the speech has three main points, the history of sign language, the alphabet, and the etiquette of signing.
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Sign Language Lessons, Information, Product Reviews and Tips to Get Started Learning ASL
the speech has three main points, the history of sign language, the alphabet, and the etiquette of signing.
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Don’t speak your introduction – sign it. The lack of sound will get your audience’s attention, and the signing will intrigue them. Sign the first few sentences, then ask, “Did anyone understand me? Well, if you learned sign language, you would have! What I just signed was…”
Sign something at the class (just something commonplace, like “how is your day going?” or “aren’t you glad it’s almost the weekend?” or some such thing) and do so without speaking. Point out this is how many deaf feel when someone unknowingly speaks top them, expecting an answer. Not all deaf speechread, and not all who do so do it well — especially with strangers.
Or, if most of your audience does understand sign language, simply say a sentence or two without sound (just move your lips, like the TV with the sound turned off) and then make the same point.
I know you didn’t ask this, but please, pleeease pleeeeease, make sure you keep your arm and hand dead-still when demonstrating the alphabet. That’s one of my biggest pet peeves with lesser-experienced signers: the bobbing hand as they try to spell something. A few letters require a bend of the wrist, but most should have no movement other than the fingers. Work on it. Tuck your elbow into your side if needs be. Keeping the rest of the arm and hand as still as you can will also make you look more professional and knowledgeable, which never hurt.