Yep, haven’t been registered for 20 years. So decided to take a couple sign language classes.
First, the computer spit out my application saying the two classes can’t be taken together. That required a talk with a counselor to straighten out.
Second, this college, which I have been to numerous times, required of me, proof that Im deaf. This required getting a stupid paper from a doctor.
Third, the teacher for the first class, a deaf guy I know, wasnt teaching. They gave it to a half deaf lady, who’s idea of a three hour class is only 90 minutes. Hey, I paid for three hours, let me have them.
Fourth, registration costs $167.00 [I got a discount on most of it], books for the first class [one class per week] are going to cost about $122.00…
Fifth, the teacher pretended to be a student during the class for about 10 minutes, then jumped up & was all like, hey, Im the teacher!
Im the only guy in the class. Half the class is my age, half is younger. They all seem kinda dumb.
My dad is a recently retired college professor (Early Childhood Education), and he and all his colleagues have always maintained that the most hassle-free students are the back-to-school adults. They know what they want out of the course, they pay attention in class, they ask good questions, they do the homework, and most of all, they don’t waste anybody’s time, mainly because they’ve paid for their own tuition and they’re adults, so they know how to get their money’s worth out of something.
So, go get 'em, Tiger! Rest assured that your teacher will love you the best of all, and you won’t even have to bring her an apple (or attempt to bribe her with money, drugs, or sex) to accomplish it.
BTW, what fraternity will you be pledging? And when’s the Homecoming Dance?
No frat, this is a community college. They are cheap. THey put in the first new building in 25 years just two years back.
Only 7 students in the class ALL, including teach, are women. Im the only guy.
This might sound kind of pathetic, but the only way I can find anyone to talk to in sign language locally is to go to college & take sign classes. sigh.
Hey, tonight is the second of two classes, this time, a real deaf guy is teaching the class, its sign language too. oh boy.
correct me if I’m wrong, Handy,but isn’t ASL different from the sign language used in England/Europe?
That’s always seemed daft to me - the deaf/partially-deaf have enough hassles & mis-communication problems with the hearing world as it is without putting another barrier in their way. They could have had an international sign language (like an esperanto that actually works!) & it never happened.
Sorry, that was great debates-ish.
Hope you get on with the college course better tonight - the only signs I know I learnt out of a book when one of my school friends was going deaf & we were testing her on her vocab… it was summer of her last year at school, so we only got as far as ‘c’ & I don’t know any grammar at all.
I took ASL I-IV and interpretation at my local community college a couple years ago. i too was dissapointed, because of the pace of the class. I understood getting into it that many of the students were just there to get their foreign language credit, but REALLY! The assignments were few and when we had projects, I’ve seen 7 year olds with better presentations. Luckily though, I was the youngest in the class and a bit out of place. I had had many years of sign language as a child, since I had hearing problems and surguries and such… Then I got into this college level class, expecting more thatn I had in elementary.
At least I’m fully fluent now though, although I never use it.
Congrats Handy. I’m right there with ya in the back to school thing. Of course for me its been 3 years, compared to your 20, but a culture shock I’m sure nonetheless.
fierra, yeah, I got a neat book, Signs Across America. Its about how they sign the same word in various cities. It finally puts to rest why I argue with teachers about how they sign a word & how I do. They learned in another city.Signs not the same in England, but some probably is.
Moe, the cranky college called me today cuz the computer said I can’t take intermediate sign & advanced sign at the same time. lol.
Boy, those computers they have are clever.
Congrats on going back, handy, but I sure understand your frustration w/ the community college offerings. I signed up for a course in basic sign language and was very disappointed. I just wanted it to help a little in communicating w/ deaf patrons, and didn’t even get that much out of it.
Have you checked out some of the stuff from Galludet? Two good friends of mine graduated from there (yeah, they’re both deaf) and they put me onto some great materials for basics. I’ll see if I can did up the bibliography and send it to you, if you want.
IIRC, you live in a populous area. Is there a contact locally for Nat’l. Assoc. for the Deaf? Maybe there’s a signer in your area who could help you find something more useful.
Anyway, best of luck! If you’d like that list of materials, let me know.
What girl do you know that picks out the tuba as a instrument in the 6th grade??? (all exceptions to TubaDiva) It was not a choice because I needed an instrument low enough to pick out the tones. And I was tall enough to play the tuba. I have a hard time with higher pitches though.
Chronos, et al. No, its only a one night thing per week now & its not even near the time when I post on the board. Like David B., I type fast, that’s why the high post count, I suppose ya all might take a typing class :-)?
