ASL Pah!

Hello ASL Heroes!
August has been an amazing month in the Vicars household.
I directed an awesome week-long event called "ASL Safari" up in the mountains at a place called "Grover Hot Springs." It was an advanced no-voice immersion for participants who have had six or more semesters of ASL. I thought it was fascinating that the majority of the 20 people who signed up were working interpreters. Some were ASL instructors. We all had a wonderful time. I was fortunate to have an awesome staff: John and Delight Lydiate, Jin and Lynda Park, Belinda Vicars (my wife), Kaytelyn Croghan (youth representative), and Marci Wilson (terp rep). All the feedback from the participants was so positive that I've decided to do it again next year. (I'll post information at Lifeprint and in this newsletter when details are available.)
Well, I've got to go print off my syllabi for this fall's courses up at Sacramento State U.
Take care,
Bill

In a message dated 6/15/2006 7:10:53 PM Pacific Daylight Time, rhp6901@ writes:

Dear Dr. Vicars,
...If I wanted to teach sign language for babies, must I be certified? I gather [that in] some areas you can get away without be certified and in other areas, certification would be required.
Thank you very much,
Heather P____

Heather,
In general you do NOT have to be certified:
- To teach ASL in a community education setting you do not need any certification.
- To open up your own business and invite students to take classes.
- To teach ASL training workshops as a visiting instructor or consultant in a corporate setting.
- To teach classes in your home.

Here are some circumstances wherein you are likely to need some kind of certification or approval:
You may have to get approval from your state if you claim that your ASL program prepares and qualifies your students for employment. Check with your State's division of occupational licensing and or department of Education. For example if you state in your advertising brochures or website that you course prepares someone to "interpret for the Deaf" or that you are offering "interpreter training" you may fall under certain state guidelines that oversee the establishment and management of schools.

If you teach ASL in a public K-12 school setting, it is likely that you will need to be certified by your state's teacher credentialing program. As time goes on, more and more states are setting up specific certification for public school system ASL educators

Some state higher education systems require instructors to show proof of certification in ASL in order to teach in state run colleges and universities.
But, believe it or not, it is generally easier to get a job teaching part time at a college than it is to get a full time position teaching in a public K-12 school setting. Some colleges will actually hire you to be an adjunct instructor with no degree and no certification. I put myself through college that way, heh.

More later...got to go take care of the kids...

Bill

In a message dated 7/12/2006 8:09:34 AM Pacific Daylight Time, rvoneil@ writes:

William, I am extremely impressed by the large number of options you offer on the page [http://asl.ms] - speed, number of letters, etc. THAT took a heck of a lot of work. I am proud of you.
:)

Vince,
In addition to hard work what it took was cooperation, answering the knock of opportunity, and trusting others.
Three major power-hitters contributed to the coding of that site in addition to my own scaffolding. Two of them were "complete strangers" whom I've only come to know through the web. They fell in love with lifeprint and asl.ms and started suggesting improvements in the code. I embraced them and began a prolonged but effective back and forth incremental refinement of the code. They would suggest something and send the code. I would try it out and ask for alterations. After a time, the bugs were worked out and I have been able to focus on taking care of the overall structure of the site, the html, layout, and graphics.
I am pleased with it because it truly is a product in which the whole is greater than the sum of the parts.
:)
Bill

In a message dated 7/11/2006 4:19:58 PM Pacific Daylight Time, jrw_2009@ writes:

Dear Dr. Vicars,

I'm writing to ask about a sign that I've seen a few times. I can't figure out what it is. The forefinger of the dominant 5-hand is placed against the mouth and the fingers are wiggled. I've also seen a sign similar to it. The dominant hand does the same thing but the forefinger of the other hand is placed against the pinky of the dominant hand and it does the same thing. I've attached a picture I made of the sign. Thanks so much for your time!

Amanda

Amanda,
The pic didn't come through, but your description is of one of the versions of one of the signs for "TALKING." Except it isn't a "5" hand, it is a "4" hand.
Dr. Bill

In a message dated 6/15/2006 7:10:53 PM Pacific Daylight Time, rhp6901@ writes:

Dear Dr. Vicars,
Thank you for sending in your e-report that I paid for. I appreciate it. I have two questions: (I know you must be bombarded by lots of questions, if you don't have time, I understand.)

