Learn American Sign Language

Why you should become an American Sign Language interpreter?

2007-10-15T13:01:00.000+03:00

When you realize that 1 in 1000 people in the world is deaf, it can easily be seen why American Sign Language interpreters fill such a needed role in society. American Sign Language, or ASL, is a unique language with its own grammar and vocabulary, and interpreters, which are in short supply, are desperately in a variety of different capacities.

ASL interpreters fill a much needed role in bridging the deaf and the hearing communities. Many Americans do not understand that deaf culture is an entity that differs greatly from the hearing community, despite the two existing side by side. As an ASL interpreter, you will learn that it is more than just language that separates the two communities; deaf culture has its own customs and attitudes which are very different from that of the hearing community. Remember that as a bridge between these two communities, you'll be doing a great deal to foster understanding between two different groups of people.

There are many venues of employment open for ASL interpreters, and where a position did not previously exist, people are very often creating them. Video relay companies are prime employers of ASL interpreters; they set up a video camera that allows the deaf individual to sign to an interpreter, who then relays the communication onto a third party. There is also a market for medical interpreting, where an interpreter works almost exclusively with a hospital.

You'll also find that educational interpretation is a field on its own, with opportunities ranging from working with small children to working with university students. As an educational interpreter, you might be called upon to explain different customs to either hearing students or deaf ones, thus establishing a rapport between the two communities.

As an ASL interpreter, you will be breaking down the barriers between two communities which have grown apart. As people are becoming more educated about deaf culture and the deaf themselves, the need for interpreters is very strong and still rising. More and more companies are hiring ASL interpreters in order to provide excellent service to their customer base. When you become an ASL interpreter, you are becoming a part of a cultural exchange that will eventually benefit everyone.

There are many programs that will aid you in getting certified as an ASL interpreter. One that you might want to take a look at can be found at Rocket Sign Language Take a look at their free trial and find out how you can become an ASL interpreter.

American Sign Language - How Can Help Your Business

2007-10-06T21:56:00.000+03:00

ASL is believed to be the third most used language in The United States There are between half a million and two million people that use Sign Language as their mother tongue just behind English and Spanish It seems that 3.68% of the total population is found to be hard of hearing and 0.3% of the total population is functionally Deaf, out of a total population of about 268,000,000 (2005) living souls in the US. Therefore around 80,000 Americans are functionally Deaf and in total almost ten million Americans are hard of hearing.

Even people with hearing difficulties have to go out there in the big world and buy a product or service.

While many people visits the shopping malls, talking to the sales personal and inquiring many details regarding their requirement or just entering in to the restaurants and talk about their favorite foods and tasting while talking, the same needs to be done by Deaf or hard hearing person Armed with a pen and a note pad they sometimes struggle their way around shopping malls hoping to see the exact thing they want, so they can just pick it up and head for the checkout. Do you ever thought how sensate situation that can be.

So how much better would it be if your shop or office had dedicated staffs to serve customers or clients who were hard of hearing? You could advertise the fact that not only is English/Spanish/Italian/Russian spoken here ...but also American Sign Language. How many extra customers would you get?

So again how many extra clients or customers could you get if even one member of your staff used ASL?

Could you set up a staff training day so that designated staff could learn ASL?

Could you employ an ASL trained interpreter?

Could you employ an ASL user?

Just stop for a minute. Imagine the pleasure a deaf or hard of hearing customer will get if they can communicate with your staff.

Do you think they'll come back again?

Do you think they'll tell their friends within the deaf community?

So again how many extra clients or customers do you think you could get if ASL was spoken in your shop or office?

If you think providing ASL is right for your business and will also benefit both customers and staff then do something about it...Before your competitors read this article and gets in there first.

CLICK HERE to find out more about, How American Sign Language Can Help Your Business

The difference between deaf and Deaf

2007-10-01T20:30:00.000+03:00

One of the first things I learned about deaf culture is that there are "big D" Deaf and "small d" deaf. What is the difference? What makes a deaf person big or small d?

