Category: Free Inquiry (Page 1 of 2)

Today I put together all the lines I have translated so far of Picture, by Kid Rock and Sheryl Crow. I have been using all the previous videos I listed as my source of translation. I am very proud of myself to have gotten this far.

Did I translate the whole song? No. I couldn’t remember that much just yet. But to have several sentences in a row is a pretty big victory!

The opportunity to participate in a semester long free inquiry project means I got to sit with the content! I appreciated having to come back to ASL each week and being able to set time aside to work on it. I have also learned a lot about accessibility and inclusivity in the classroom through ASL. It has helped me reconsider some of the lessons/activities/resources and to always be mindful of ways we can be accommodating in the learning space.

Enjoy my final translation!

I discovered that my translation (word by word) was inaccurate! It was like trying to speak a language in the wrong format. So what I needed to do was see what other existing translations I could find!

I have been working through Sheryl’s part and here is what I have for you this week.

Two full lines! Next week hopefully I’ll have a full verse.

I asked ChatGPT to write a blogpost for me this week to explore the potential of AI in education. My prompt was:

Write a blogpost about learning ASL that includes links to ASL related websites.

Here is what we got!

Title: “Unlocking the World of Sign Language: Learning ASL”

Introduction

Learning American Sign Language (ASL) is an incredibly valuable and rewarding journey that can open up a world of communication with Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals. ASL is a visual, gestural language with its own unique grammar and vocabulary. Whether you’re interested in ASL for personal growth, to improve your communication skills, or to connect with the Deaf community, this blog post will guide you through the process and provide you with resources to get started.

1. Why Learn ASL?

Before we delve into resources for learning ASL, let’s consider the reasons why you might want to learn this beautiful and expressive language.

a. Communication: ASL is the primary language for Deaf individuals in the United States. By learning ASL, you can communicate more effectively with Deaf and hard-of-hearing people.

b. Cultural Understanding: Learning ASL allows you to immerse yourself in the rich Deaf culture, understand its history, and build meaningful connections with members of the community.

c. Career Opportunities: ASL interpreters are in high demand, and many organizations require professionals who can facilitate communication between Deaf and hearing individuals.

2. ASL Learning Resources

Now that you’re motivated to learn ASL, let’s explore some valuable online resources to help you get started on your journey:

a. Lifeprint.com:

• Lifeprint.com is an excellent place to begin your ASL journey. Dr. Bill Vicars, a Deaf ASL instructor, offers a comprehensive online ASL course, complete with lessons, videos, and interactive exercises.

b. ASL University:

• ASL University is another fantastic resource created by Dr. Bill Vicars, providing free lessons and resources for learning ASL. You can find it at ASL University.

c. Signing Savvy:

• Signing Savvy is a comprehensive sign language resource that offers a video dictionary of ASL signs. It’s a great tool for learning and practicing vocabulary.

d. Handspeak:

• Handspeak is a valuable resource for ASL learners. It provides lessons, an ASL dictionary, and cultural insights, making it an excellent all-in-one platform.

e. ASL App:

• If you prefer mobile learning, there are several ASL apps available for both Android and iOS devices. “ASL American Sign Language” and “The ASL App” are highly-rated options that offer lessons and quizzes.

3. Practice and Immersion

Learning ASL is not just about mastering signs; it’s also about practicing and immersing yourself in the language. Here are a few tips for improving your ASL skills:

a. Join ASL communities: Look for local Deaf events or online forums where you can interact with Deaf individuals and other ASL learners.

b. Use social media: Follow ASL-related accounts on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, or YouTube to learn from Deaf creators and engage with the community.

c. Practice with a partner: If possible, find a Deaf or fluent ASL signer to practice with regularly.

4. Conclusion

Learning American Sign Language is a valuable skill that can enhance your communication abilities, open doors to new relationships, and provide insights into the Deaf culture. With the resources and tips mentioned in this blog post, you can start your ASL journey today. Remember that consistency and patience are key to mastering any language, and ASL is no exception. Embrace the learning process, and enjoy the beautiful journey of discovering a new way to connect with others.

Not only did the AI curate new resources for me, but it presented a format through which to consider my ASL learning. This can enhance my learning experience as I add to the ChatGPT format and information. It can act as my starting point to go further and deeper with my inquiry!

I spent time this week exploring some of the resources that ChatGPT found for me and cross checking some of the references.

How can I incorporate this week’s content on gamification with my learning of ASL? This can also apply to language learning in general, how can we gamify this kind of learning?

One of the resources we learned about was Khan Academy which provides interactive learning components such as this one here. It is limited though, there was only one portion of a lesson that included ASL. I am continually shocked with how few resources there are for ASL awareness and knowledge learning.

This prompted me to ask the question, do the amount of resources reflect the demographic? The Canadian Association of the Deaf present statistics within Canada of members of the community.

“There are 357,000 culturally Deaf Canadians and 3.21 million hard of hearing Canadians.”

