Personal Narrative: My Elective Of American Sign Language

It is hard to imagine a society where everyone speaks sign language regardless of their hearing abilities. It would be a marvel, such social cohesiveness and acceptance of deafness. Today, there is no such reality, although, it may come as a surprise to most, there was once a place where this was a reality. On an island off the coast of Massachusetts, called Martha’s Vineyard.

I thought it was odd to have them do that but I thought they must be learning. I noticed the interpreters were using old and new signs which was interesting. For instance, instead of the crossed arms for “I Love You” they did the sign with the hand that looks like a bull for “I Love You”. Since taking ASL, when I see an individual signing, at the appropriate moment I would try to understand what they are communicating to learn more signs and to better understand how to communicate to other individuals who are deaf. I would look at the interpreter instead of paying attention to those who are hearing, for instance I was watching the interpreter throughout the event or in class when professor Chuck was signing while watching the film “Sound and Fury”. The different signs I learned were song, hills, the phrase “say what”, “16 going on 17”, loud, either, and Monday. Although this is not an event but I would like to mention how fascinated I am with our hearing society is more involved with the deaf culture. I have not seen this much use of ASL since taking the class. For instance, I always get excited now when I see films, videos of individuals, and commercials using or learning sign

To fully understand why this is a popular debate, we must first explore Deaf culture. Dr. Beth Sonnenstrahl Benedict from the Hands and Voices organization states that “The American Deaf community values American Sign Language as the core of a culturally Deaf identity” (Benedict par 1). Language is a crucial aspect of a culture, and American Sign Language unifies the Deaf community. Although it is often dismissed as a language, ASL has its own unique sentence structure and vocabulary that make it different from English or any other foreign language. Many believe that allowing a deaf child to learn sign language is essential to them embracing their deafness as well as building

The final challenge is that there are two types of motivations that gives people the will to learn sign language. These people fall into 2 categories. One, instrumental motivation is for all those people that want to benefit in there career with another language or are asked to take classes for a job. This person will just go to pass the tests but will quickly learn and forget the language. Even in our case as students it is technically an intellectual motivation for our degree but for many there is an actual reason they wanted to take ASL. When there is an outside motivation people are categorized as integratively motivated learners. These people have a significant person in their life that is deaf and only communicates through ASL or a friend or a colleague. Their motivation is stronger and the language will stick with them longer.

I think about all these things, and I always come back to the thought of, if you could walk a mile in their shoes, you may see things differently. The deaf community has been embracing, and the experience has been absolutely phenomenal. I would continue to recommend the experiences which I am experiencing from learning American Sign Language, and the experience of meeting new people within the deaf community to any and every

Inspired by that resolution, the use of sign language was removed by fellow oralism-supporting educators from many programs for the deaf around the world. And, so for over a hundred years, up to until recently, educators from many different countries would continue to gather every five years and deliberate about the state of deaf education, seemingly unimpeded by the shadow of Milan’s controversial legacy. Those educators were mostly supporters of the oral method, until now. In today’s society sign in school has improved. Around 300 sign languages are in use around the world today. People are learning that sign language is a regular language such as Spanish or French. And that it should be taught in school to help benefit deaf and hearing people communicate better. Sign language is broken into three different areas. Deaf sign languages, which are the preferred languages of Deaf communities around the world. This include village sign languages, shared with the hearing community, and Deaf-community sign languages. Auxiliary sign languages, which are not

For my Deaf event, I attended Deaf Coffee Night at Starbucks. When I walked in, I was happy to be able to look around and see people communicate through the use of only their hands, body and faces. I was also encouraged by the fact that I understood a majority of the signs I saw. After I ordered my drink, I approached a table of two people who were using ASL and I introduced myself. One person at the table was hearing while the other was Deaf, but both were happy to include me in their conversation. We talked for quite awhile about each of our lives. It was interesting to notice that throughout our conversation, the three of us were equally engaged in the conversation at hand about the lives of these strangers. This is a lot different then most conversations in the hearing world since most of the time we do not talk about our lives for that long and when listening to the lives of other people we do not actually care to pay close attention.

American sign language can be a really fun language to learn. But behind the language there is an entire culture with the Deaf community. They have events, their own traditions, and most importantly, rules. What may be polite in our culture may not be in the Deaf community. That’s why I’m here to help you out with some of the do’s and don’ts in Deaf culture.

