aslasl.com Blog

Hey folks!  Community ASL class only has 4 seats left! Other requested information is as follows:    Community ASL and ASL 101 classes will be held in Germantown, TN.  Additional info as follows:

1.  Community ASL for Adults Who should take this class?  This a GREAT class for those who are too busy for a sign language class, those who may be intimidated by learning sign language, or for those who are completely new to signing.  Although you can expect to walk away knowing how to sign roughly 150 – 250 English words, this is a low-stress and low time-commitment class where you can comfortably gain an introduction to the language all while gaining confidence in your ability to sign.  Additionally, you will learn how best to study and learn sign vocabulary on your own for a lifetime of signing bliss .  Class starts August 23rd so for more information and enrollment go to http://www.aslasl.com/online_registration .

2.  ASL 101 (Session 1) Do I enroll in Community ASL or ASL 101?  If you are a busy adult whose boss likes to spring additional responsibilities on you come 5:00 pm. consider Community ASL instead.  If you are are in high school/college, someone whose lifestyle is conducive to things like homework and tests, or the type of student who likes more structure when being taught something, this is the beginning ASL class for you.  ASL 101 uses the same curriculum as California State University.  There is a bit of homework required as well as in-class testing.  This class will meet 2 nights a week (T/Th) beginning in about 30 days from now (Sept 12.)  You can email me at instructor@ASLasl.com or visit the online registration URL link listed above.

3.  ASL 101 (session 2) Do I need to be a former Session 1 student?  No.  Although session 2 is merely a continuation of session one, Session 1 is NOT a prerequisite.  If you can already introduce yourself and your family in sign language, this is probably a good starting level for you.  Email me at instructor@ASLasl.com if interested.  Class meets 2 nights a week (after session 1) beginning Sept 12.

4.  Beginning ASL (for Educators) Where is this class?  At the community college in Senatobia, MS.  It is a beginning sign language class that gives teachers the essentials they need to communicate with their d/hh students and parents.  Additionally, it is a great jump-start class for any parent with d/hh children or family members.  You will be AMAZED at how much you can sign by the end of this session!  Meeting on Thursday evenings, the session starts Sept 8th.  ASLasl does NOT handle registration for this class.  You will need to contact Pam Wooten of the North Mississippi Community College at 662-562-3349 for registration.  2.0 CEUs offered.

Any questions just email me at instructor@ASLasl.com.

Online registration (www.aslasl.com/online_registration) is open for the following adult classes.   (Unless stated otherwise, classes are offered in Germantown, TN.)

Community ASL for Adults: a “ground-zero” approach to learning American Sign Language.  Emphasis is on how to teach yourself sign vocabulary.   Community ASL will be offered on Tuesdays from 5:40 – 7:00 p.m. beginning August 23rd – October 11th.  Cost is $70 + a $25 registration fee.  Supplies are included.

ASL 101 (Session 1): a traditional college level beginning level ASL class.  Outside classwork is required.  Strong emphasis on grammar as well as commonly used signs.  Session 1 meets two nights a week on Monday/Wednesdays from 5:40 – 7:00 p.m..  The session will begin on September 12 – October 5.  Cost is $140 +$25 registration fee.  Supplies included.

ASL 101 (Session 2): This class has no prerequisite.  However, you should have the skill to introduce your family in sign language in addition to knowing the manual alphabet.  Session 2 meets two nights a week on Monday/Wednesdays from 7:00 – 8:20 p.m..  The session will begin on September 12 – October 5.  Cost is $105 +$25 registration fee.  Supplies included.

Beginning ASL for Educators: This class is worth 2.0 CEUs and will be held at the Northwest Mississippi Community College in Senatobia, MS.  The class meets on Thursdays from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. from September 8 – November 3rd.  Class will not meet on October 27th.  For cost and registration information, contact the Continuing Education office at (662) 562-3349.

Online registration (www.aslasl.com/online_registration) is now open for the following.   (Unless stated otherwise, classes are offered in Germantown, TN.)

Community ASL for Adults: a “ground-zero” approach to learning American Sign Language.  Emphasis is on how to teach yourself sign vocabulary.   Community ASL will be offered on Tuesdays from 5:40 – 7:00 p.m. beginning August 23rd – October 11th.  Cost is $70 + a $25 registration fee.  Supplies are included.

ASL 101 (Session 1): a traditional beginning level ASL class.  Outside classwork is required.  Strong emphasis on grammar as well as commonly used signs.  Session 1 meets 2 nights a week on Monday/Wednesdays from 5:40 – 7:00 p.m..  The session will begin on September 12 – October 5.  Cost is $140 +$25 registration fee.  Supplies included.