Canadian Association of the Deaf, 2015

In the article linked, the CAD-ASC also note the inability to specify exact numbers when so many sources disagree. The numbers provided here represent one survey and act as a ball park for the expanse of the Deaf community.

So, if there are around 3.21 million Canadians hard of hearing, why isn’t ASL more readily available? I looked up ASL on the gamified app Duolingo but it isn’t an option. Other ASL learning sites are all costly alternatives to the language, whereas something like Duolingo is free.

How can I gamify my language learning then?

I have continued to work on my song translation: here is what I have so far!

Listen to the song to remember the lyrics. The video is the first two sentences. Keep in mind, this is my poor translation going word for word. I need to get in touch with someone who can actually help me structure the sentences correctly.

Below you will find a slew of videos each teaching a different sign in ASL. This week I start learning a translation to a song I picked. We’ll start with the first two lines!

Living my life in a slow hell
Different girl every night at the hotel

I’ve been practicing putting these signs into sentences to practice the video I’ll make of my song! Here is another way I have been practicing. I have been watching other people’s ASL song translations and been practicing recreating their videos. I found this a great way to expand my vocabulary!

Here is one song I’ve worked on this week:

From my exploration of ASL on the internet I have been surprised by the number of “covers” or “translations” in music! Many TikTok and Instagram users post videos of themselves translating their favourite songs.

This is a goal of mine for the end of the semester. Translate a song! First I went through some of the accounts that I enjoyed:

@kinkatz

My fav song to sign 😊 #asl #lala

♬ See You Again (feat. Kali Uchis) – Tyler, The Creator

Here is another one:

@cheyanneoettinger

the way i forgot what i was signing at the end #asl #futureinterpreter #signlanguage #asltiktok #aslcover

♬ original sound – EX7STENCE™

I like this clip because it is not the type of vernacular I have been learning through my online websites! The best way to learn how to properly speak is from the people. I learned this same principle when I moved to France. What you learn in schools is not what you hear on the streets.

Now all I have to do is pick which song I want to translate and then figure out which words I need to learn! I’m thinking I’ll pick “Picture” by Kid Rock and Sheryl Crow, a classic.

Here are the lyrics I’m looking to translate:

Living my life in a slow hell
Different girl every night at the hotel
I ain’t seen the sunshine in three damn days
Been fueling up on cocaine and whisky
I wish I had a good girl to miss me
Lord, I wonder if I’ll ever change my ways

I put your picture away
Sat down and cried today
I can’t look at you while I’m lying next to her
I put your picture away
Sat down and cried today
I can’t look at you while I’m lying next to her

Here is a video so you can take a listen!

In my attempt to find out how to sign “every day” ASL, meaning the day to day street vernacular, I stumbled upon a website showing me how to sign the meaning “every day”

https://www.lifeprint.com/asl101/pages-signs/e/everyday.htm

It includes a video of the sign, a picture of the sign, example sentences, and other angles! This will be a great resource in my translation of music!

See you Next Week!

Photo by Diva Plavalaguna: https://www.pexels.com/photo/close-up-of-people-bumping-fists-6146704/

As I explore how to translate music into ASL, I have been really interested in how ASL is utilized in media. Is it? Is there representation? Here is what I found!

There are definitely some ASL music translations, but not nearly as many as there could be! For my beginner’s learning, I have been watching simple, kids songs in ASL – like this one here:

There are also some Kids TV shows available in ASL that I found on CBC’s website. You can look through them here. As great as it is to see there are shows exclusively produced for ASL, there are not as many translations as I expected! This is definitely an area for growth.

Learn ASL through Pop Culture: Deaf Representation in the Media

There are a lot of ASL learning opportunities that use media as a mode of teaching! In my search for more content I stumbled upon a really great tool: an ASL dictionary! Click this link to see the ASL Dictionary.

I will definitely be using this to complete my goal for the end of the semester of translating a piece of music I like!

Photo by cottonbro studio, found on Pexels.

This week I was able to go through all of Learn How To Sign’s six part series. I realized at the end of the week that I had gone through a bunch of signs and could only recall a few from memory. So, to help us all practice I’ve made a quiz! I selected some phrases and signs at random – try and see if you can guess what they are! 

I also spent time this week looking for music with ASL translations. There are so many talented individuals putting great translations out there. Below is one account that I really enjoyed. She not only creates content of signing songs, but sharing information about the ASL community to help us understand the language better.

@scarlet_may.1

Reply to @laurenkris2 hope this made more sense! #fyp #foryou

♬ original sound – Scarlet May

I realized watching these videos, that it is not just about gestures, this is a full and complete language! I also learned that an “iconic sign” means that the sign looks like what they represent. For example, telephone looks like a telephone held up to your ear. 

How did you do trying to remember the signs in the video? Here are the signs you saw:

My name is Helena.

How are you?

I need help 

Kitchen

Boyfriend

Class

Student

Next week I am going to pick a song or a movie scene and see if I can try and sign them! Let’s see how we do.