staceyfe said:I'm currently in ASL 4 at local state college (non-credit) I'm slowly becoming fluent, but it's hard when you know no deaf people other than the teachers. I'm not sure what I'll do with it, but I know it's a passion of mine and I feel it's a call on my life.
Are there any local Deaf Clubs in your area? Or at the college? Those are great places to hang out and learn the language and the culture. In my area we are fortunate to have the only Interpreter Prep program in the southern 2/3 of the state and it has been well regarded over the years. Our college also offers great services to students who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing so it draws the students in which makes for great interaction for our IPP students. When I was a student, I helped establish "Silent Table" where students, Hearing and Deaf, and community members could get together and chat in ASL. Sometimes we'd meet at a restaurant or go bowling...just whatever sounded good. It was a great relaxed atmosphere. Currently this semester, the IPP students are doing "Silent Lunch" every other week at the college and they have ASL Club meetings on the other weeks.
You should talk to your instructor about Silent Weekends that might be offered in your area also...our IPP sponsored one for a while. There is one about 2 hours away outside of St. Louis that many of the students attend now. Also, our IPP and ASL Club sponsors a Deaf Social Day in the spring which is huge for our area. The day consists of a Deaf Panel (community members of varying hearing loss) who discuss their expierences in life such as schooling, family, how the deafness occurred, etc. Then there is a skit where it's an all hearing family except for one Deaf child...very typical. Then the tables turn and it's an all Deaf family with one hearing child. You know the shoe is on the other foot idea. Then we all break for lunch and come back for fun and games and lots of social time. Addtionally, there are various booths set up displaying new technology and services available.
Well, now that I've really hijacked this thread, I'll return it to it's original purpose....if you want to know more just send me a PM.
