Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Discussion #8: Helping Others



The purpose of this blog is to help each other with your ASL stories. Please provide questions you may have. This is a great opportunity to receive and provide help outside of class. Please provide thorough information to your classmates. You may wish to direct them to additional resources, pages in the text book, and/or provide them with helpful suggestions and thoughts. Be sure to use aslpro.com and aslbrowser for assistance if you need to.
Be sure to post your questions and respond to others by Thursday 12:00am.
Here are some things to think about:

  1. Do you have all of the requirements completed (remember that topic statement!)
  2. Do you need help with a word that you just cannot think of how to sign it? Remember one word may be mulitple signs and an entire sentence may be only one or a few signs.
  3. Are you incorporating mime, body language and facial expression to enhance your story or to take the place of things you are uncertain how to sign?
  4. Do you use classifiers correctly? Do you have enough?
  5. Do you need help with sentence translations?
  6. Are you in the need of a signing partner to critique your story?
  7. Are you becoming the characters in your stories?
  8. Is your story too short? Do you need suggestions how to lengthen it?
  9. Is it too long? Do you need suggestions what to omit?
  10. Do you need to have someone double check anything?

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Discussion #7: Shared Reading


Reading is such an important time of our lives. When we were children, we often had our parents read our favorite books before bed. Can you imagine not being able to read to your children, not being able to share this very special bonding experience, and not be able to instill the importance of reading? Hearing parents with Deaf children are faced with just that.


Gallaudet University created a very important reading program for hearing parents and their Deaf children. it is called, Shared Reading. This program gives parents the proper tools to read to their children in a language that they can understand, ASL. By using ASL they are incorporating language with written text that will allow children to see the story as well as begin their reading skills.


I have included here the 15 principles for reading to Deaf Children. I have also included a video of a signer reading in ASL. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmbpJpI6Uko


Read these principles carefully and watch the video provided and think how this will help you develop your story for class. Please comment on how this will help you in your story process.


15 Principles for Reading to Deaf Children
"The single most importantactivity for building theknowledge required for eventualsuccess in reading is readingaloud to children." National Academy of Education Commission on Reading 1985
The ultimate authorities in reading to deaf children are deaf adults. Comparative studies of deaf children with hearing parents and deaf children with deaf parents show that deaf children with deaf parents are superior in academic achievement, reading and writing, and social development (Ewoldt, Hoffmeister, & Israelite, 1992). Hearing parents and teachers can learn from the read aloud strategies used by deaf parents. The following 15 principles have been identified based on research that examined deaf parents and deaf teachers reading to deaf children.

The Principles
Deaf readers translate stories using American Sign Language.
Deaf readers keep both languages visible (ASL and English).
Deaf readers are not constrained by the text.
Deaf readers re-read stories on a storytelling to story reading continuum.
Deaf readers follow the child's lead.
Deaf readers make what is implied explicit.
Deaf readers adjust sign placement to fit the story.
Deaf readers adjust signing style to fit the story.
Deaf readers connect concepts in the story to the real world.
Deaf readers use attention maintenance strategies.
Deaf readers use eye gaze to elicit participation.
Deaf readers engage in role play to extend concepts.
Deaf readers use ASL variations to sign repetitive English phrases.
Deaf readers provide a positive and reinforcing environment.
Deaf readers expect the child to become literate.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Discussion # 6 Story TIme! You may start this one but this is Nov. 16th blog. See below #5


Ahhhh... Story time. Doesn't this bring back memories of your childhood? Stories are such important parts of our lives. Think of those stories your family shares again and again. Aren't they great! Or perhaps you prefer your parents would stop telling that story about when you stood up at a dinner party and pulled down your pants and announced to the startled guests that you needed to go potty! Hey, I was only 2!

Stories are a very important part of Deaf Culture and ASL. Stories are rich in facial expression, body language, structured mime, vocabulary, classifiers, eye gaze, body shifting and ASL grammar and structure. Parties, gatherings and social events are filled with incredible stories and folklore. Talented storytellers are well known in the community and it is a real treat to be in their presence.

I have selected two stories to share with you. They are amazing and filled with theatre effects! And I do not mean special effects or anything like that. I mean all through the language!

I want you to comment on the stories. What did you notice? What did you understand? What did you think was amazing? Which was your favorite? Compare and contrast the two stories. You will need to watch these a few times. Do not get discouraged. Focus on what you understand and go from there.