ASL 101 (Session 2): This class has no prerequisite.  However, you should have the skill to introduce your family in sign language in addition to knowing the manual alphabet.  Session 2 meets 2 nights a week on Monday/Wednesdays from 7:00 – 8:20 p.m..  The session will begin on September 12 – October 5.  Cost is $105 +$25 registration fee.  Supplies included.

Beginning ASL for Educators: This class is worth 2.0 CEUs and will be held at the Northwest Mississippi Community College in Senatobia, MS.  The class meets on Thursdays from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. from September 8 – November 3rd.  Class will not meet on October 27th.  For cost and registration information, contact the Continuing Education office at (662) 562-3349.

If you are interested in Sign with your Baby (SWYB) class, please let us hear from you by visiting ASLasl’s contact page (http://www.aslasl.com/home/contact_us).  SWYB classes take a “Groupon” approach in that if enough are interested to meet minimum enrollment requirements, then a class is created.

If your organization is interested in a 60-minute Essential ASL presentation, please email instructor@ASLasl.com for more information and/or to schedule.  This is an extremely economical program that you can provide to your members  or staff.

For questions or more information, please email instructor@ASLasl.com or visit www.ASLasl.com.

ASL 101 Session 1 (a beginning ASL class)  – only 8 seats left!

• Where? Germantown, TN across the street from Union University
• Dates? June 30 – August 18
• When? Thursdays at 5:40 – 7:00 p.m.
• How to register? Visit www.aslasl.com/online_registration or just email me at  instructor@ASLasl.com
• Cost? $165/supplies included (payment options offered – just email me)
• Good things to know? Same curriculum used by the University of California at Sacramento.  CEUs are NOT available but a certificate of participation can be given if your employer needs it.

ASL 101 Session 2 (continuation of Session 1 above) – only 5 seats left!

• Where? Germantown, TN across the street from Union University
• Dates? June 30 – August 18
• When? Thursdays at 7:00 – 8:20 p.m.
• How to register? Visit www.aslasl.com/online_registration or just email me at  instructor@ASLasl.com
• Cost? $160/supplies included (payment options offered – just email me)
• Good things to know? Session 1 is not necessarily a prerequisite if you have some signing knowledge.  If you can introduce yourself and your family in sign (but not much beyond that) this may be the starting class for you.

Sign with your Baby for ages 32 months and younger (with parent/caregiver)- to reach minimum enrollment: 4 more families!

• How to register?  EMAIL ME by June 20!!!  (read below)
• Things to know? This CLASS IS IN JEOPARDY!  Minimum enrollment MUST be met before a class is created.  If you want a SWYB class, email me to show your commitment to enrolling this session.
  
• Where? Germantown, TN
• Dates? June 30 – August 4
• When? Thursdays at 4:20 – 5:20 p.m.
• Cost? One parent/adult caregiver and up to 2 children under the ages of 32 months may attend for $50/family

Teachers and Beginning ASL

• Where? Senatobia, MS at the Community College
• When? June 27 – June 30
• How to register? Visit http://www.northwestms.edu/workforcedevelopment/conted.html for registration form or email me at instructor@ASLasl.com
• Cost? $120/supplies included
• Good things to know? 2.0 CEUs available

Signing for Seniors

• Where? Bartlett, TN at the Senior Center
• Dates? July 7 – Sept 8
• When? Thursdays at 12:30 – 1:30 p.m.
• How to register? Call the Bartlett Senior Center at (901) 385-6439
• Cost? Bartlett Senior Center sets the price for this class.  Phone:  (901) 385-6439
• Good things to know? Excellent class if you wear hearing aids, sometimes have arthritic pain in the fingers, or wish to do benevolent work in your church or the Deaf community.

Any questions, just email me at instructor@ASLasl.com!

The summer schedule is becoming finalized folks!  Read below and visit the online registration page to learn how you can take an American Sign Language class this summer whether you are 7 years old or 77 years old.  In a nutshell, here is the info you need:

ASL at Summer Camp for ages 7 – 12

• Where?  Cordova, TN at the Community Center
• When?  June 6 – June 10
• How to register?  Visit www.MemphisFutureStars.com for registration form or email me at instructor@ASLasl.com
• Cost?  $100/child or if siblings, $75/child
• Good things to know?  Women’s NBA player Helen Darling of the San Antonio Silver Stars will be at the Camp teaching your child!  How awesome is that?!