Generally, the "small d" deaf do not associate with other members of the deaf community, strive to identify themselves with hearing people, and regard their hearing loss solely in medical terms. A Person with audiological deafness must belong to small d “deaf”

"Big D" Deaf people identify themselves as culturally deaf, and have a strong deaf identity. I've never really thought about it too hard, but I guess I do capitalize the "D" if I'm talking about the community, to show that I respect them.

The big D deaf tend to have attended schools/programs for the deaf, while the small d tends to have been mainstreamed and/or never attended a school for the deaf. When writing about deafness, many writers will use a capital D when referring to aspects of deaf culture, and a lower case d when speaking solely about the hearing loss, and some just simply use d/Deaf.

Examples of Big D and small d d/Deaf

Someone is totally deaf, cannot read lips, and uses sign language. This person is married to a hearing person and does not associate with other deaf people. That person would probably be considered to be "small d" even though they have a total hearing loss and must rely on sign language for communication.

Another person is totally deaf, can read lips, and communicates orally. This person is married to another oral deaf person, and socializes primarily with other oral deaf people. Despite the person's refusal to use sign language, would this person be considered "small d" or "big D?" In my opinion, I would classify the person as "big D" because of the primary association with other deaf people even though the method of communication is not sign language.

A third person is medically hard of hearing and can talk on the telephone, but chooses to use sign language - ASL - as a key means of communication. This person also actively participates in the deaf community's organizations and events. He is proud to have a hearing loss. This person would likely be classified as "big D" because of his attitude towards his hearing loss and strong identification with the deaf community.

CLICK HERE. To learn more about “Deaf & deaf”

American Sign Lanuage - Useful to Know, Easy to Learn!

2007-09-20T23:37:00.000+03:00

Do you want to avoid being separated from your loved ones because of deaf? Are you going to be involved in the Deaf community? Or do you currently work with deaf people, or would you like to enhance your career prospects by being able to? Or do you want to become a Sign Language interpreter? Or whatever your reasons you have in your mind with regard to the sign language, then the best ever course you can possibly go for is “Learn American Sign Language”

You will learn and able to communicate American Sign Language like a native deaf person. With Rocket Sign Language, you are going to learn Sign Language rapidly, effectively, and easily. You are going to be able to sign with deaf work colleagues, relations, with deaf friends… in basically every situation you can think of!

The principle course designer was Jake LaBerge; Jake was born in North Carolina, U.S.A. He is profoundly deaf. Jake is not only fluent in American Sign Language, but also in NZSL. Jake works with young deaf people and is currently learning to play rugby after having a go at U.S. football. Together with his wife and son he now calls New Zealand his home

If you want to find out How

To learn In-Depth Explanations Proper Etiquette in the Deaf Community.

To learn Facial Expressions Affect Your Meaning, plus plenty more commonly asked questions...

To Ask Questions in American Sign Language with Clarity and Confidence.

To say “No!” in American Sign Language.

To Tell, Time and Numbers what you need to know about how telling the time and signing numbers all works, essential for so many real-life situations!

To Talking about You and Me.

To Learn MODERN American Sign Language... Don't waste your time learning traditional Sign Language that no one uses anymore

Grab Your FREE 6-Day Sign Language Course!

This course has selected lessons and activities from the FULL Rocket Sign Language course and is yours FREE with absolutely no obligation whatsoever

You'll Get VITAL and DETAILED Information that you can use RIGHT AWAY, including:

* How to introduce yourself with confidence and ask for someone's name.
* How to greet someone and ask how they are.
* How to explain how you're feeling today.
* How to fingerspell with complete accuracy.
* Essential phrases for everyday conversation.
* How to explain to someone that you're learning ASL.
* How to ask someone to teach you how to sign without hesitation.
* Loads of interesting and unusual facts about American Sign Language!

To find out more about “Learn American Sign Language”, CLICK HERE.