The first story I selected is called, "Deaf Ninja". This story teller is hearing but grew up with a Deaf brother. His story is about a vision he has. The Deaf Ninja in this vision is Deaf and uses his hearing aids as a tool to fight! These hearing aids are the old kind that were worn on the chest. He would tease his brother about them and his brother would swing them at him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L91KVUXRBq8

The second story is called , "The Special Reindeer". This story is being told by a Deaf man. It is a cute Christmas story about Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. Watch closely, Rudolph is not hearing.

ttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5Ie2Tug0QE&feature=related

Friday, November 6, 2009

Discussion #5 Beethoven's Nightmare!





Him? Nope! Althought Beethoven became deaf at age 35, this is not who I am referring to.



An all Deaf band! HUH? YES! Read more!




4 Hearing Loss Reviews: Beethoven's Nightmare

November 13, 2006
Hawaii-based deaf band called Beethoven’s Nightmare

After more than 30 years, Beethoven’s Nightmare comes out with a debut CD.
In the 1970s, three deaf college students gathered habitually in a Gallaudet University dorm room to make rock music and nurse dreams of becoming stars. More than 30 years -- and many broken barriers -- later, the trio that's billed as the only all-deaf rock band in the world has come out with a debut album. The CD, which is the first known in the world to feature an all-deaf rock band, is another milestone for Hawaii-based Beethoven's Nightmare, which has played venues around the United States and wowed audiences and record executives alike. "After 30 years, it's finally paid off," said Ed Chevy, the band's bassist and an American Sign Language teacher, at a CD release party yesterday in Hawaii Public Radio's Atherton Studio. "We want to say music is a universal language. ... This kind of music helps us express ourselves." Ron Tish, owner of Koke-Kula Records & Publishing, agreed to produce the band's CD after hearing about them through Susan Miller, the director of the University of Hawaii's Center of Disabilities Studies and a longtime fan of the band. Tish said he worked with the band extensively to tune their music for "hearing" ears. The deaf musicians had excellent rhythm, Tish said, but were off-key -- usually playing too high or too low. He also brought in hearing-abled backup singers -- Hawaii residents and siblings Troy and Cheesa Laureta, both of whom have life-threatening asthma -- and guitar, percussion and keyboard players. Tish said that in his promotion of the band's CD, he wants to downplay "the sympathy aspect" of the band and "up-play the phenomenon." "These guys had the courage to stick it out for 30 years," he said, while sitting at a piano at the Atherton Studio before yesterday's event. Chevy, whose real last name is Corey, said the band wanted their CD to be a "crossover album -- the hearing culture working with the deaf culture." And the title track on the band's CD, called "Turn It Up Louder," speaks to the band's aim of bridging deaf and hearing people through music. "Turning up the volume so 'hearing' people can hear what 'deaf' say and feel," the song starts out, with a 1950s' style sound, which the band calls "retro rock-and-roll." The chorus of the song, which comes in a stanza later, continues with the theme: "If you're wondering what we're all about, we're the only deaf band in the world. And if you can't understand all the words all we need to do is turn it up louder!" Chevy wrote most of the songs on "Turn It Up Louder" and almost all of them reference his and his band members' deafness.
One is called, "It's Just a Deaf Thing." In "Crash It Out," the CD's seventh song, Chevy sings, "Attempting to break the deaf sound barrier with a heavy steady beat. Talking about crash it out." Chevy says a second CD is already in the works, and fellow band members -- Steve Longo, of Oakland, Calif., and Bob Hiltermann, of Hollywood, Calif., -- are already mulling over new songs.
I cannot wait for you to see these guys! Here is a clip. Please reflect on what you see and post a meaningful discussion question or comment for your class.

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Discussion #4 Culture Awareness: ABC stories!


CULTURAL INFORMATION: ABC AND NUMBER STORIES
A treasured part of the heritage of the Deaf Community is their language, ASL. It is, as with any culture, an important part of their identity. One of the fun and special traditions enjoyed and shared by the Deaf Community is signing stories using Number or Alphabet hand shapes. In these stories, various hand shapes do not stand for the numbers and letters themselves, but are used as signs or gestures to convey concepts. They are signed in alphabetical or numerical order, and used in amazing ways to sign or act out a story.


I want you to watch these ABC stories that I have chosen for you. The first story that I have selected shows how each letter is used to develop the story and you can see on the screen the letter as the signer uses it. Keep in mind these handshapes represent things, not the letters! The other two clips you must follow on your own. On Monday I am going to ask you to create your own ABC story! Story telling is a huge part of the culture and I wish to expose you to the many ways story telling is used. This will also allow you to learn how to better incorporate body langauge, mime, and facial expressions into your signing which are all important in your development of learning ASL. Not only that, you will be able to participate in a special fun tradition shared by Deaf people.

After you have viewed the videoclips, I want you to discuss these amazing stories with your ASL sisters and brothers (classmates). What did you think of them? What was easy for you to understand? Difficult? What fascinated you? What was inspiring? What can you compare this to in English?

