I undertook self-directed language learning once, when I was young and flexible.
I read Joanne Greenberg’s 1970 novel In This Sign and I wanted to learn ASL so much! Luckily, a Gallaudet graduate posted a "students wanted" ad in my local coop, which kept me busy for a year. It was just before ubiquitous videotape/VCRs were a thing, so in-person classes were the order of the day. (Frankly, all sign classes need to be in person. Learning sign from video is like learning oral language via CB radio.) I connected with generous members of Madison’s Deaf community and took more classes. My Deaf teacher encouraged me to take a "communication assistant" screening test (not to be confused with an actual interpreter) and I did some work in my town. It was the hardest and most rewarding thing I ever did — completely occupied both sides of my brain. So it was the first thing I lost when I got sick.
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branchandroot
You’ll … get far with your plannish plan!
Date: 2022-08-07 07:24 pm (UTC)I can see why you're a SMOF.
I undertook self-directed language learning once, when I was young and flexible.
I read Joanne Greenberg’s 1970 novel In This Sign and I wanted to learn ASL so much! Luckily, a Gallaudet graduate posted a "students wanted" ad in my local coop, which kept me busy for a year. It was just before ubiquitous videotape/VCRs were a thing, so in-person classes were the order of the day. (Frankly, all sign classes need to be in person. Learning sign from video is like learning oral language via CB radio.) I connected with generous members of Madison’s Deaf community and took more classes. My Deaf teacher encouraged me to take a "communication assistant" screening test (not to be confused with an actual interpreter) and I did some work in my town. It was the hardest and most rewarding thing I ever did — completely occupied both sides of my brain. So it was the first thing I lost when I got sick.