Merit, defined as the quality of being particularly good or worthy, especially so as to deserve praise or reward, transpires over a period of time or in the course of a life being lived nobly, or possibly in one shining moment. Reviewing the definition of merit, causes me to pause and ask if I am good or worthy, and therefore deserve the reward of a longed for scholarship. Looking back on my 19 years, and then ahead to my future, I do believe my life has had and will have worth.
Prior to writing this essay, I had not thought about my merit. It seems almost selfish to say that I am worthy when I think about the One, and only One, who is truly worthy. The word “worthy” reminds me of the song “Worthy is the Lamb…high and lifted up”. The only
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I never felt bold or passionate enough to speak up in class before ASL. My teacher, Mrs. Jan Thomsen, encouraged me that first year by telling me I would make a great interpreter. When she retired at the end of my level one class, I was concerned about having a new teacher. However, the next year, Mrs. Marla Kohl, my first Deaf teacher, amazed me! Under her, I completed ASL Levels II and III. When I learned there was no Level IV for American Sign Language in my school, I was dismayed. I knew if I abandoned ASL at this point, I would lose the skills I had worked hard to acquire. I implored Mrs. Kohl to let me be her teacher’s assistant and start an ASL club during my fourth year. She agreed, and I was blessed to know her better and to be able to help other students. Starting the ASL club and knowing it is still functioning today, shows me that I can create things that have …show more content…
I am currently enrolled at North Central University in Minneapolis where I am earning my BS degree in American Sign Language. During the next four years, I plan to learn as much as I can about the deaf community and continue to practice my skills with Deaf and Hard of Hearing people, so that I can improve my signing skills, pick up dialect differences, and practice my facial expressions and my receptive skills. After graduation in the spring of 2020, I plan to begin the National Interpreter Certification process. Ensuring I have a plan for my life keeps me on track so that I will not waste money or
Alice Cogswell - The Beginning of American Deaf Education - Start ASL. (n.d.). Retrieved September 19, 2016, from https://www.start-american-sign-language.com/alice-cogswell_html
In my family, I have a close cousin who is Deaf, and I know that many of my family members have questions about Deaf culture but are too afraid to ask. I felt the same way, which was a main reason I decided to take the ASL class. The class not only opened my mind to the study of American Sign Language, but also how Deaf culture is used in our society. This book has helped me learn a lot, from ways to respect Deaf people and to understand them, which is why I have advised my family to give the book a look as well. I definitely agree with points this book makes, because nearly all of them relate to today’s society and the world that we live in right now. Although, occasionally, some points were a bit confusing and took me off-guard, I performed some critical thinking on it and made a list of those I didn’t quite understand or agree with.
Although a handful of individuals were born knowing what they want to do in life, the vast majority spends a considerable segment of their life searching for that one perfect career they’re passionate about. Luckily, I am part of the latter group, and thus dedicated most of my adolescence and adulthood experimenting, engaging, and attempting different avenues toward discovering my labor of love. Indeed, every course I participated in provided me with a distinct skill-set or talent, while my journey helped shape me into a more consummate and multi-dimensional individual. However, the first avenue I explored was American Sign Language Interpreting, an expressive visual language that forced me to think innovatively and shape a multicultural perspective. Although the language as a whole fascinates...
Throughout time, mankind has progressed in numerous ways through the collaboration of diverse ethnic groups. The Han dynasty as well as the Roman Empire both developed during the classical era, circa 600 B.C.E – 600 C.E. Although, they were both prosperous civilizations, which developed numerous aspects within their society, they possessed distinct outlooks towards technology in general. Individuals within the Han dynasty possessed a positive perspective towards technology, as this was imperative in promoting the prosperity of society as well as making the lives of the common people incorporated in the Han dynasty more leisurely. Rome, however, possessed a negative attitude towards technology, though it did benefit the well-being of their society,
In the Unites States and Canada, an estimated range of 500,00 to 2 million people speak/use American Sign Language. According to the Census Bureau, ASL is the leading minority language after Spanish, Italian German and French. ASL is the focal point of Deaf Culture and nothing is dearer to the Deaf people’s hearts because it is a store of cultural knowledge and also a symbol of social identity, and social interactions. It is a fully complete, autonomous and natural language with complex grammar not derived and independent of English. ASL is visual manual, making visual manual words, moving the larger articulators od the limbs around in space. English uses audible words using small muscles
“Learning another language is not only learning different words for the same things, but learning another way to think about things” (American). For centuries, people from all walks of life have been using their hands to communicate with one another, and for centuries people from all walks of life have been learning. Today I am following in their footsteps with a passion from God for the deaf language, culture, and souls. For almost a decade, an intense ardor for American Sign Language and a desire to reach its native users for Christ seeded itself in my soul, wove its roots deeper and deeper, and blossomed into one of the greatest loves of my life. American Sign Language is a unique language with a rich history that not only provides a service to people in the deaf culture, but also to hearing people who seek to attain fluency.
