as in English.
>> N with a tilde over it is written with dots 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6.
>> All non-accented letters are written as usual.

>> Let me know if you have further questions.
>> Original message:

>>> I am curious if any blind students have learned a second language in
>>> college, with no previous experience of middle school or high school
>>> courses. I am interested in learning Spanish, and would like some
>>> suggestions on how to do this from scratch. I have contemplated the idea
>>> of
>>> having my girlfriend take an entry course, as she is also interested, and
>>> meanwhile auditing the course in order to get a feel of what it will be
>>> like.

>>> There is also the topic of Spanish Braille, and then additional resources
>>> of
>>> tutoring and audio materials. I would love any feed back you guys might
>>> have, and if necessary you can feel free to reply to the following
>>> address
>>> and I can post a digest version of the responses if it gets too
>>> cluttered.

>>> j.mandarino1 at comcast.net

>>> Sincerely,

>>> Mandarino



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>> --
>> REspectfully,
>> Jedi

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