[language] Sign language

[wispfox]

I kinda want to learn sign language. I already know most of the alphabet (and numbers 1-10), because my mom knew it. And I suspect strongly that when I get nonverbal, I would probably still be able to sign.

But I'm nervous about it, because I tend to be bad with languages. Also because I don't think most of the people I know know it, so I'd have no one to practice with.

So I am indecisive... and yet curious!

Comments

[xiphias.livejournal.com]

Northeastern University is where I took ASL. And it's also a big center for Deaf culture. There's a weekly Deaf Lunch, which is attended by ASL students, Deaf students and faculty, Deaf people who live in the area, and random people who want to practice their ASL.

My ASL level is such that, if I were dropped into a city where everyone was Deaf and spoke ASL, I could probably just about barely get by, if people were patient and helped me out. Which is actually better than any other language I know.

[griffen.livejournal.com]

What he said. One bit of advice: take the class from a Deaf teacher and make sure it's an immersion class. That's how I managed to learn the language.

[xiphias.livejournal.com]

I believe all the Northeastern teachers are Deaf, and the fact that it was an immersion class was incredibly frustrating. For a couple weeks. And then it started "clicking," and it worked.