- I'm just curious to know why you decided to start learning ASL. People usually have interesting reasons for wanting to learn the language. I'd love to hear yours.
—JUNE021
"My fiancée is hard of hearing and I would like to find out ways that I can encourage him to learn sign language with me so we can have conversations with each other no matter how high the level of background noise."
—DOEEYED
"I am in college (working towards a degree in special ed/counseling) with the idea of becomeing a special ed advocate. I need a foreign language, and thought that one that is used by those I could end up serving was the right one...."
—SUMBUNY
"I am taking ASL because since I was a child I have wanted to learn. I finally decided I am tired of working in jobs I hate and want to do something I really love. I plan to get my degree as a Sign Language Interpreter and work as an interpreter until I get my teaching credentials."
—PAGANSILVERD
"I am taking asl because: 1. It's required for my major. 2. I'm Deaf/hoh. 3. I'm going to be an audiologist. 4. My last audiogram wasn't promising. 5. To teach my hearing dog more signs. I guess you know what my reasons are, but I don't see any GOOD reasons why people are learning it. I believe it should be required for a high school diploma; no asl on your transcript, no diploma...next. I'm coming into contact with way too many people still hostile towards those with, gasp, disabilities. But, being deaf isn't a disability...being ignorant and violating my rights under the ADA is just plain stupid and a lawsuit waiting to happen."
—CROOKEDPANTS
"I am taking ASL because I am 1. hard of hearing and it is deteriorating 2. I am studying to become a sign language interpreter 3. I was already interpreting and felt I needed the education to get certification 4. I have many Deaf friends 5. because I interpret at church 6. because it is a beautiful language 7. because I teach it to children. I already signed before I took ASL formally but taking classes has increased my knowledge and ability"
—LISAPOOH
"I'm taking ASL because I'm going into full-time church work. However, in our area, there is only one church that has a signed service. I have always been interested in signing, I have attended the Good Friday service for 13 years that is signed, just so I could learn some of the signs. When I returned to college this year, I decided it was time that I learned to do something that really interested me and I could use at church, school, and in my community."
—CROSSSTITCHM
"I'm hearing, but all through out school k-12 my bestfriend was Deaf. He always tryed really hard to understand what I was trying to say to him and i tryed my hardest to learn enough to get by. As we got older it was easyer to comunicate with one anther but still not as good as it could have been. My freshman year I foud out there was ASL offered at my high school, I took the class, loved every moment in it. Scott has a Chocular implant, and its workng. I've learned enough right now to talk to him in ASL and him understand it for th most part. He refuses to sign to me. as well as his parents. though we all sign to him. I'm a senior in high schoo rightnow and my school doen't have ASL(I've moved.) I'm teaching a few people how to sign at this school I'm at now and working on getting an ASL class here. In the fall I'm going to go to Columbus State to get my interprating Degree, Its something I've not been able to think of changing sence my first day in an ASL class. So Keep up with it Its a good thing to know... I love the Calture as much as the language. and I'm trying to stay in the loop with it. so have fun!"
—KITTYSIGNS18
"I have been taking ASL through my school for a year. I love the language-- the beauty of communication in such a unique form. I am very much a visually-oriented person and I enjoy being able to communicate in a way that is very comfortable for me. I also find that the immediate benefits of being able to communicate, sort of, with my Deaf classmates is something irreplaceable; the joy on a person's face when they know that I will not ignore them just because it takes a little more effort to talk to them. ASL is something I truly love."
—ETSELEC
"I have been taking ASL classes for about a year and a half. 4 semesters. It began for me after taking a class at a conference called, Worshipping Hands. That is the use of sign language to chriistian music. I loved it. It got in my soul, and I have been taking classed ever since. I started a Worshipping Hands ministry at my church, but my dream(and hopefully God's desire) is to get certified and begin a deaf ministry at my church.I need to immerse myself in the deaf community, but am yet to get in."
—PAMCLAB