1. You did not mention in your e-report if one must be considered "certified" to teach sign language classes. If I wanted to teach sign language for babies, must I be certified? I gather from your report, some areas you can get away without be certified and in other areas, certification would be required.

2. I know you do not teach babies sign language, but what would be the recommended price for that age range and specific audience that includes family members?
Thank you very much,
Heather Pienkos

Heather,
In general you do NOT have to be certified:
To teach ASL in a community education setting you do not need any certification.
To open up your own business and invite students to take classes.
To teach ASL training workshops as a visiting instructor or consultant in a corporate setting.
To teach classes in your home.

Here are some circumstances wherein you are likely to need some kind of certification or approval:
You may have to get approval from your state if you claim that your ASL program prepares and qualifies your students for employment. Check with your State's division of occupational licensing and or department of Education. For example if you state in your advertising brochures or website that you course prepares someone to "interpret for the Deaf" or that you are offering "interpreter training" you may fall under certain state guidelines that oversee the establishment and management of schools.

If you teach ASL in a public K-12 school setting, it is likely that you will need to be certified by your state's teacher credentialing program. As time goes on, more and more states are setting up specific certification for public school system ASL educators

Some state higher education systems require instructors to show proof of certification in ASL in order to teach in state run colleges and universities.
But, believe it or not, it is generally easier to get a job teaching part time at a college than it is to get a full time position teaching in a public K-12 school setting. Some colleges will actually hire you to be an adjunct instructor with no degree and no certification. I put myself through college that way, grin.
--Bill

In a message dated 6/22/2006 2:18:41 PM Pacific Daylight Time, mbednarsh@ writes:

Subject: Detroit �7�.
If you happen to know the background for this sign, does 7 have some significance to �Detroit�?
I�m from Detroit area so it caught my attention.
I can only think that there are 7 letters in �Detroit�.
Thanks.
Mitch

Hi Mitch,
The movement of the letter "D" traces a "7" shape in the air.
That "7" shape is commonly associated with cities. Not just Detroit, but many other cites as well.
Not all cities use a "7" movement. In fact, the majority of city signs don't use a "7" movement, but many do, but it has no significance other than the fact that quite a few city signs happen move that way.
--Bill

In a message dated 7/22/2006 5:05:38 PM Pacific Daylight Time, camerabugs@ writes:

I love your site. It has made it much easier for me to learn ASL. I have one question. Why are there multiple signs for the same word? When I cannot find a word on your site, I have looked in books. Quite often, each book will have a different sign for the same word. This is very confusing. How do I know which sign is the best to use?

Thanks,

Mary Harmon

Mary,
It is indeed very common for a sign to have a number of variations.
Which one is "right" depends on who you ask.
In an ASL class the "right" sign is the one done by your instructor. In a conversation with a Deaf friend the right sign is the one your Deaf friend recognizes. In a Deaf group, the "right" sign is the one used by the majority of the members of the group.
I recommend when self-studying you strive to look up a particular sign in several different books that have the term "ASL" in the title--and choose the sign that shows up most consistently in the majority of books
Cordially,
Dr. Bill

A teacher asked me for an example of a way to use ASL as a class management tool in a regular classroom (not an ASL class).
I suggested that she could spell a word via fingerspelling and have all of the students write what they think that word is on a slip of paper." Everyone then puts their name on the other side of the paper and puts it into a box for a drawing for a prize. The person who's name is drawn gets a simple prize. If the person who's name is selected also happens to have gotten the word right he gets a "double prize." This game quiets down all of the students, gets them all involved and focusing on the teacher.

