Been a While

It's been a while since I've posted, but since I got this Blogger App on my iTouch I figured it would be good to update.

So the last day of signing class was a lot of fun. There was a potluck with really good food. Actually, my sister (Leanna) has a friend named Dexyra who had been going to classes with us and I think she made the class a lot more fun for Leanna. She's definitely got someone to sign with.

We also learned signs to some Christmas songs. With Christmas music too! It is after Christmas now, but just yesterday, Leanna and I signed to a song that has the line "every Christmas card I write.." I honestly, at the moment, cannot remember what the rest of the song or the song title.. But my point is, Leanna and I were able to sign most of the song despite how little we sign out of class.

I haven't signed much lately, but come 2nd semester and the 2nd part to the S.E.E. signing class and I will be signing every week.

And there have been times when Leanna and I have finger spelled and signed to each other and it has helped. It is different to S.E.E. sign without saying the words, but it's weird because we don't have a difficult time doing that.

The class does need to come back because I'm sure my skills are lessening because there's no class.

Finger Spelling

One of the key parts in learning S.E.E. signing is reading finger spelling and also finger spelling yourself. At first it was difficult for me because I had never learned that much signing in my life all at once. I mean, I could sign the letters of the alphabet pretty slow and only in that order. As weeks went by and lesson after lesson after super fun activities, finger spelling has become so much easier. It's still new to me, but just today, I found that it was easier to finger spell than to just spell with speech.

The moment where I knew it was easier to finger spell with speech, rather than just speech spelling, was when my six-year-old sister asked me to spell a word. Usually when someone asks me how to spell a certain word, I always have to write it out in the air with my finger, or spell the entire word in my head again just to make sure I was right. Except now, with this new skill of finger spelling, it is SO much easier.

Learning S.E.E. signing is definitely something I am continuing on until there is no more classes I can take. (For now, I have classes to take that will continue on until the end of summer!)

Last Week + This Week

I can't remember much from last week, but we learned a lot of B words. In class, we do these activities where she signs a sentence without mouthing or saying the sentence. Then she signs with mouthing, then she signs with speech. It is truly a great way to teach us and get that motor memory going. I can't believe I forgot so many signs though! Usually I am quite good at remembering them, but I've been so stressed so I guess they just went over my head. I learned them again though.

During class, I developed this plan to really make sure that I remember the words easier than looking at the picture. After going through a page of signs (just about 5-9 signs), she tells us to go over them. I felt like looking @ the pictures weren't giving me that good of a motor memory sort of thing. So instead, I looked at the list of just the words we were working on for class, and I signed the words to myself like that. It worked so much better!

Then we had groups signing sessions where we get into groups of like 4+ and sign just like she does with just signing, then mouthing with signing, then signing with speech. I thought I did a darn-well job, but after the entire class was done with signing with each other, Lois (my teacher) told the class about being supportive of each other, and not being a bragger, or being mean in a way of making them feel like they're making a lot of mistakes is not good, and fixing their mistakes while criticizing them in a mean and not productive way. She said we should be supportive and flexible with our signs. To be honest, I felt so mad at myself because I looked back on the group session I had, and I felt terrible for how I reacted.

That was definitely a lesson learned sort of moment. I will try my hardest to be flexible when watching other signs, and if they asked or when they are done, I need to be as nice and a productive (not criticizing) kind of classmate/friend. It won't be easy, but I will try my hardest.

Different Teachers (From 3 weeks ago)

Now that I finally have the chance to blog a bunch, I wanted to talk about a class session when the teacher was away at a funeral.

It was interesting, I'll say that, but definitely lots of fun. The "substitutes" for my usual teacher were really funny. We went through a lot of words quite quicker than usual, but by now, I'm thinking that I am learning the words and they are sticking in my head a lot easier now that there are more "family groups" to go off of. It's SO MUCH EASIER it is awesome.

So back to the class, we had two teachers. The funny thing was they switched roles. Usually the one who was interpreting was the one who was the teacher, and vise versa. Again, so funny. Tracy, (the one that was the teacher & she's deaf!) taught us a different perspective in signing. She could hear us a bit because of a hearing aid, and she has this totally infectious laugh.

I think a week ago she was at the facility where the class was and it was nice seeing her again. Very nice lady.

I really hope we get the chance to sign with her again.