Now think about traditions in your own families (think about your hertiage, culture, religon etc.)that are important to you and why. Also, what traditions are important to the American Culture? Compare and Contrast this to ABC stories in Deaf Culture.
Enjoy!





Monday, October 19, 2009

Discussion #3: Programs Made For Children


Take a moment and think about all the programs you watched as a child. Weren't they great!? Ahh those were the days. Don't we have fond memories of the days of Cookie Monster shoving cookies into his mouth, counting with the Count, and of course who could forget Elmo's pet fish Dorthy and singing little jingles to the tune of "Jingle Bells"? Or wasn't it fun to figure out all the clues in our handy dandy notebooks? And Barney, who could every forget that lovable, yet somewhat annoying dinosaur that taught us to play nice and always share through great songs and dance! Okay, come back to the present! I want you to specifically, think about all the programs that were educational based (Sesame Street, Magic School Bus, Blue's Clues, Liberty Kids, Between the Lions, Arthur, Wishbone, Clifford, Barney, just to name a few!) How did they teach you? What did they teach you? Why did you enjoy them? Why did you (or still do!) want character pj's?

Now how many programs do you know about that were created specifically for Deaf children? Think of any? I have selected two shows that I would like you to watch. The first one is "Signing Time" that can be found on PBS in the mornings and is very popular program. The second one is called, "DeafPlanet" this can be found on the web at http://www.deafplanet.com/en/deafplanet/
Please blog about how beneficial you found these programs to be for Deaf children. What did you find beneficial, entertaining, fun, educational, and cultural? Which one do you think is best suited for Deaf children and why? What audience did these programs have in mind? I have included what I would like you to watch below but feel free to explore the DeafPlanet Website and view Signing Time on PBS for more information. Feel Free to share ANY thoughts, comments and questions with your fellow students other than what I asked you to discuss.

I would like you to watch "Caterpillar Dreams" on Signing Time at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGF3iC0o_1s
I would like you to watch "What Goes Up" on DeafPlanet at
http://www.deafplanet.com/en/deafplanet/
To get to this show you must click Shows and then select "What Goes Up"

Monday, March 2, 2009

Discussion #2: Enable


Deaf people and sign language are sometimes displayed by the media. For this blog posting, I want you to view how the media protrays Deaf people. I have selected three commericals. These commericals all use sign language as their primary communication method. I want you to watch there commercials and think about what message they are sending about Deaf Culture and Deaf people. Do you feel these commericals show the strengths of Deaf people and their language? Who were these commercials for? Did they reach both the hearing world and deaf world? Which commerical do you think protrayed the best image of Deaf people and their culture? Which do you think protrayed the worst? Support your responses. Watch the Pepsi commercial "Bob's House", the Chinese Pantene Commercial and the Thailand Toothpaste commerical (located on the youtube links to the right). For the Thailand Commerical view http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yeAhnagJdcA and for the Chinese Pantene Commerical view http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opOQlA0LVqo Which of these commercials do you feel are based on Deaf folklore. In Deaf folklore being deaf allows the person to triumph or succeed. As a result of their deafness they are able to overcome an obstacle. How does this commercial portray that being Deaf allows triumph rather than defeat?

Discussion: Audism

Have you ever wondered why a Deaf person wouldn't want to hear? Have you thought, given the opportunity, they should do whatever they can to become hearing? Did you know that this is called "audism," and is considered a form of discrimination? Audism can be placed with sexism and racism, among others. Watch the PBS clip entitled, "Audism" (use "Through Deaf Eyes" web link provided on blog, after accessing that link, click on "video clips." It is the last clip on the video clips list). What can you do to change your thinking and not engage in audism? Most importantly, now that you are aware, how can you educate others about audism?

Sunday, March 1, 2009

Discussion: Deaf Art

Read this quote a couple of times and reflect on what the author's message is. After you ponder on what the author's message is, think about what the quote means to you. Express your thoughts and ideas.

Blog Discussion #1-Music Videos with ASL Translations


For this blog discussion, listen to the songs, "Waiting for the World to Change" by John Mayer and "Beautiful" by Christina Aguilera. Think about your feeling of the message being sent. Now watch and listen to the music videos, Beautiful and Waiting for the World to Change, by Deaf Performing Artist Network. ("Waiting for the World to Change" can be accessed directly on the right through the YouTube link.  To access "Beautiful," you will need to click on the D-Pan weblink to view it through their homepage.) As you watch these videos look for the cultural message that the signers and the Deaf community are trying to portray. Why do you think that this song was selected to be sign language interpreted? After watching the interpretation, how has the song message changed for you? What other culture could use this song to send their message to the majority and why?