[nfb-db] A question about learning ASL

Wed Jan 29 19:56:34 UTC 2014

Hello,

I remember taking ASL in high school and this class was concurrent enrolment in one of the universities in my area. When I was in that class, I asked if one of the teaching assistants could help me.we would often sit to the side with the teaching assistant tactually signing to me what the professor was signing. I found that to be very helpful. Also, once I learned enough vocabulary, I could ask in class what facial expressions should look like. Typically, before class, I would go to the professor to talk to her about some of the things that I had difficulty with. Now, I am in university and am in my school's ASL Club.

Since I have joined the club, I know a few people that I can ask to help me when we are doing activities. Since I cannot see what most people are signing, I have a couple people that I can rely on to tell me what others are signing so I can participate as well. When other members of the ASL Club want to talk with me, they come up to me and either stand close enough for me to see most of what they are signing or they will tactually sign to me. I would recommend finding a couple people that can help you and work with the instructor.

Best,

Keitei Colton

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> Today's Topics:
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>   1. A question about learning ASL? (maurice mines)
>   2. Re: A question about learning ASL? (heather albright)
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> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
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> Message: 1
> Date: Tue, 28 Jan 2014 17:50:17 -0800
> From: maurice mines <kd0iko at icloud.com>
> To: NFB Deaf-Blind Division Mailing List <nfb-db at nfbnet.org>
> Subject: [nfb-db] A question about learning ASL?
> Message-ID: <1A3E10B3-8B70-43BA-93D7-EE3AD5A69824 at icloud.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252
> 
> Dear list members, I have a question I am enrolled in Munich celebrated ESL course, and a question has come up amongst the interpreters and myself. How much personal space between the interpreter and myself is appropriate? The reason why this is coming up is because I am of course new at learning ASL, but I?m also used to keeping an area of personal space around myself. Is there any clear dues, and or don?ts? In regards to tactile sign language? Since we?re now learning about gender sign and some of those signs if one is trying to actually feel what it?s been signed certainly invades what becomes it or once personal space, are there any good suggestions?
> 
> In a completely separate issue is due most of you prefer finger spelling? Or just straight ASL? Also since many of us certainly don?t see it okay to make it? Sign as opposed to raising one?s eyebrows and moving one had the probably is no good way for us to see that? Since this is probably not the first email that I?m going to spend with questions about learning ASL would it be advisable to take this discussion off list?
> 
> While in the process of writing this I thought of one more question, I believe that going to community events is on my syllabus are there any do?s and don?ts regarding depth lines than this all?
> 
> My last question is somewhat in the area of our proposed teach act? When trying to figure out how to deal with sign language illustrations and proper placement of said signs and other textbook based information, should we be abdicating for accessible AFL study materials, because from the way I?m beginning to figure this out it seems that each institution does for oneself what is appropriate? Is this the reality around the country? Also has Helen Keller done anything in this area? And last but certainly not least asHknc,  done anything in the area of accessible ASL study materials? Don?t want to include my official signature file in the
> 
> Sincerely Maurice Mines  Student accessibility aid. Voicemail phone 360-524-0791. School/work email address, Maurice.mines at pcc.edu.
> 
> I?d like to thank anyone who would like to answer my questions and help me out with all of this in advance. Have a great evening?
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 2
> Date: Tue, 28 Jan 2014 23:14:10 -0600
> From: "heather albright" <kd5cbl at gmail.com>
> To: "NFB Deaf-Blind Division Mailing List" <nfb-db at nfbnet.org>
> Subject: Re: [nfb-db] A question about learning ASL?
> Message-ID: <594C5644C8784E2BBED5126445C04EC6 at supersystem>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="windows-1252"
> 
> Well, I took ASL and had to drop it for personal reasons!  But the space is 
> so your sign interpreters are close enough to communicate with you!  It is 
> harder the further away you are!  I did not get much help in my classes, 
> more help was from this list, thank you!  Thinker spelling is not ASL so you 
> will have to learn the signs eventually in order to speak to someone who is 
> using ASL.  There is no Braille or audio materials that one can use to learn 
> ASL, unless someone has come up with them in the past 3 months!  I gather 
> you cant speak in the class to ask what that person signed and you have to 
> do it outside of class!  The braille book store has a list of everyday signs 
> but get this, it is not in braille; the braille book store not having 
> something in braille!  And the ASL books in braille from the NLS did nothing 
> to teach you because, the print pages with the signs were "omitted" from the 
> braille pages.  So why braille a book on learning ASL signs if you are not 
> to going to tell you how to make the signs.  Also, Learning Ally's readers 
> chose not to enlighten us "blind" readers on how to make the signs , even 
> though the book said "a guide to learning ASL"  OR "THE DICTIONARY TO ASL" 
> ETC.  So half of the book is omitted!  HKC as far as I know does not have 
> braille materials outside of the center and I don't know about within the 
> center!  I think perkins or Hadley has on sight classes but, the rest of the 
> blind don't always live near these places.  I find, just my oppinion, the 
> regular deaf population does not have pacients enough to sit to help someone 
> who cant see the signs in class.  Not all are like this but, there were 20 
> students taken ASL here in austin and only 1 is still taking it and they are 
> failing for the second time because there is no support!  I would try to 
> make sure you have a good support system at your school that, can work with 
> you in the class, in the labs and is willing to work with you in the deaf 
> community!  I would also recommend you to take the 3 times a week instead of 
> the twice or once a week! Heather 
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