I recently got an email from a "baby signing" instructor indicating that she had been bawled out by a Deaf person for providing "baby sign" workshops to parents. She asked my advice. Below is my response. It is important to understand that this person is constantly taking classes and furthering her own education. She is very humble and never claims to be an expert on anything other than the specific limited set of signs she is sharing with her clients.
-------------------------------------
Dear (Baby Sign Instructor),
Don't worry about the naysayers. When I first got started building a website with ASL people IM'ed me telling me it was inappropriate and that ASL couldn't/shouldn't be learned over the net. Heh.
You just keep on with what makes you happy and do your best to make inroads to the Deaf community. If someone criticizes you, simply work toward helping them to realize that what you are doing is planting seeds. These little kids will grow up and take classes from DEAF people in Interpreter Training Programs later on. So, in reality, you are helping create MORE jobs for Deaf people by getting more kids hooked on signing at an early age. The more people there are out there like you, the better the world will be for ALL Deaf people 20 years from now. Every kid you get hooked on ASL at age 12 months is one fewer kid sitting in a Spanish Class in high school and one additional kid sitting in a High School ASL class taught be a Deaf instructor.
Cordially,
Bill

In a message dated 7/11/2006 4:19:58 PM Pacific Daylight Time, jrw_2009@ writes:

Dear Dr. Vicars,

I'm writing to ask about a sign that I've seen a few times. I can't figure out what it is. The forefinger of the dominant 5-hand is placed against the mouth and the fingers are wiggled. I've also seen a sign similar to it. The dominant hand does the same thing but the forefinger of the other hand is placed against the pinky of the dominant hand and it does the same thing. I've attached a picture I made of the sign. Thanks so much for your time!

-- Amanda

Amanda,
The pic didn't come through, but your description is of one of the versions of one of the signs for "TALKING." Except it isn't a "5" hand, it is a "4" hand.
Bill

In a message dated 8/3/2006 9:55:11 PM Pacific Daylight Time, bajilliondy@ writes:

Bill,

The two sentences "Are you married?" and "Are you deaf?" seem to have the same sentence structure, but you've listed the asl translation as "YOU MARRIED?" and "DEAF YOU?". I don't understand why they wouldn't either both start with YOU or both end in YOU. Thanks.

--Confused

Dear Confused,
Actually you could use any of the following:

YOU MARRIED?
MARRIED YOU?
YOU MARRIED YOU?
All of the above are correct in ASL.
Bill

	ASLPAH.com A journal for students and teachers of American Sign Language.
Issue 37		Aug, 2006


