# Please read! Question about ASL class.

Category: Cram Session

## Post 1 by Twinklestar09 (I've now got the bronze prolific poster award! now going for the silver award!) on Wednesday, 29-Nov-2006 11:57:40

Hi everyone. I am considering taking a class to learn American sign language. It's not a requirement for my major, but I figure it would be useful for my eventual job as a special ed teacher. So, have any of you other blindies ever taken an American sign language class, or does anyone know of someone who has? How did you do things in that class, like how did you learn/follow along with the class during class time? If you can respond to help, or even just to share your thoughts on this that'd be great. Thanks all.

## Post 2 by KC8PNL (The best criticism of the bad is the practice of the better.) on Wednesday, 29-Nov-2006 12:08:46

Your best bet, if you have to do it in a classroom setting, is to get someone to do the signs with you as they are going on in class. If you are totally blind, tactile sign is the way u will have to do it of course, and believe me, it's a challenge! I recently sat in on an ASL class at the university I'm attending now, and found it dificult to follow, since a sign is harder to learn tactually as opposed to visually. If your university or school will allow it, and if they will hire a person to work with you, your best bet is 1 on 1 training. There is also a book on bookshare, Signing illistrated I believe it's called, witch has decent text descrittions of the illistrations. I've found this to be a good resource. I hope this info helps.

## Post 3 by Twinklestar09 (I've now got the bronze prolific poster award! now going for the silver award!) on Wednesday, 29-Nov-2006 12:19:58

Oh cool! And I have a membership with Bookshare, so I will check that book out.

## Post 4 by blbobby (Ooo you're gona like this!) on Wednesday, 29-Nov-2006 20:17:46

If you know any deaf people, I'd bet they would be willing to help you. If not, maybe your instructor could help you find someone.
I am totally blind, and tried to learn it once. However, I didn't have the tenacity to finish the class. I am sure it's a great skill to have, but it's a lot of work to get the skill; twice as hard as it is for a sighted person.
Good luck.
Bob

## Post 5 by Twinklestar09 (I've now got the bronze prolific poster award! now going for the silver award!) on Wednesday, 29-Nov-2006 21:01:14

Thanks. Actually, my uncle has a brother is deaf, and that man's children also know sign language. So maybe we could work something out where I could practice with one of them regularly. If not, there are some deaf students at my college, so yeah, I think that might work.

## Post 6 by Reyami (I've broken five thousand! any more awards going?) on Wednesday, 28-Mar-2007 21:30:51

Do you think I'll need American Sign Language if I'm going in to music therapy?