When children are born and as they grow most of what they learn to speak is from hearing their parents talk but what if they couldn 't hear? How would they learn? Its pretty simple actually. They wouldn 't learn. Those who were born hearing but got sick or eventually lost their hearing learned a few things and use them but, eventually they turn to ASL to be able to communicate with others and be able to further their education. When having to learn this language you have to keep many things in mind such as handshape, palm orientation, location, movement and facial expression, all of those things are crucial to being able to speak this language correctly. While this language has been around for many years there are still things that don 't have an ASL name and in those cases you would do something called finger spelling, where you spell out what you are trying to say in order to get your point across.(Learning Sign Language,2) As every language you are learning a whole different way of saying things and you are also opening yourself to those who can’t really open themselves to you. The deaf community do really try to not be a burden to us. They learn to read lips or even talk because they were forced to. A couple a years ago they were restricted from learning ASL and were punished if they tried to sign. (About sign
During registration last semester, when I decided to take this course to see if I wanted to continue onward with ASL as my minor, I was not sure what to expect. Through my brief introduction of Deaf culture during my first sign language courses, I knew some vague details about historical events. Gallaudet had been mentioned several times within not only my workbook, but also by my professor. I could have given you a short synopsis of the oral movement that threatened to wipe ASL out as a language. Though I knew these facts, and a few traits about Deaf culture that I had experienced firsthand, there was so much that I had not considered before the readings and journals for this course opened my eyes.
Deaf people can do anything they want; they just have to follow their dreams. Many people admire or are fans of some famous Deaf people like Marlee Matlin, Nyle DiMarco, and other Deaf names. Marlee is great actress and author, and she is a very brave woman. Her family did not know official sign language but had “home” sign language instead. Nyle DiMarco was a two-time reality show winner from the two shows, America’s Next Top Model Cycle 22 and Dancing with the Stars Season 22. He loves to do activities that are involved in the Deaf community, as well as helping Deaf children; Deaf people can “do” life too. Do not listen to the people who always tell you, “You can’t, you can’t, you can’t!” It is very annoying, do not listen to them! It is wrong to judge other people because only God can judge people and God knows what their future holds, not the naysayers. Remember it is very important to bring an interpreter to a job interview. Everyone can be strong; we are human just the same. They are Deaf Power! “The opportunity to communicate in sign language, one of the most beautiful languages in the world, is an advantage that Deaf people enjoy. It’s a language that combines several elements at once with a simple hand movement and facial expression: meaning, affect, time and duration. It’s just so beautiful that printed or spoken words can’t begin to describe it” – Marlee
How many people do you know that know American Sign Language (ASL)? Sign language provides you with positive interests. You may not think ASL might be important to know, but actually knowing sign language can be ideal for oneself. ASL has been known as another way of communication that can help you improve your daily life. Sign language just means communication “spoken” through body language, gestures, and facial expressions. Sign language leads to a major change in communication. ASL was fully recognized in the 1960’s and became popular. Sign language has many benefits because many people in the U.S. are deaf or hard of hearing, it enriches relationships, and it promotes self-esteem and confidence.
For my informative speech for Comm 2500 Section 18, I spoke about American Sign Language. I chose this topic because I started taking American Sign Language classes here at Clemson last semester as a freshman, and I really enjoy the beautiful language and way of expressing ideas. I believe that all people should be exposed to and experience American Sign Language and Deaf culture. Writing my informative speech was very exciting for me because I really enjoyed my topic and was very happy to be able to inform people about American Sign Language. I was initially nervous about this speech because it was so much longer to have to speak to people; however, it was not as bad as I thought it was going to be.
Have you watch America’s Next Top Model who has a deaf model competing or Switch at Birth with many deaf actors and actresses? Did you ever wonder why ASL started in the first place? Why is it important to have ASL for the deaf? I have only used ASL for ten years and now I am finally understanding the history of this rich, beautiful language.
...nger needed. I was excited, but very nervous. Northern Voices only had about 5 students in each classroom and Rice Lake had about 27. It was so noisy! I saw kids chattering, but was so shy to meet them. The kids were welcoming and I quickly made friends through talking. This moment I felt that talking is now part of me as it is ingrained into my soul. Signing has left my soul. Growing up with hearing students for the past 12 years, I no longer feel that I am part of the deaf community, but part of the hearing community. My true self blossomed. The difference between body and self
Imagine using no spoken words, not hearing at all, yet at the same time communicating perfectly. By use of American Sign Language (ASL), many people communicate everyday. They share stories of hope and despair, trade ideas and opinions, cry and laugh. Their difference is one that is important in their lives, yet does not in any way decrease the value of those lives. Deafness is such a unique, insightful, and wonderful loss. It is one with such beauty and meaning. Deafness is one "disability" that isn't really a disability at all. Instead many prefer to look at it as a culture. The Deaf culture is made up of primarily deaf people who view their hearing loss as a different way of life. These people use their native tongue, American Sign Language, to communicate. ASL is a "full" language. it has adjectives following nouns, in addition to verbs, adverbs, and pronouns. It is not a language made up of gestures or miming. Signing is a precise process. It is a combination of one's face, body, eyes, shoulders, and hands moving in synch. A person cannot fully "speak" the language without understanding the importance of all five aspects. You can change the meaning of a phrase completely by raising your eyebrows, repeating the sign, or enlarging the space used. You create a whole picture, the scenario as it takes place. You explain to the receiver the mood, time frame, and event all in a short amount of time. Take an airplane ride, for example: you could sign the place quickly taking off, flying steadily to its destination, and having a bumpy landing, all with one movement. In the same sense, you can describe a person, a place, or an object to the tee. Giving directions is a snap, and telling a story is marvelous.
Learning sign language was a big part of my life. I originally learned the language to get around the rules in the cafeteria my fifth grade year, and now here I am, advocating for the deaf community. I always thought sign was something everyone should at least know the basics of, but as I get older and I see the deaf all around me I know it’s more than that. We learn German and French as second languages, but why does no one teach sign language? Are we really more likely to go to France than meet someone who is hearing impaired? So many are surprised to have someone understand them, and that just isn’t