MusicInMotion67

I'm a combination between a reader, visual, and tactile kinesthetic kind of learner.

Agree, I'm also interested in learning Spanish however I don't have extra money to throw around. Like kurdapia said up top, I too am interested in learning more about the specific details and the scope of what the lessons hold.

Personally I think it's important to correct them. If they are learning a language then they need to show enough respect to the culture and the language to learn it right. Straightforward but polite is probably the best way. Like was mentioned up above slow him down and explain to him that you know he's excited to be learning which is a great thing but an important thing is for people to be able to understand what he's saying, and in order for that to happen he's going to have to try slowing down and taking a deep breath and let him know that when you catch him doing this you'll touch his arm on the elbow or some type of reminder that isn't necessarily verbal so it won't embarrass him that will be a reminder to him to slow down and take a deep breath and try his phrasing again. Also encourage him to encourage constructive criticism, when i'm signing something incorrectly I ask my D/deaf and hh friends to let me know, and in the Deaf world they are't so gentle but very shoot from the hip, but I appreciate it because I want to do this beautiful language justice and respect the people, the culture and the language enough to do it right.

For American Sign Language obviously a visual language Skype is a great tool for teaching online. Unfortunately all too often people decide to try to teach theirself ASL online with information that's out there however, a lot of that information is incorrect or regional signs or dialects so the person needs to learn the correct signs for his region and then have someone to practice with. Skype can also be a great tool for that. When they have friends who are studying the same thing or need tutors but are a great distance from their friends or in a place where tutors aren't readily available then Skype would be a great second option. Like one person said up above, the biggest thing is getting out of your head and going with what you know. (my translation lol)

As an ASL Interpreter/Teacher I think it's important to have an assessment done periodically however I also feel that the best way to learn any language is total immersion or at the very lease through socializing with native users of the language, whatever language that may be. The thing with a language is it's almost like a living thing meaning it grows and changes with the times. New words are added to it as are new rules at times. The biggest thing with getting assessments rather it be a professional one or through native users is it helps you to not only know if your doing it correctly, but it also helps you to find out just how much you actually understand when either hearing it or seeing it. I know with ASL receptive (seeing and understanding) skills are generally, not always, but generally the last thing to develop and the first thing to lose. it takes a lot of practice and as I always encourage my students the best thing they could do is go to a place in our case a Deaf social where there are lots of opportunities to use the language in question and get feedback. \Also keep in mind that culture plays a huge part in learning a language, understanding the culture as well as the grammar syntax to the target language Even after 41 years and knowing this language all my life, I still will tell my Deaf and Hard of hearing or hh friends to let me know if I do something wrong regardless of how small it is because I know that that is the only way to learn. For all I know there may be a new way of signing something or a new term/slang to learn. In the line of work I do Interpreting as well as teaching, it's good to know all those things so if I mess up. I want them to tell me.

Hi, my name is Karen and I am a Sign Language Interpreter and Teacher. I've been signing all my life and here in southern CA we see it used a lot, probably only second or third to Spanish and English. It's a beautiful language with an amazing culture with a rich history and an amazing community of people. If you have any questions feel free to ask. Karen