William Vicars, Ed.D. ASLpah.com & Lifeprint.com Hello ASL Heroes! August has been an amazing month in the Vicars household. I directed an awesome week-long event called "ASL Safari" up in the mountains at a place called "Grover Hot Springs." It was an advanced no-voice immersion for participants who have had six or more semesters of ASL. I thought it was fascinating that the majority of the 20 people who signed up were working interpreters. Some were ASL instructors. We all had a wonderful time. I was fortunate to have an awesome staff: John and Delight Lydiate, Jin and Lynda Park, Belinda Vicars (my wife), Kaytelyn Croghan (youth representative), and Marci Wilson (terp rep). All the feedback from the participants was so positive that I've decided to do it again next year. (I'll post information at Lifeprint and in this newsletter when details are available.) Well, I've got to go print off my syllabi for this fall's courses up at Sacramento State U. Take care, Bill In a message dated 6/15/2006 7:10:53 PM Pacific Daylight Time, rhp6901@ writes: Dear Dr. Vicars, ...If I wanted to teach sign language for babies, must I be certified? I gather [that in] some areas you can get away without be certified and in other areas, certification would be required. Thank you very much, Heather P____ Heather, In general you do NOT have to be certified: - To teach ASL in a community education setting you do not need any certification. - To open up your own business and invite students to take classes. - To teach ASL training workshops as a visiting instructor or consultant in a corporate setting. - To teach classes in your home. Here are some circumstances wherein you are likely to need some kind of certification or approval: You may have to get approval from your state if you claim that your ASL program prepares and qualifies your students for employment. Check with your State's division of occupational licensing and or department of Education. For example if you state in your advertising brochures or website that you course prepares someone to "interpret for the Deaf" or that you are offering "interpreter training" you may fall under certain state guidelines that oversee the establishment and management of schools. If you teach ASL in a public K-12 school setting, it is likely that you will need to be certified by your state's teacher credentialing program. As time goes on, more and more states are setting up specific certification for public school system ASL educators Some state higher education systems require instructors to show proof of certification in ASL in order to teach in state run colleges and universities. But, believe it or not, it is generally easier to get a job teaching part time at a college than it is to get a full time position teaching in a public K-12 school setting. Some colleges will actually hire you to be an adjunct instructor with no degree and no certification. I put myself through college that way, heh. More later...got to go take care of the kids... Bill In a message dated 7/12/2006 8:09:34 AM Pacific Daylight Time, rvoneil@ writes: William, I am extremely impressed by the large number of options you offer on the page [http://asl.ms] - speed, number of letters, etc. THAT took a heck of a lot of work. I am proud of you. :) Vince, In addition to hard work what it took was cooperation, answering the knock of opportunity, and trusting others. Three major power-hitters contributed to the coding of that site in addition to my own scaffolding. Two of them were "complete strangers" whom I've only come to know through the web. They fell in love with lifeprint and asl.ms and started suggesting improvements in the code. I embraced them and began a prolonged but effective back and forth incremental refinement of the code. They would suggest something and send the code. I would try it out and ask for alterations. After a time, the bugs were worked out and I have been able to focus on taking care of the overall structure of the site, the html, layout, and graphics. I am pleased with it because it truly is a product in which the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. :) Bill In a message dated 7/11/2006 4:19:58 PM Pacific Daylight Time, jrw_2009@ writes: Dear Dr. Vicars, I'm writing to ask about a sign that I've seen a few times. I can't figure out what it is. The forefinger of the dominant 5-hand is placed against the mouth and the fingers are wiggled. I've also seen a sign similar to it. The dominant hand does the same thing but the forefinger of the other hand is placed against the pinky of the dominant hand and it does the same thing. I've attached a picture I made of the sign. Thanks so much for your time! Amanda Amanda, The pic didn't come through, but your description is of one of the versions of one of the signs for "TALKING." Except it isn't a "5" hand, it is a "4" hand. Dr. Bill In a message dated 6/15/2006 7:10:53 PM Pacific Daylight Time, rhp6901@ writes: Dear Dr. Vicars, Thank you for sending in your e-report that I paid for. I appreciate it. I have two questions: (I know you must be bombarded by lots of questions, if you don't have time, I understand.) 1. You did not mention in your e-report if one must be considered "certified" to teach sign language classes. If I wanted to teach sign language for babies, must I be certified? I gather from your report, some areas you can get away without be certified and in other areas, certification would be required. 