4 Rules for Having an ASL Conversation | Hearing and Deaf

Hello. I'm deaf. I remember that my ex who is hearing always tap my shoulder so hard. I keep told him do not tap my shoulder so hard. Take easy tap on shoulder. He not listen sometimes. Same as my daughter who is hearing tap my shoulder so hard. I told her do not so hard. Take easy tap, or hand wave or switch light and stomp floor not too often. When I feel from floor. She stop tap my shoulder so hard. Thank God! LOL i would be mad and yelled if whoever tap my shoulder so hard. Its hurt and disrespect to deaf. Now we used stomp floor, switch light and hand wave. I'm very sensitive from light. If I sleep my kids turn my light from my bedroom or hallway. I just woke up fast or look at my kids what they want to say.

I am a retired Firefighter from Valdosta Ga. I had a situation where I encountered a deaf person on a medical call and I felt helpless because I had no idea how to help. I could tell the lady was desperately trying to explain what the issue was. I promised that I would be active in learning ASL. I’m just starting and very clumsy but I’m trying. Thanks for all you do!

I always gave facial expression and feedback but I did stare at the hands trying to understand and not miss anything especially in social settings where everybody is signing fast and maybe using signs that I am not familiar with . I had a deaf instructor laugh at me one time and teased me that my eyes look like marbles trying to keep up! Lol

Sarah said don't make it hard on yourself / hurt yourself trying to get the attention of Deaf. That is helpful advice because sometimes hearing people are hesitant to communicate with Deaf because they don't know how to get their attention. Sarah's advice may help reduce the hesitantcy. Hello to Sarah's dogs Remington, Tombe, and I forgot the other name.

As new signer, it's hard for me to look at the eyes during a conversation with a deaf person. I'm so concentrated on their hands just to be sure I don't miss anything.😬 I am happy that the group I meet up with are patient with me 😊

Just had my first conversation with a deaf person at our church last weekend.

Thank you, thank you, thank you. I don't want to be rude or give the impression my hearing experience is the standard of what is a 'civilized' human. For me also, sound can at times be a painful startling experience. I've explained when something interrupts me, but wasn't sure this was right or not. I don't feel so... wrong now, but, boy do i still have a lot to learn. I'm glad my Deaf friends are patient. I have to stay committed to getting better in conversations.

More conversations with a person who is deaf please. I live on the other side of the world, and we use a different sign language. However, the president of our Deaf Association often attends meetings with American Signers, and she needs all the help she can get. By watching videos like this, I am able to pick up a few signs and can then practice with the associations president, who is also deaf. PS - We live in Kiribati and would love to learn more ASL <3

Thank you so much. This is very helpful because I don't know anyone deaf so I am not sure what is appropriate yet. I'm sure I will still make mistakes. But your awesome videos should help me at least understand better. I'm having so much fun learning ASL. Thanks for all your your hard work and willingness to share!

I like this video but it's too fast. I'm just learning to sign and I can't keep up with the conversation. Could you please slow down a little when you're instructing? I really appreciate these videos. They're extremely helpful. Thank you so much for making them! I'm signed up on the website too and registered for the webinar on the 18th. I'm excited about learning this language. Warm regards, Leah 😊

This was very useful, the facial expressions are particularly hard for me. I've got Autism and struggle the most with expression.Would love more of these type of video where the two of you are conversing since it helps me learn the signs and put it to use.

Absolutely love these videos and this Is a very important one! thank you

Some of the best things I've learned on you channel are right here.

Just watched this on YouTube for the second time today. First off, since I'm still learning ASL, what I don't like is waving back and forth, just up and down, banging instead of lightly tapping the table and turning on & off the lights. There are some people who have or have a history of flashing lights or being sensitive to lights. 2nd, deaf people aren't blind, they're deaf or hard of hearing. Blind people are blind and I have helped a blind person in the past, but by being their eyes when they can't see, even if they are color blind. That's why some flashing lights are called strobes and they're bright, for example shining on a disco ball or on emergency vehicles, police 🚔, fire 🔥 and medical, even burglar or fire alarms. Some buildings or schools have fire alarms i.e. speaker or horn/strobes that are pitched at a higher volume, like 1000 or 1600 htz as opposed to lower at 800 htz or 86 decibels. Lastly, some who is deaf or hard of hearing in a building or wouldn't hear anything or know how to react in an emergency or if there was a fire 🔥, burning toast or popcorn or if it's just a practice drill, until someone taps on the table or their shoulder, points it out to them like for example "All right, popcorn is ready (All right popcorn ready, eat). Hey, that's the fire alarm (Look, listen that (loud) fire 🔥 alarm (red and white flashing light). We'd better get out of here (we go (walk) out here)." That's actually from an episode of the cartoon TV show The Simpsons 🙂🙏✝️💒👍🤟.

Amazing video Thank you for posting!!

Thank you in advance!!! 💎 ✍🏾📝

Thank you both for this video. I remember years ago before certified sign language interpreters we're available and required by law, I was interpreting for a couple and I was already comfortable with the wife but when I was asked to interpret for the husband, they forgot to mention that he had tunnel vision!? 🤦‍♀️ Thankfully, his wife was interpreting what I was signing to him, but I just couldn't understand why he didn't understand me when she and I had many conversations. Anyways, lesson learned and nowadays like in church situations and other, those things are taken in consideration, as far as being seen clearly when signing for groups. A lot of places have monitors as well. I am not a certified interpreter and I don't have anyone to sign with , but I have always loved the language . 😊

I remember when I was in school and one of my friends thought it was the coolest thing that she could bang on the lunch table to get her deaf friends' attention. She definitely overdid it... lol. This makes me laugh and cringe at the same time just thinking about it. This information is honestly so, so helpful.

Excellent. Thank you.

I'm actually a sign language interpreter in Ghana, I wish I can get in touch with any deaf person or interpreter from the side of the world 🌍🌍