ASL

For those of you who don't know what ASL means, it's American Sign Language! (Probably that exclamation mark was unneccesary but I'm real excited so it's ok.)

I purchased me up a program that teaches it. It should be helpful. I have the same thing for french but my mom stole it from me so that she can learn it so here I am, learning no more languages. So I bought this 2 CD set for 9 bucks and so far... I've learned nothing. The disks with the tutorials isn't working just yet. Not sure why. But I'mma get it!

I've always wanted to learn it. In grade 3 (I think it was grade 3) they took two kids from every grade at my school and taught us how to do "Silent Night" in sign language and during the christmas assembly we all went up on stage and did it. I got chosen 'cause I already knew a word in sign language. I totally don't remember where I learned this but the middle finger is the number 18. My teacher laughed when I showed her so she picked me. :D

And then in grade 9 we had a student teacher in my class that had a deaf parent... or something. Well she taught the whole class the alphabet and every day for months after learning that I just went throught he alphabet all the time with my hands. I still do it now without even realizing it. I always wondered what it would be like to be fluent in two languages. I know some german but when I think of german words that I know, they still seem foreign to me. To be able to think in another language is completely beyond my grasp... except for the alphabet in sign.

In grade 11 two girls in my social class evidently also learned the alphabet and were signing across the room but it was really slow and awkward and they had to write down every letter as they went to get the message and I was just watching reading every letter as if they were saying it outloud. It was an awesome feeling. I didn't even realize I had learned it that well. I mean, the alphabet is not that big a feat but it was still an amazing feeling. I can't imagine how Morgan feels with her million languages.

Eventually one of the girls saw me watching and she put the letters "Can you read this?" and I smiled and nodded. Both their faces went red. I'm not really sure why. They were talking about skipping math class or something. But I guess since they thought it was private it can be embarrasing. Like wispering into a microphone.

Anyway, I've learned a little more from books this year. Not a whole lot. I can introduce myself and ask how someone is and say some of my likes and dislikes. All the makings for an unexciting conversation. So hopefully I'll learn even more soon. :D