Signing with my sister

...is so much fun! My family and I were eating dinner and all of a sudden I wanted to say something to my sister (who is taking the S.E.E. signing class with me) but I did not want to say it out loud. Knowing most of the words I wanted to say, I signed it all to her. It was exhilarating! She signed back, too. I asked her after dinner if she completely understood me and she said she did. I bet my parents and other sisters weren't too happy about it, but it was good practice.

I know, this sounds so bad and conniving. At home I don't think it is so bad. As I typed before, it is good practice. I promise I won't sign in public because it is kind of like talking behind people's back but signing instead of talking.

Hopefully as the weeks pass by I won't have to finger spell some words. It gets tiresome, especially if the person you're signing to is not understanding what I am signing.

If only I could get more of my friends to take the class with me... I could sign at school too!

4th Class Session + Of Course More

I may be so tired throughout the school day, but really, I wake up in class. I am tune out nor am I ever bored. I love it!

We learned a lot more signs today. More "A" words. Almost, act, among, aid, ambulance, apple, above, accept, about, ache, acquaint, afraid, adult, and many more. We even learn some Halloween words.  "Family" words make a lot of sense, too. It is basically a certain movement or concept is used for a variety of words in S.E.E signing, rather than just one single concept for a variety of words in ASL. American Sign Language, since it is not exact English, does not require every English word. Hence, afraid or fear is kind of the same thing, I believe in ASL, they'd be the same sign since it is just a concept.

Today I told Lois that my senior project mentor is Debbie. She told me to tell her hi and I definitely will. I was so happy I told Lois as well because she said she had a class with younger kids in Vacaville during the summer. I think it was some sort of invite too. It was great. She's super funny when teaching the class. So nice and helpful, too. Knowing important adults in different groups is so helpful! And beneficial, and just interesting because they've been through so much whereas I'm still growing up and getting to know the world.

In class, though, we have these groups, and the group I had was nice. I honestly think the experience at New Tech helps me a lot in various situations. Talking to people I barely know? In the same class? Years ago I would have been scared to death. Now, I've been asked at least 5 times what a certain word means. I feel so, needed and smart when others ask me for help. My classmates are nice. One student is I think younger than I am. Maybe the same age. I'm not so sure. He was nice too. Great signer. Good kid. One of my classmates made a funny point that when we're younger, we retain information easier. I was the one in our group that remembered the most. I was patient with others, let others guess what word the sign was for, and assisted others too.

Lately, I have been reading and familiarizing myself with the deaf and Deaf culture. I read it in a book somewhere that there is a difference. With deaf people, they may not necessarily interact with those who know signing. Deaf culture with a capital "D" is the group that associates with American Sign Language and maybe even S.E.E. signing. Getting to know the background of it all really fascinates me. It's a whole new world for those hard-of-hearing.

In all honesty, if I had to choose between being deaf and blind, I'd rather be deaf.

Randomly Signing During the Day

It's just Thursday after going through 3 class sessions of Signing Exact English. Sometimes when I am not in public or I'm not around people I know super well who would think I'm weird, I would sign things I read or say. It's pretty funny too. If only I had others who would naturally sign with me, day in and day out. That would make my life easier in learning the language. I think it would even make learning S-E-E sign easier and flawless in memorization and such.

I must admit that randomly signing words I know is a lot of fun. Signing Exact English is really muscle memory. Having someone sign to me everyday would make that muscle memory much stronger, but what can I do.

Next week's class needs to come sooner. It's too much fun having to wait an entire week to correctly learn more signs.

3rd S-E-E Signing Class Session + Extreme Tiredness

Everyday, even though I am tired, for some odd reason, driving either a.) Keeps me alert. or b.) Wakes me up so I am alert. It's weird... It gets weirder. During my classes after 10 a.m., I was so unbelievably tired. I don't know if it was a lecture in class or just me not getting enough sleep, but I fell asleep at least 8 times today.

Although, it gets even weirder because during class I may have yawned and in the car too, but I didn't doze off during S-E-E signing. I was completely awake and attentive. It's good that I was awake too because we learned so many new signs for words. Mainly they were "people" signs. Basically signs for people such as those in a person's family: mother, father, daughter, granddaughter, grandson, son, brother, sister, baby, and much more. Other "people" words that are going to be so useful are: people, person, human, teacher, miss, mr., mrs., and a ton more. There were at least 60 words, but of course, I have always had a lot of fun.