2. I know you do not teach babies sign language, but what would be the recommended price for that age range and specific audience that includes family members? Thank you very much, Heather Pienkos Heather, In general you do NOT have to be certified: To teach ASL in a community education setting you do not need any certification. To open up your own business and invite students to take classes. To teach ASL training workshops as a visiting instructor or consultant in a corporate setting. To teach classes in your home. Here are some circumstances wherein you are likely to need some kind of certification or approval: You may have to get approval from your state if you claim that your ASL program prepares and qualifies your students for employment. Check with your State's division of occupational licensing and or department of Education. For example if you state in your advertising brochures or website that you course prepares someone to "interpret for the Deaf" or that you are offering "interpreter training" you may fall under certain state guidelines that oversee the establishment and management of schools. If you teach ASL in a public K-12 school setting, it is likely that you will need to be certified by your state's teacher credentialing program. As time goes on, more and more states are setting up specific certification for public school system ASL educators Some state higher education systems require instructors to show proof of certification in ASL in order to teach in state run colleges and universities. But, believe it or not, it is generally easier to get a job teaching part time at a college than it is to get a full time position teaching in a public K-12 school setting. Some colleges will actually hire you to be an adjunct instructor with no degree and no certification. I put myself through college that way, grin. --Bill In a message dated 6/22/2006 2:18:41 PM Pacific Daylight Time, mbednarsh@ writes: Subject: Detroit �7�. If you happen to know the background for this sign, does 7 have some significance to �Detroit�? I�m from Detroit area so it caught my attention. I can only think that there are 7 letters in �Detroit�. Thanks. Mitch Hi Mitch, The movement of the letter "D" traces a "7" shape in the air. That "7" shape is commonly associated with cities. Not just Detroit, but many other cites as well. Not all cities use a "7" movement. In fact, the majority of city signs don't use a "7" movement, but many do, but it has no significance other than the fact that quite a few city signs happen move that way. --Bill In a message dated 7/22/2006 5:05:38 PM Pacific Daylight Time, camerabugs@ writes: I love your site. It has made it much easier for me to learn ASL. I have one question. Why are there multiple signs for the same word? When I cannot find a word on your site, I have looked in books. Quite often, each book will have a different sign for the same word. This is very confusing. How do I know which sign is the best to use? Thanks, Mary Harmon Mary, It is indeed very common for a sign to have a number of variations. Which one is "right" depends on who you ask. In an ASL class the "right" sign is the one done by your instructor. In a conversation with a Deaf friend the right sign is the one your Deaf friend recognizes. In a Deaf group, the "right" sign is the one used by the majority of the members of the group. I recommend when self-studying you strive to look up a particular sign in several different books that have the term "ASL" in the title--and choose the sign that shows up most consistently in the majority of books Cordially, Dr. Bill A teacher asked me for an example of a way to use ASL as a class management tool in a regular classroom (not an ASL class). I suggested that she could spell a word via fingerspelling and have all of the students write what they think that word is on a slip of paper." Everyone then puts their name on the other side of the paper and puts it into a box for a drawing for a prize. The person who's name is drawn gets a simple prize. If the person who's name is selected also happens to have gotten the word right he gets a "double prize." This game quiets down all of the students, gets them all involved and focusing on the teacher. I recently got an email from a "baby signing" instructor indicating that she had been bawled out by a Deaf person for providing "baby sign" workshops to parents. She asked my advice. Below is my response. It is important to understand that this person is constantly taking classes and furthering her own education. She is very humble and never claims to be an expert on anything other than the specific limited set of signs she is sharing with her clients. ------------------------------------- Dear (Baby Sign Instructor), Don't worry about the naysayers. When I first got started building a website with ASL people IM'ed me telling me it was inappropriate and that ASL couldn't/shouldn't be learned over the net. Heh. You just keep on with what makes you happy and do your best to make inroads to the Deaf community. If someone criticizes you, simply work toward helping them to realize that what you are doing is *planting seeds*. These little kids will grow up and take classes from DEAF people in Interpreter Training Programs later on. So, in reality, you are helping create MORE jobs for Deaf people by getting more kids hooked on signing at an early age. The more people there are out there like you, the better the world will be for ALL Deaf people 20 years from now. Every kid you get hooked on ASL at age 12 months is one fewer kid sitting in a Spanish Class in high school and one additional kid sitting in a High School ASL class taught be a Deaf instructor. Cordially, Bill In a message dated 7/11/2006 4:19:58 PM Pacific Daylight Time, jrw_2009@ writes: Dear Dr. Vicars, I'm writing to ask about a sign that I've seen a few times. I can't figure out what it is. The forefinger of the dominant 5-hand is placed against the mouth and the fingers are wiggled. I've also seen a sign similar to it. The dominant hand does the same thing but the forefinger of the other hand is placed against the pinky of the dominant hand and it does the same thing. I've attached a picture I made of the sign. Thanks so much for your time! -- Amanda Amanda, The pic didn't come through, but your description is of one of the versions of one of the signs for "TALKING." Except it isn't a "5" hand, it is a "4" hand. Bill In a message dated 8/3/2006 9:55:11 PM Pacific Daylight Time, bajilliondy@ writes: Bill, The two sentences "Are you married?" and "Are you deaf?" seem to have the same sentence structure, but you've listed the asl translation as "YOU MARRIED?" and "DEAF YOU?". I don't understand why they wouldn't either both start with YOU or both end in YOU. Thanks. --Confused Dear Confused, Actually you could use any of the following: YOU MARRIED? MARRIED YOU? YOU MARRIED YOU? All of the above are correct in ASL. Bill
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