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Karen's FAQs
1) How can I get college
credit?
Since I use the same textbooks as most college and university ASL programs,
your son/daughter can take a placement test at the school he/she plans to
attend . He/she must be enrolled in the college or university to take the
test. The schools do the testing and grading. If your son/daughter's
university does not offer the test, he/she could temporarily enroll in a
Community College, take the test, and have it transferred to the University.
2) Are your age limits 'set
in stone'?
INTRO. TO ASL - Yes, it's set in stone. They need to be at least age 6 years
old because they will need to know how to spell. Students 13 and older are
maturely ready for the ASL I and ASL II Classes.
ASL I & ASL II - For the most part, Yes. I do make some exceptions, but that
is very rare. The students need to be ready to do 2-3 hours of homework a
week. Most children under the age of 13 are generally not mature enough to
do the required homework.
3) When can I register?
The sooner, the better. I have a cap on the number of students permitted in
the classes. A student is not registered until I receive the Registration
Form, the Registration Fee (if applies) and the 1ST Month's Tuition.
4) Where do I purchase the
textbooks?
For ASL I and ASL II, you order them through me. I contact the publisher
directly. YOU PAY ME, THEN I WILL BRING YOUR MATERIALS TO CLASS.
The INTRO. TO ASL Class does not have a textbook; rather, I design my own
worksheets for which I charge a small Supply Fee.
5) What age must my child be to earn high school foreign language credit?
Several Homeschool Parents have told me that a child ages 12 or older can
earn high school foreign language credit. You might want to check with other
homeschoolers or THSC to verify this.
6) What is
the maximum number of students per class?
INTRO. TO ASL - 14 students
ASL I - 16 students
ASL II - 16 students
7) Can parents take
the class for a discount?
Yes, parents can take the course
at the same rate as a second child.
8) Do you
offer tutoring or semi-private classes?
No, I'm not offering that right now. Please Email me
at to let me know that you are interested. That way, if I have time later,
or if I know of someone else who could tutor you, I will contact you..
9) Will you offer ASL III?
If I have enough
students in one location who are interested, yes, I will offer an ASL III
class.
10) How do I become
a certified interpreter?
You first begin by learning ASL. You can learn through coursework (such as
my classes) and in interacting with the Deaf Community. I frequently attend
Deaf Events for my personal interest and so I can introduce my students to
some Deaf people in the community.
Interpreting is a different skill than signing. Therefore, I provide some
interpreting training in my ASL I and ASL II Classes. Additional
Interpreting Training can be provided at colleges and universities that
offer Interpreter Training Programs.
Once one feels confident in his/her signing and interpreting skills
(definitely after taking at least two years of coursework and/or spending a
lot of time interacting with the Deaf), he/she applies for the Certification
with the State. You contact the Texas Commission for the Deaf and
Hard-of-Hearing. Their website is http://www.tcdhh.state.tx.us
11) What are some differences between Signed English and ASL? Why should I
learn ASL instead of Signed English?
Signed English was developed by "hearing" people to help Deaf students learn
English. It is primarily used in the classroom. Signed English follows
similar grammar as spoken English. In addition, additional signs are added
to follow the patterns of English (such as "ing","ed" and "s"). SE does not
use a lot of facial expressions and body language.
ASL, on the other hand, was developed by the Deaf Community. It has it's own
syntax and grammar which is totally different than English. Although a Deaf
student will experience Signed English in the classroom, he/she will often
switch back to the preferred mode of ASL when signing to
friends. ASL is very expressive some words are not even signed, but rather
are expressed through the face and body.
Examples of Signed English and ASL:
SE - "Why did you go?"
ASL - "You go finish, why?"
If you want to befriend and minister to the Deaf Community, it is wisest to
learn ASL. More people will understand you. Although they might have grown
up seeing Signed English in the classroom, some don't understand it. Signed
English is a language form imposed on them.
If you learn Signed English and later choose to learn ASL, it will be a lot
harder for you than if you learned ASL first. You, as a hearing
person, naturally think English, therefore, you can always later learn
Signed English if you want to again. The only reason to learn SE is if you
were a Deaf Ed Teacher and you believed the philosophy that SE helps the
Deaf learn English.
12) Can't I
just learn sign language through a book?
No, for several reasons. One, sign language is a 3-D visual
language. It's impossible to print something 3-D. Sign language books and
dictionaries are a good tool to help refresh your memory how to sign
something, but it is not the way to learn it. You need to see it visually to
learn it. Also, you need someone to watch your hands to see if you are
signing it correctly. Two, most sign language books are
dictionaries, so you are only learning single vocabulary words. You're not
learning how to put the signs together in a sentence. Some books teach some
ASL grammar rules, but the best way to learn grammar is through watching
someone sign (either watching a teacher or interacting with the Deaf
community). Immersion is the best way to learn. That is why I structure my
classes as I do - we sign most of the period. I sign to the students, they
sign to me, and they sign to one another. I also use videotapes so the
students are exposed to other people signing, not just me. There are accents
in signing, just like we hearing people have accents in our voices.
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