The teacher is really great. She's not boring, makes us laugh, a great teacher, and so helpful. Today she was able to give the class (and just a small number of students) information on the sign books (there is a big one [which I am planning to borrow from my senior project mentor {which by the way, thank you so much!}] and a small one that lies flat [which I am hoping to purchase}) and getting college credit. The teacher says that it is 45 bucks if it is cumulative (I think meaning I take more than one class). It's a plus too because it's cheaper, and I am planning to take more anyway. Like I said, she is an awesome teacher. Oh, but back to the book, I want the small one mainly because it lays flat. Haha, but back to the college credit again, that reminds me I have to remind her to get the papers so that I can have permission to take the class and get credit for it from my parents, the principal, and the counselor. Not to mention she answered all of my questions too. I feel so welcome to the class. I did forget to tell her that I am taking the class all because of my senior project mentor.

Other than that, the class is great, I am learning a lot, and I am definitely enjoying it all.

I can't wait until next week!

2nd Meeting with Mentor + A Little Blurb about this morning + 2nd Class Session

My mentor is great! I am not sure if I should put her name or not, but maybe I should after she comments on my blog. Anyways, she's great, super nice, and she's given me a lot of resources. She is how I got into the class in the first place. So may I say, "Thank you so much!"

So anyway, this morning, before getting to school. I had to drop off my younger sisters at their elementary school. As I was driving, I look at my side view mirror and there is a grasshopper... It was green, and kind of huge, and it scared me. Not to mention this morning this bug or mosquito or whatever was on my wall. It was in my sister's room last night, and I guess it found way into my room. Well, I killed it. That is what happened this morning before getting to school.

I got a lot of books from her too. I think at least 5 of them. Two of them are about the signs. One of them was written by an actual deaf person. Then another is about the steps to take in being a parent with a deaf child. In time, after I read the book I just borrowed from the library, I will read all the books, especially if we have no books to read.

We also talked about a possibly of looking at an all deaf school all the way in Fremont. It is a while a ways but I think it would be amazing to get a tour and even see how they teach. During last week's class session, Lois talked about how a teacher of a deaf class flickers the lights to get the students' attentions. I thought that was interesting and I think it would even work for students of hearing.

Also, Mr. Carlton, a teacher at my school, let me borrow some flash cards of American Sign Language and they are pretty cool. Although, while looking through the cards, one of the signs completely threw me and my best friend off. We were looking at the flash cards at my house and the signs for "Thank You" and "You're Welcome" is the same. I know for a fact they are not...

The second class session of S-E-E signing was great. A lot of the words we learned to sign helped so much to continue signing more complex sentences (at least more complicated than the ones we learned to do the first day). Some of the words were this, that, those, and these, and then there were words that helped us ask questions such as who, what, where, why, and how many and then give answers like because. Then at the end of every class so far, she has given a little good-bye speech. It's all in S-E-E signing too, so it is so much fun to try and decipher what she is saying while she's signing and mouthing the words. I usually I understand almost every word, but I miss maybe a couple words.

I am seriously enjoying this class and having people back me up. They are all great.

Hopefully I can get college credit...

First Class Session ^-^

See-Sign is so easy to learn! :D I am so happy it is. You have no idea. Plus, at first I was expecting the class to be American Sign Language, but it's not. Although, I am happier I got into this class instead of the college class at the college. Gosh. The day I tried to get added into the class, the teacher was not even there. Then before the second class session even started, some of the potential students were freaking out. Students who went to class early to get a seat were chit-chatting about the rumors they heard about the class. Apparently, you could never speak. It makes sense since most ASL signers don't speak, but I thought learning it would be signing as well. I thought wrong.

That is why I am unbelievably relieved to be studying SEE-Sign in this class my mentor told me about. She is such a huge help. I found a great mentor to work with. So anyways, back to the class... The teacher is so nice! She's funny. If she makes a joke, there are adults to the left of where I sit that laugh really loudly. Then there is this Deaf woman who works at the Day Care center in the same building during the class. She came by, and I don't know why, but since I don't see many signers (which I have barely met any), I am just amazed. If it is like a foreign language (i.e., Spanish) in which I hear even just one word I know, I feel proud of myself. 

