American Sign Language tutor/language mentor with an interpreting degree. I'd love to help you on your ASL journey whether you are a very beginner or intermediate learner. Let's develop your ASL skill

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• Do you speak this language fluently because of your origins or because a teacher inspired you to learn?

  I speak this language not because of my origins nor because of a teacher's influence. I learned American Sign Language because when I was younger, I couldn't imagine what it's like to know more than one language and I wanted to figure out what that feels like, how it shapes your perspective of the world, and how I would change once I crossed the threshold of monolingual to bilingual. I stumbled across ASL, and my love for linguistics influenced me to discover more. My appreciation and respect grew immensely for not only the language but the culture as well. I learned that language is indeed not limited to spoken language.

• Can you name a living, historical or fictional character that you think is the emblematic representative of the language's culture?

  I think Luarent Clerc Is a huge figure in Deaf history, so I would choose him as the emblematic representation of Deaf culture. Laurent Clerc was a French educator who, along with Thomas Gallaudet, co-founded the first permanent school for the Deaf in the U.S. in 1817. Laurent Clerc was Deaf himself. Although French Sign Language was his native language, he played a massive role in the development and spread of American Sign Language (ASL). He spent most of his life teaching ASL and educating Deaf students in the U.S.. ASL is composed of French Sign Language, home signs, and Martha's Vineyard Sign Language (which is now an extinct language), along with time allowing the language to evolve into what it is today.

• Is there a typical word, phrase, tradition or behaviour in the language that you particularly like?

  There are many traditions and behaviors in the Deaf community. One that I particularly love seeing is storytelling. The Deaf community has a rich history of ASL literature, filled with many unforgettable and visually engaging stories. Stories in ASL tend to be highly visual since they often depict what happened or will happen, who did what, and how it all transpired; there is a great deal of action involved. Verbs in ASL can vividly represent actions, literally mimicking, for example, the movement and position of a spilled cup of water, how it splashed, where it splashed, how much was spilled, among other details. ASL is more about showing than telling; It's a three-dimensional language compared to most spoken languages, which are linear. Watching Deaf storytellers is like watching a movie unfold in the movements of their hands.

• Why does speaking this language matter to you?

  I have grown to enjoy learning. This language has taught me a lot and continues to do so-especially about what we tend to accept as a language (ASL wasn't recognized as a real, natural language until the 1960s). It has expanded my knowledge in linguistics and shown me how quick people can judge or have prejudice against someone who is different (in the 1800s, many 'schools for the deaf' were labeled 'Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb'). The perception and understanding of the Deaf community is evolving and continues to do so. There is slowly more accurate representation being shown, and there are strides in advocacy (advocacy from Deaf, HH, and hearing people) to support Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals in gaining access to more resources, and knowing their rights. I appreciate witnessing Deaf awareness grow and people learning things about ASL and the Deaf community that they never even thought of. It reminds me of what initially attracted me to this language and culture; curiosity and being open to things you don't yet understand.

• What is the main difficulty in learning this language and what can help the process of learning?

  Like most people new to language learning, it can be difficult to first get used to a completely different grammar and way of conveying information. Perhaps the one thing that new learners may struggle with the most would be regional signs and variations among signs in general. Just like spoken languages may have different ways to pronounce one word, ASL has variations like that as well. You can think of it as 'accents' - just different ways to pronounce a sign. It's important to accept this early on and keep an open mind when seeing a new variation of a sign.
  
  ASL originally developed around 1817, and in 1972, a new system called Sign Exact English (SEE) emerged. ASL was deconstructed and reconstructed into SEE; a completely altered grammar system, intended to closely mimic the grammar system of American English. This transformed ASL into a linear language and omitted a majority of its visual aspect. While SEE has its merits in education, as it allows Deaf and HH students to see English on the hands and better grasp English grammar, an issue arose when a lot of Educational administrators replaced ASL with SEE. Many of these students used SEE as their main means of communication. This has left a huge impression on ASL. Today we have SEE, ASL, and a mix of the both creating a pidgin language. Most of the time signers use a mix of the two or ASL.
  
  The reason why this can be problematic is that natural signed languages are fostered by Deaf/HH communities, and like all languages, it evolves and adapts to their communication needs. Making a sign language linear, like SEE, takes away the natural components that make it suitable to the community. This can be confusing for new learners when they see a mix of someone signing English and ASL, but, learning a bit of ASL history can help you understand the language better!

• Provide a valuable anecdote related to your language learning or your days at school.

  In school, we would alway practice signing sentences and developing our ability to interpret language. The goal was to translate the meaning, not the specific words, from English into ASL. One sentence given to us was, 'If it is going to rain, I am not planning on staying here.' Our professor challenged us to condense this sentence into only two signs. After contemplating for a while, he revealed the true magic and signed, 'rain, stay' while shaking his head in a negation when signing 'stay'. That's when I realized that when learning a language, you must let go of some grammatical systems and structures from your native language, because they may be useless in the other language.
  
  Our professor slightly leaned forward, raised his eyebrows to indicate the subject, paused briefly, leaned slightly back, then shook his head 'no' while signing "stay". He used grammatical features with his face and body, layered on top of signs, to convey a completed statement. This experience taught me to remain aware of the many different ways language can be constructed, conveyed, and used. There is no one correct way to view the world but rather multiple ways through the various lenses of language.

• How has travel or a specific trip helped you to increase your skill and knowledge of the language?

  I took a trip to Gallaudet University, the only University in the world specifically for Deaf HH students. During my visit, I was surrounded by so many signers, it was the first time I had experienced such an immersive environment. Walking down the hallways, going to the cafeteria, and attending community events-Instead of hearing spoken language, I saw a bustle of hand movements. I had a great time sharpening my skills.
  
  This experience inspired me to travel more and seek out large Deaf events and community gatherings in my own state. Exposure to native signers is an invaluable part of learning ASL. It has allowed me to continually learn and grow. To this day, I love attending events, meeting new people, and making sure I stay up to date on any new ASL slang!

• What makes you a Superprof in language?

  My curiosity for understanding linguistics and culture has driven me to explore the field of language acquisition. I've delved into questions about how language is learned and how age plays a role in this process. I've also explored various language learning methods out there. Is one better than the others? I don't think so, I think there are many efficient methods and it also depends on the learner.
  
  I am appreciative of the classes I took in college that taught me about the developmental stages of language acquisition in regards to native languages and how these stages can differ from second language learning. One key insight for me personally has been the idea of approaching second language learning more like acquisition, which is more natural than most traditional means of study.
  
  I have found that prioritizing the active use of the language is crucial. Whereas some traditional methods have been known to prioritize grammar often neglecting the use of the language via speaking / listening or signing / reading signs. It's as if most students are stuck in a limbo of preparing to use the language but never actually getting to use it. While vocabulary and grammar are essential, how you learn them matters just as much. One approach I like, emphasizes learning vocabulary in context. For example, I often begin with an introductory dialogue. By using dialogue structures, students can immediately apply the vocabulary in a practical conversation, alongside using applicable grammar, allowing students to engage in a brief conversation right away.
  
  As we progress, we explore other dialogue themes relevant to the learners preference such as hobbies, family, travel etc. This enables us to conveniently come across other related topics or themes, making sure that what we learn is applicable. This process allows students to see their progress in real time, helping them understand what they are capable of and what areas they need to refine.