The school I did my observation at was Bloomfield Hills High school for the American Sign Language class. The reason I have been tasked with observing an American Sign Language class is because that is my goal as a future educator, to teach American Sign Language from K to 12. I also would like to be able to educate the deaf students from K to 12, but that’s for another program, Deaf Education master’s program, in the future. I had four classes to observe, from 9th grade to 12th grade students for ASL (American Sign Language) classes. They were mostly white, some African American, and smaller number of other races such as Middle Eastern and Asian. Many of the students had special needs, the most common one would have to be ADD and ADHD, a few were hearing impaired, and I had one who was autistic. The average number I had for each class about 18 to 20 students. Now to discuss about my meaningful experiences, strengths and weaknesses of both my cooperating teacher and myself, my professional goals, and finally my reaction to the field experience.

The conversation has a stronger chance of escalation just, as with someone that is knowledgeable of sign language. Their community is just as developed and independent as the community of those that are speaking or, hearing. Therefore how they are treated should not be different than how we would treat anyone else. Just as you would greet someone depending on their current circumstances such as if you take notice to them being too busy to speak taking notice if a deaf or heard of heading person is too busy should be given the same courtesy. Ensuring they are not in a situation that they may be in a more comfortable circumstance to sign or, merely introducing yourself can be predicament of uncomforted for them. Also, allowing that deaf person to control or lead the conversation. Everyone gives little clues if they are interested in speaking their responses become very short and, direct or, not making eye contact. Taking these clues as conversation enders can be a sure indication if someone would prefer not to speak or sign with you as an individual. Most people tend not to want assistance from anyone because they fear being a burden to anyone. Like most people we aim to be independent and excel at all we do until we are in dire need of help with a situation. Until then we can directly sign, “I’m here if you need assistance.” It will be different in all situations thus being humble and sympathetic to someone in need of assistance no matter what community they are a part

It has never ceased to amaze me 1when my sister signs to the Deaf members of our church their faces light up with excitement and the desire to share their language with her. Watching my sister interact with members of our church and the Deaf community was how I knew that like my older sister, I also wanted to have the privilege of communicating with these members of our church family and other members of the Deaf community. When I enrolled in Liberty University I knew that the language the Lord was calling me to take was American Sign Language. ASL is a course I am excited to start learning because of how unique and beautiful the language is it compared to every other language. Although I currently have little knowledge about ASL I’m greatly looking forward to learning more about the language and about Deaf Culture. When I become more proficient in American Sign Language I feel that the Lord will allow me to use this language while fellowshipping with people who I otherwise wouldn’t have been able connect with or get to

Mary’s School for the Deaf in Buffalo, New York, I saw ASL for the first time, I didn’t know what it was, I knew it was sign language and my sign language was English-based sign system. I was made fun of. I love my color of skin; it is the most beautiful color on this earth but I need to learn ASL. How do I push away racism and learn ASL? I can’t because racism hurts, it’s painful.

Deaf children are entitled to know that they are heirs to an amazing culture, not a pitiful defect. In order to follow through on that obligation, one of the best things I feel we can do is try to educate other hearing people about the realities of American Sign Language and Deaf culture. Language is one of the most critical aspects of most cultures, and one which sets deafness aside from other defects such as blindness, physical disability, or illness. Sign language is not universal, nor does it always correspond to the spoken language in the same country. For example American Sign Language is native to the United States and Canada. Deaf Canadians might use English, French, or both as a written language. But deaf people in Great Britain, while they may write in English, use a completely different sign language. (nad.org)

Recently I attended a seminar for work, on childcare and development, where they discussed how to work with children with hearing disabilities. At this event there was a population of predominantly people who used American Sign Language as their primary language as opposed to hearing people speaking. I have had interactions with deaf people before but only on an informal level, because most of the deaf people I have

The Deaf Studies in the 20th century focused on the studies of sign languages and of Deaf culture (Bauman & Murray, 2010). It was during the late part of the 20th century when sign languages and their practical use for communication of deaf students were formally studied. Many systems were explored, but the study of American Sign Language (ASL) became popular. A powerful argument why formal studies of sign language existed was to give Deaf students access to various modes of communication. Later, the study