Week 1- Back to the Basics: My ASL Adventure Begins!

Along the colourful threads of my life lies a one-of-a-kind and strong tale: one of connection, strength, and the beauty of understanding. Every time I think about my trip, I keep coming back to American Sign Language (ASL). Follow along on this blog post as I talk about why I want to get back into ASL and how it changed my life so much. 

I have a speech impediment, which makes talking to people a difficult dance. ASL became a lifesaver during this time, giving people a way to communicate when words failed. Its visual and physical qualities helped me connect with others, which led to better knowledge and less trouble communicating.

Why ASL Is Important: 

The American Sign Language (ASL) is a rich visual language that goes beyond spoken language. Sign language's emotional nature lets people communicate in a more complex way, picking up on details that words alone might miss. 

ASL was very important to me during a difficult time in my life. Learning this language again is a way to honour that past and recognize how strong it was for people during hard times. 

As an EA who works with kids from different backgrounds, they want to connect goes a step further than words. ASL can help make the school setting more welcoming and helpful for everyone. Because it appeals to everyone, I can better talk to kids who may benefit from using their hands and eyes to describe themselves. 

Relearning the Basics: When I started this project, I made an official pledge to master the most basic parts of ASL. The first steps were carefully planned, starting with a careful review of the ASL symbols.

Step 1: Get to know the alphabet:

I focused on the basics and used an organized method to learn the ASL alphabet again. I simply looked up a video on YouTube to refresh my memory, and after rewatching it a couple times, I felt confident.

Step 2: Use it in real life - "O Canada":

To turn what I had learned in the classroom into something I could do, I decided to sign the Canadian national song, "O Canada." I learned this when I was in grade 5 and it was one of the only things I could partially remember. By clicking on the link above, I used that video to relearn it and slowing down the video made it easier to work on.

As the process of relearning goes on, it will be both orderly and life-changing. Come with me as I peel back the layers of this complicated journey, from learning the basics to appreciating the beauty of communicating with subtlety in ASL. I'm excited to learn ASL again because I see a future with more links and better knowledge. It's not just about talking to people; it's also about building relationships, encouraging sensitivity, and making the world a better place for everyone I meet. The symphony of silent gestures is waiting for you, and I'd love for you to join me as I go through the different parts of this formal ASL study. Stick around as I dust off those hand moves, and let's make signing cool again! 🤟