DoctorStarkidPotter
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Okay so I mentioned it on other social media sites... but not this forum!
Best American Sign Language class ever!
Even though It was my FIRST official ASL class. I LOVED It! I walked in and the person signed, I signed back. Person asks “Are you Abby?” *I sign back* Yes. Then we went into the class, and we had to introduce ourselves and normally the person just says “My name ___” and Deaf teacher signs it back so class can see. So I obviously signed “My name A-B-B-Y” and the Deaf teacher signs back what I said… after she does that she says “Abby is deaf”. Then we got divided up in the beginner (Fingerspelling) and “Advanced” so… I got put in advanced since I knew fingerspelling and days of the week and basic conversation.
Today (Tuesday) we learned about Feelings and Opposites.
After we ran through each emotion we paired up and had a conversation so “How you feel?” “I feel *insert emotion here via sign* - How you feel?” etc… then we got into two lines and Row A stayed while Row B moved to the next person to practice these signs… My co-worker was there and he’s in beginner and then got put to “Feeling” … so I go to my co-worker and I have to interpret what I am saying to him and the Interpreter just sits back and relax’s while I do the translating!
Okay so Feelings are done… now for Opposites… we did the same thing for Row A/B. One of the opposite was “I’m hearing/deaf” so obviously… I’m the deaf one… paired up with every single hearing person so when it was our turn to say “I hearing/deaf” Hearing person: I’m hearing. Me: I’m deaf. Us: Well that was obvious!
At the end of the class, my Deaf teacher asks me all these questions… of course I don’t know ALL the signs so my friend (who told me about these classes) had to interpret for me. It was all the typical deaf questions… were you born deaf… did you learn ASL as kid… etc. So I told her I was born HoH, speech, now learning ASL. She was amazed on how well I did and that i’m learning now. She also said there is Deaf Coffee every two weeks and I should so come! I said “Absolutely! Yes! I want to come!” Her: Yay! Next week I will give you the information and I can’t wait for you to make new friends and interact with other deaf people. Me: I cannot wait either and I am soo excited. Thank you so much. I am coming every week!
She (Deaf teacher) was thrilled that I knew someone who told me about these classes… and that I knew the interpreter :P She said I should practice… learn ASL not just from online… interact with other D/deaf/HoH people and really learn ASL. I told her I will and I am and that my co-worker and I will practice during work because we have glass walls so we can sign and not shout! Haha!
It’s so nice to FINALLY actually call this place a home. I FINALLY belong somewhere. I can’t wait to make new friends, D/deaf/HoH friends and be with people who actually get me and get it understanding the daily struggle and the adventures of being D/deaf/HoH.
So… in summary…
I cannot wait for Tuesday and I so will be at every class!
Also when I went to work the next my co-worker comes up to me and tells me he is learning his fingerspelling and he can sign his name faster than the first time. He also asked how I knew ASL before and that he is amazed I catch on really fast. Now every time we are at work we always sign to each other. Me always being the one teaching him... but he's catching on pretty quickly! My other co-worker (who I mainly work with) is slowly catching on too... even if it is just "Yes/No/Good/Bad/Good morning & night" ... it's better than nothing!
Best American Sign Language class ever!
Even though It was my FIRST official ASL class. I LOVED It! I walked in and the person signed, I signed back. Person asks “Are you Abby?” *I sign back* Yes. Then we went into the class, and we had to introduce ourselves and normally the person just says “My name ___” and Deaf teacher signs it back so class can see. So I obviously signed “My name A-B-B-Y” and the Deaf teacher signs back what I said… after she does that she says “Abby is deaf”. Then we got divided up in the beginner (Fingerspelling) and “Advanced” so… I got put in advanced since I knew fingerspelling and days of the week and basic conversation.
Today (Tuesday) we learned about Feelings and Opposites.
After we ran through each emotion we paired up and had a conversation so “How you feel?” “I feel *insert emotion here via sign* - How you feel?” etc… then we got into two lines and Row A stayed while Row B moved to the next person to practice these signs… My co-worker was there and he’s in beginner and then got put to “Feeling” … so I go to my co-worker and I have to interpret what I am saying to him and the Interpreter just sits back and relax’s while I do the translating!
Okay so Feelings are done… now for Opposites… we did the same thing for Row A/B. One of the opposite was “I’m hearing/deaf” so obviously… I’m the deaf one… paired up with every single hearing person so when it was our turn to say “I hearing/deaf” Hearing person: I’m hearing. Me: I’m deaf. Us: Well that was obvious!
At the end of the class, my Deaf teacher asks me all these questions… of course I don’t know ALL the signs so my friend (who told me about these classes) had to interpret for me. It was all the typical deaf questions… were you born deaf… did you learn ASL as kid… etc. So I told her I was born HoH, speech, now learning ASL. She was amazed on how well I did and that i’m learning now. She also said there is Deaf Coffee every two weeks and I should so come! I said “Absolutely! Yes! I want to come!” Her: Yay! Next week I will give you the information and I can’t wait for you to make new friends and interact with other deaf people. Me: I cannot wait either and I am soo excited. Thank you so much. I am coming every week!
She (Deaf teacher) was thrilled that I knew someone who told me about these classes… and that I knew the interpreter :P She said I should practice… learn ASL not just from online… interact with other D/deaf/HoH people and really learn ASL. I told her I will and I am and that my co-worker and I will practice during work because we have glass walls so we can sign and not shout! Haha!
It’s so nice to FINALLY actually call this place a home. I FINALLY belong somewhere. I can’t wait to make new friends, D/deaf/HoH friends and be with people who actually get me and get it understanding the daily struggle and the adventures of being D/deaf/HoH.
So… in summary…
I cannot wait for Tuesday and I so will be at every class!
Also when I went to work the next my co-worker comes up to me and tells me he is learning his fingerspelling and he can sign his name faster than the first time. He also asked how I knew ASL before and that he is amazed I catch on really fast. Now every time we are at work we always sign to each other. Me always being the one teaching him... but he's catching on pretty quickly! My other co-worker (who I mainly work with) is slowly catching on too... even if it is just "Yes/No/Good/Bad/Good morning & night" ... it's better than nothing!
