Learn a few sign language phrases.

“Well I’ve been learning or at least trying to learn a few phrases to make it easier and honestly I started taking a serious interest in learning since I’ve been wanting to be able to sign to her “have a nice day”. I’ve learned a few more phrases since then and today she was in my line. I was so nervous and I know I probably looked very nervous and clumsy with signing but I know she understood most of it. I explained that I was learning and only know a little sign. She tried signing with me more and seemed to be happy about being able to sign with me. She asked how I knew or where I learned to sign and I’ve really only been using the internet. I tried signing that I learned to sign for her to communicate with her and she just got this look on her face like that seemed so sweet to her. She pointed to herself to confirm it and seemed touched. There were a few phrases I probably should have known but didn’t and it’s so hard.”

“I learned sign language in the classroom, not through one-on-one communication. My teachers have all been wonderful and I am fortunate to have been taught by Deaf teachers who are passionate about Deaf Culture. But I have been taught by signing slowly at first, picking out each individual word, and slowly increasing speed as we go. For me, it has taught me bad habits that are hard to break! Proper grammar is harder to implement because I have to retrain my brain to not focus on translating each word into English first (making me want to sign in English word order). Plus, it had been far more difficult to communicate through ASL with fluent signers. I think, had I learned the speed from the beginning, with the cadence and flow of the language, these advanced signing concepts would have come far easier and more naturally.”