Missing Deaf Club

Well, there is no such thing as learning vicariously. By attending my father's 70th birthday party - a surprise party - I missed our first group venture to Deaf Club. I was pleased to hear the stories of my classmates. The anxiety (I can imagine!), the bewilderment, the fun, and the learning. This was an opportunity sorely missed. However, I hope to have the chance to go in December. Saving my pennies for the next month!

Almost mid-term

Wow - can you believe how many weeks we have been doing this? Sometimes my tired little brain feels like jello, numb from the effort of stuffing one more concept or sign in there. Some days I start to feel like "oh...I am beginning to get it!", then I have to back up and "again, again, again, please".

I am enjoying the friendships gained and the way the class continues to bond. This is an important part of the process for me.

I was nearly set to go to Deaf Club with Karla this month only to find out there wasn't one. I wanted to experience it once and can't make the November event because of my father's 70th birthday party in Ohio. I was terribly scared to go to Deaf Club but was not relieved to find out it wasn't to be. I know there will be more opportunities, but I wanted to get this one under my belt now. Okay - next time!

Thank you again for your patience with me and my classmates. All this time into learning and I am still enjoying it. Thanks!

Post 30-minute video

Okay. Today we had several difficult assignments. The first in the Classifiers class, which I understand the concept, just having a slightly difficult time implementing these. I enjoyed performing my "skits" and really enjoyed watching my classmates perform theirs. Their unique stories were very interesting to watch. Also, I like the support system we are creating with each other.
The 30-minute video was VERY INTIMIDATING. I don't like to talk about myself for very long in any circumstance, today I had to SIGN about myself. For 30 minutes! Feeling very short on vocabulary made this assignment that much more difficult. I hated to have to fingerspell so many things, so I pantomimed what I could.
I believe I understand the immersion process of learning ASL -- what else could there be to do it quickly and well? Some days I feel confident, other days I feel overwhelmed.
Overall, however, I am still enjoying this class very much. Thank you!!

Mind's Eye

One of the things I am finding most interesting is that I find myself visualizing making the sign when I hear or read a word or phrase. That I am slightly frustrated how long it takes to write the word "name" when I can sign it so much more quickly!

I love how the images dance in my mind.

My First Week of ASL Classes

I was fairly nervous on the first few days but knew that things would be “okay”. There would be some small hurdles to overcome, however I assumed that most of my classmates would be nervous as well and that Ruby would be patient and helpful. I was so right. All of my classmates already understood finger-spelling as well as many signs, some very fluently.

Many of us bonded fairly quickly and I feel that we are a good support group for each other. Those that understand are pulling our levels of knowledge up as they explain what we have missed. Studying together before or after class also reinforces what we are learning.

There is quite a bit of laughter as we misuse a sign (alcohol, understand) as we understand we will all make mistakes and this is how we learn.

Completing the finger-spelling drills and learning the “dos” and “don’ts” has helped a great deal with my technique. I hope! Finger-spelling the ingredients on the Ritz cracker box while eating breakfast was a very interesting task. The challenge of unknown words (thiamine) was fun.

I am trying to not panic when I don’t understand a sign, or more commonly, a series of signs when Ruby or another student is communicating. Trying to relax and grasp the concept is my main goal today, this week, this year. While I know there is no end to the learning, I do feel more comfortable with the learning process and am having fun with it.