My contribution to Maria Shriver’s April Poetry Month – a poem originally created in ASL, translated and subtitled in English..
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My contribution to Maria Shriver’s April Poetry Month – a poem originally created in ASL, translated and subtitled in English..
@ASLElla Best of both world They get all benefits of both language, not half and half, or mix. In addition to that, great English skills are included. Parental choices.
@deafdub That sounds good to me!
@xenophile2 I’m not saying that deaf kids shouldn’t be taught ASL (or whatever sign language is used in a particular country). They should be taught it. (Maybe there should be an international SL). But they should also be able to manage in the hearing world by learning how to read lips. They would be great candidates for working in the intelligence field! LOL
wow , i love that your vlog and very inspirited for us smile smile !!!! stay with us and keep going yyyyyaaaaaaaa !!!! towand ella !!! smile smile !!!!!
wow , i love that your vlog and very inspirited for us smile smile !!!! stay with us and keep going yyyyyaaaaaaaa !!!! towand ella !!! smile smile !!!!!
I can only say you: WOW … CHAMP!!!!!
I love your poem!!!! Positive poems with comparison of hearing and deafworld, that is important to showing at hearingworld. You show, you want hearingworld too, Not alone own world! Collabration became strong world!
You did good!!!
I realise your hands … You almost use your handscape of ‘1’ and ‘5’!!!
Keeeeeeeep and update your poem often! 😉
As a hearing mother of two deaf boys (men now) I loved this expression and the thoughts and experiences that are so so true – thank you for sharing!
The poem you express is lovely and I understand same thing which we are Deaf parent with 6 CODA children..Great poem will never forget
This was amazing! Thank you for sharing. =]
@TeachESL so it is nice to be involved sometimes in a signing environment. it’s not the same as turning your back on the hearing world. Not at all. Why not provide more choice by offering more languages? English AND ASL/ISL/BSL or whatever sign language you use in your country.
Cheers for now.
@TeachESL Another thing.. (I’m not contradicting you here, just explaining.) You teach people English? Correct? I’m sure, at the beginning your students struggle to understand group conversations and try to follow what’s going on. For many deaf LIPREADERS who CAN speak, this is the reality when integrating in the hearing world. Ask your FB friend. The more hearing a person has, the easier it is to follow spoken group conversations.
@TeachESL
Pearse was saying that by trying to deny a language, you’re denying a culture. (He was referring to Gaelic Irish, and the attempts by the British to eradicate the language. Hence his comments on language and culture.)
I am deaf and I do not cut myself off from the hearing world. It is good to have BOTH English AND sign language. I know plenty of Deaf people who were educated here in Ireland before oralism was introduced. They led very successful lives integrated in the hearing world.
@deafdub No, what does Pearse mean? I’m just saying that deaf people shouldn’t cut themselves off from the hearing world. I have a friend of FB who is deaf and her mother made sure she could learn to speak to be able to function in the hearing world. She is grateful to her mother for doing that.
@TeachESL It’s not about “knowing only sign language,” or ASL–it’s about not being prevented from knowing ASL, which is what happens all too often.
Ella, This poem touches me once again as it did when I first saw it years ago in The Treasure. I have always wanted to make a response poem from the perspective of the tree. The fact that I’d have to write it because my ASL can’t do justice to the thoughts is one of the things that has stopped me. Why don’t people understand that giving the child the best of both worlds is “doubly nurturing.” (By the way, though I prefer to watch the poem without the English subtitles, v. nice translation)
It’s not about “knowing only sign language,” or ASL–it’s about not being prevented from knowing ASL, which is what happens all too often.
@TeachESL Padraig Pearse (An Irish hero) had this to say… “With a language comes a culture.” He was referring to the Irish language, but this is applicable to various sign languages throughout the world. Blind people do not have a language of their own.
Deaf people are not cutting themselves from the world. They are enriching themselves knowing extra languages. From your Youtube name, I see that you teach English as a Second Language. I’m sure you understand what Pearse means?
Whoooo! This just gave me goose bumps!!
R-
Nice to see how you set up a rhythm and using selective handshapes (1,5,f,y) making ASL into a poetry. Beautiful! What you have described happens to many who grew up Deaf who find themselves as they discover their language and connection to the Deaf community. It takes Parents and Deaf Village to raise a Deaf child.
Wonderful poem! I’m going to share this in my FB account. Deaf children need both their parents AND the Deaf community. Your poem captured the conflict between the parents and Deaf people beautifully, and yet made clear the potential for the child is that much greater when the two bands together for the best of the child.
Ella, I wish my parents were alive so I could show them your vlog. Thank you for sharing! Beautiful poem! Someday I will show it to my sister and classes.
Again, thank you.
Hi Ella, this is poem wonderful and powerfull influence positive. congratulations
Betty
@TeachESL Yes evidently you still dont get it. I hope someday you will. First, do you believe that American Sign Language is a language of EQUAL quality as spoken English? This is something you MUST understand first of all. Then, scientifically, we realize that a natural language MUST have a culture to thrive in. Blind people IF I UNDERSTAND RIGHT (I dont), do not have their own language therefore they dont really have a culture. They share certain EXPERIENCES. Different, see?
@DeafPoet2 Thanks! It’s indeed sad to see Kelsey and others doing those hateful vlogs and realizing that some people simply refuse to see the TRUTH about how amazing and full of gifts Deaf people have – our signed languages, our patience, our wisdom, our years of experience and humility under oppression of audism and Oralism, our ability to band together into a viable community…just amazing…and to see those folks denying that is hard.
@DrDonGCSUS The SN Level 2 (pink book) was published in 1990 so the dates still fit, smile.