How I did it: I am oral Deaf (I talk). When I was 15, I got involved in the Deaf world. I was outcast at first, but gradually they grew accepting of me. It probably helps that I'm Deaf. *wink* But anyway, I took 3 years of classes for formality and then the community taught me slang/curse words/idioms, etc. I am still taking classes to master the grammar and explain it rather than just do it as an instinct.

You never stop learning a language, it is constantly evolving. My measure of fluency is that I am pretty skilled in a variety of situations, understand both formal and conversational, and "think" in that language. I do not think only in English anymore, I am an ASL-English mind.

ASL has many social benefits. If you are deaf, have a deaf child, or are becoming deaf, PLEASE learn and teach ASL. It is much easier than lipreading. I have heard that to compare, fingerspelling at a Deaf speed is the hearing's "lipreading."

Good luck!

Lessons & tips: Practise
Interact
Don't give up, even if people are being shy or rude
Take Deaf culture classes, and ASL classes. Don't interact or go out in the Deaf world 'till you know the basics: etiquette of starting/stopping/interrupting, how to introduce yourself, read fingerspelling, etc.
Be patient - ask if you don't understand (I ask hearings to tell me what I just said if they look confused)

Resources: Ohio School for the Deaf, St. Rita School for the Deaf, the Deaf community of Ohio, Sorenson VRS, Ella Mae Lentz's Signing Naturally, and MANY more...

Dec 12, 2008, 03:20AM PST | 0 comments | 3 cheers