For SEE-Sign, it's different. I feel like you have become accustomed to seeing words without someone saying them to you. Especially if the person you are communicating with is deaf. On the bright side, with SEE-Sign, we actually can talk. I am sure that at least five times, the teacher has referred to kids. What I mean by that is she would say "and when you're teaching your kids this, remember to..." and such. It made me think that this class is for parents. This makes me laugh because not only do I think my sister (who takes the class with me) is the youngest, but I think I am the second youngest in the class.

The teacher said for the first three weeks of class we will just be learning the basics. I contemplated taking the 2nd class located in the room next door but I decided against it. Boy am I glad I did because majority of the words she was telling I seriously had no clue. It is great, though. Not only am I learning the exact signing for English, but I have my sister who sits right by my side, signing along with the class. Did I mention she is only a fifth grader?

On a lasting note... Today we learned the basics in just two hours. We learned the alphabet, Be-Verbs, Pronouns, Basic Vocabulary, and Numbers.

I can't wait until next week!

And a textbook! Maybe another too :D

One of my friends has a sister who took an ASL class. He told me when I was talking to his girlfriend that he has the textbook and just this morning I received it from him. I was so happy!! I thought it was going to be one of those huge textbooks with a hard cover and so many words I'd be too intimidated to even read 5 pages. Thankfully this one is actually small and manageable. I'm reading the first couple pages and I'm liking it already. It's telling me about the difference between Deaf people and deaf people. Basically, Deaf ones are the ones who are in the ASL community while deaf ones are the ones who do not or have not been introduced to ASL just yet.

Also, there are exercises and pictures with words and such and it's a huge help. I plan to read a bit everyday. Hopefully with the class and this book, and with the help of my mentor, I will succeed in learning American Sign Language.

There's a class!!!

So after my first meeting with Debbie (my mentor), we've been talking over email and she has given me great advice already in just meeting her for the first time. Since we were not planning to meet until next week, she emailed me the information of a class I could take. It is a bit far but after conversing with my mom, it has been decided that I am most definitely taking the class. Debbie thinks the class will give me a base in working with her. I am hoping to work with the kids she works with. Although the kids she works with are hard of hearing and are only learning the basics of signing (so not necessarily ASL) I think working with younger kids helps me pursue my dream career of being a nurse.

The class is once a week and it won't be too much of a hassle to drive to the class so I am definitely looking forward to it! :D

Mentor? Check!

After calling at least 7 phone numbers from the Napa County Office of Education, someone called me back and gave me the number to my mentor. I called her, we talked, and met up on Thursday after my class. It was great. She was super helpful. I think this project is going to be a great learning experience.

Our conversation mainly circled around what we could do, what she was supposed to do, looked over my letter of intent, and made another time to meet up. She even talked about how she works with young kids who have hearing disabilities. I thought this would be so interesting and a great experience because I really want to work with kids (hence my internship at Kaiser). I was so happy to hear that she was willing to take on this project with me given that's I'm sure she's got lots to do already.

I'm so excited!! I need to get my hands on some ASL books to get myself ready and just prepared. I borrowed a children's book from my neighbor and one of my friends has a textbook of ASL. I think just reading it and practicing it will definitely get me going.

This project is going to be a blast!!

Figuring out my Senior Project

For the LONGEST time... I could not figure out exactly what I wanted to do for my Senior Project. I had two ideas: 1.) End Product = playing the piano and singing at the same time. 2.) Learning American Sign Language (ASL) with End Product = Signing the entire presentation while talking.

Since the very beginning when I could actually sing, I've been singing. I love it. It's my passion. I'm taking my second Napa Valley College voice class this year. Again, I love it! Then there's American Sign Language. I first became interested when my best friend told me she took a class on it. I had no idea they had ASL as a college class. I failed in getting into the class... So, which one to choose for Senior Project?

I could ask my neighbor to teach me piano. Then again, I could find someone who knows ASL and ask them to mentor me in ASL. Finally, I had enough and we talked about Senior Project in class, so I asked my teacher. Thank you so much, Ms. H. because I finally know what I want to do.

Piano seemed too easy and I am taking a voice class already so I decided to learn ASL and sign my entire presentation of my Senior Project (of course while talking at the same time). It would definitely be a challenge but I love the language and watching an ABC Family Drama show contributed to this interest as well.

Now just to find a mentor...