Learn Sign Language Over Your Lunch Hour
There are many people that are interested in learning sign language. They want to do this not only to be able to communicate with the deaf community, but also to be able to use it in their business practices. If you are able to talk with the deaf using sign language then you will be able to offer them your services and help them as necessary. Although this seems like it is a shallow goal, many of those in the deaf community would welcome someone taking the initiative to learn sign language for this reason. If you have a large population of deaf people in your area, and most areas do, then this is typically a market that is totally untapped. According to U.S. Census records, one out of every 250 people in the United States is functionally deaf. There are many more that have serious hearing impairments and use sign language on a regular basis to communicate. Not being able to speak with these people is simply leaving business on the table, and not many of us can afford to do that. Here is an easy way that you can begin learning sign language over your lunch hour.
Learning sign language is not like learning a foreign language. In actuality, it is English, but you are using your hands in order to convey the thoughts. When learning a foreign language you are able to use CDs or cassette tapes while you are driving your car. Since sign language is a visible language you will need to have the use of either a book or a sign language DVD in order to begin learning how to sign. Most people start out with learning the alphabet so that they are able to spell out words in a pinch. While this can help you to get started, it is not really good etiquette to spell everything out when you're signing to someone who is deaf. After you are proficient at using the alphabet then you will need to begin learning some of the words and their associated signs. You can easily begin learning these signs over your lunch hour. By only trying to learn a few select signs every day, you will be able to retain them easier. You will be very surprised at how quickly you are able to begin to communicate.
Another way to begin learning sign language quickly is to start communicating with the deaf as soon as you take up learning it. You do not need to have a large vocabulary in order to begin conveying thoughts, and the person that you are talking with will generally help you to be able to learn more when necessary. It also helps, as American Sign Language is not a word for word language. It is often necessary to convey a thought in as small amount of signs as possible. This is especially important when you are translating and need to keep up with someone that may be speaking very fast. So while it is not totally simple to learn sign language, is much easier than taking up a foreign language. It will also help you to serve a need that you may find in your community.
Oliver Bowen is a lifelong signer, experience Sign Language Interpreter and adult child of Deaf Adults whose mission in life is to teach people American Sign Language as quick and as easy as possible.
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