learn sign language

At this point I’ve had three classes and we are now building a good vocab so we can make some sentences. Such as: I like something. I don’t like something. I drive to work. I walk to class. Etc. It’s so much fun!

We played hang man at the end of class the other day. We got to guess letters but couldn’t just fingerspell the word if we figured it out, we had to do the sign for the word. The opposing team figured out that a word was ‘classroom’ but couldn’t remember the sign. My team knew the sign so we won that round. Woohoo! Fun.

I just need to find someone to practice with. My boyfriend is not quite receptive to practice but he does have a bit of fun if I sign stuff to him. LOL

I found a great website that functions as an online ASL university. It has practice activities, tests, quizzes, video and image aids, and comments to assist in understanding signs.

ASL University

I had my second class yesterday night. We learned place names and vehicles. I can say a few sentences now though they are simple. After playing around on the ASL uni site and paging through the next few units of my note packet I feel I’d have no problem inviting a deaf friend out to lunch. Of course, that’s as far as my ASL goes, there wouldn’t be much conversation after that.

When I’m alone I can sign pretty good, but yesterday in class the instructor asked me my name and I couldn’t spell it right. LOL! I spelled it KIA, not KIM. I just need to buddy up with one of the other students and we can practice outside of class or something. Could be fun. Of course, all the other kids in the class are 1st or 2nd year students- at least 4 years younger than me! Eep! Doesn’t matter really, but 18 and 23 sometimes shows the difference.

I’m having lots of fun learning sign. Although I only have had one class I’ve been practicing a lot. I fingerspell in the car and while watching tv. LOL! I found a great ASL online dictionary that’s free:

ASL Browser

I had my first class yesterday night. It was a short class which was kind of dissapointing. I have been finger spelling like a fiend. Good fun. I think this may develope some better muscles in my wrists which is good for me. (I have cysts in both and stronger muscles will prevent pain and allow more activity) So yay! I do believe all the other kids in the class are 1st year to 3rd year students. So I’m an oldie. I may even be older than the prof. LOL! That would be funny.

My vocabulary includes: teacher, student, name, forget, numbers 0-10, letters a-z, hello, nice, arm, girl, boy, man, woman, and a bit more.

Whee!

I signed up for the ASL class today and I’ve already received a confirmation email. I will be taking classes Monday evenings 7-8:30pm. Yay! Can’t wait til my first class.

Low and behold, but what do I find on the floor in the hall at school? A flyer for a noncredit ASL class! For a small fee of $10 I can take an ASL class once a week in the evenings between the last week of march to the first week of may. So whoo hoo! I’m signing up right now!

Anyone else in the Rochester area is free to join as long as you pay the fee. Gotta find myself a buddy for more fun. I’m so excited!

I’ve been attending RIT for 3 years now and I still haven’t dared to use even the simplest sign of thank you. I know there are several people in my art classes that I’d love to be friends with but it’s so hard when you can’t communicate well, especially with those who have very significant hearing loss. I’ve tried buying a CD rom to learn from but it was a dud and from there I haven’t made any action. I know several other languages; German, Dutch, French, and Flemish so I feel that another language will only add to my broad vocabulary and understanding. If anyone has a computer based ASL learning method they could recommend I’d be grateful! I’d love to learn right now!