Teachers and Beginning ASL

• Where?  Senatobia, MS at the Community College
• When?  June 27 – June 30
• How to register?  Visit http://www.northwestms.edu/workforcedevelopment/conted.html for registration form or email me at instructor@ASLasl.com
• Cost?  $120/supplies included
• Good things to know?  2.0 CEUs available

ASL 101 Session 1 (a beginning ASL class)

• Where?  Germantown, TN across the street from Union University
• Dates?  June 30 – August 18
• When? Thursdays at 5:40 – 7:00 p.m.
• How to register?  Visit www.aslasl.com/online_registration or email me at  instructor@ASLasl.com
• Cost?  $165/supplies included (payment options offered – just email me)
• Good things to know?  Same curriculum used by the University of California at Sacramento.  CEUs are NOT available but a certificate of participation can be given if your employer needs it.

ASL 101 Session 2 (continuation of Session 1 above)

• Where?  Germantown, TN across the street from Union University
• Dates?  June 30 – August 18
• When? Thursdays at 7:00 – 8:20 p.m.
• How to register?  Visit www.aslasl.com/online_registration or email me at  instructor@ASLasl.com
• Cost?  $160/supplies included (payment options offered – just email me)
• Good things to know?  Session 1 is not necessarily a prerequisite if you have some signing knowledge.  If you can introduce yourself and your family in sign (but not much beyond that) this may be the starting class for you.

Sign with your Baby for ages 32 months and younger (with parent/caregiver)

• Where?  TBA (but will be in Shelby County, TN)
• Dates?  June 30 – August 4
• When? Thursdays at 4:00 – 5:00 p.m.
• How to register?  Visit www.aslasl.com/online_registration or email me at  instructor@ASLasl.com
• Cost?  One parent/adult caregiver and up to 2 children under the ages of 32 months may attend for $50/family
• Good things to know? ONLY ONLINE REGISTRATION ACCEPTED

Signing for Seniors

• Where?  Bartlett, TN at the Senior Center
• Dates?  July 7 – Sept 8
• When? Thursdays at 12:30 – 1:30 p.m.
• How to register?  Call the Bartlett Senior Center at (901) 385-6439
• Cost?  Bartlett Senior Center sets the price for this class.  Phone:  (901) 385-6439
• Good things to know?  Excellent class if you wear hearing aids, sometimes have arthritic pain in the fingers, or wish to do benevolent work in your church or the Deaf community.

Any questions, just email me at instructor@ASLasl.com!

June 6-10, 2011

ASLasl will be teaching sign language at the Future Stars Camp at the Bert Ferguson Community Center in Cordova, TN.  Imagine my surprise when I received an email from WNBA player Helen Darling asking me if I would be interested in teaching ASL at this camp.

But I was even more thrilled when I learned that this is a camp that reaches children in the community using athletics, mentoring, and academics.  What winning combination!  In addition to sign language, financial literacy, health/nutrition, baseball, volleyball, and of course, basketball will be taught.  If you have a child ages 7 – 12 who is free the first week of June, visit the Future Stars website listed below.

Fee:  $100/child or $75/sibling (household discount)

Website for Registration & info:  www.memphisfuturestars.com

June 27 – June 30

If you are a child educator needing CEUs, a seasoned citizen looking for arthritic relief, a family member of someone with hearing loss, or an adult just looking for way to enrich your life, American Sign Language for Beginners at the Northwest Mississippi Community College in Senatobia is the class for you.

This class will offer you the essentials you need to engage in signed conversations and will cover an introduction to signing grammar, deaf culture, fingerspelling as well as the most commonly used vocabulary signs.  In this class you will also receive information about how to carry on with self-instruction in order to maintain your signing skills for a lifetime.

Fee is $120     CEUs: 2.0

Website for registration & info:  www.northwestms.edu/workforcedevelopment/conted.html

July Offerings

ASLasl will be offering a signing class for seniors in Bartlett, TN.  (Info in the next posting)  In addition, there has been some interest in offering a Sign with Your Baby class as well as a ASL 101 session 1, and a ASL 101 session 2 class in July.

Just so you know, ASL 101 uses the same curriculum found at California State University.  However, (unless I hear otherwise) I will go ahead and announce that no CEUs will be available for these offerings.

Look around at www.ASLasl.com.  If you are interested in attending an ASL class (Sign with your Baby, ASL 101, or ANY other ASL class) go to www.aslasl.com/home/contact_us and fill out the form.  Be sure to give me:

1. what area’s in the midsouth you would like to see an ASL class (ex: 38017 area, Slayden, MS,  Cross County, AR, etc)
2. your signing level (its okay if one doesn’t even exist…smile.)

Signing Level Examples:

• if you are interested in ASL 101 but a year and a half ago you took a level 1 signing class, then you are probably going to want an ASL 101 session 2.
• If it didn’t even know you could use your hands to talk, then you probably want a Community ASL class (which is also a beginning class – but just takes a different approach to learning).
• And if you want to learn sign along with your child who has been begging ever since they learned to sign in Girl Scouts, well, you  may be more interested in a Family Signs workshop.

So be sure to let me know any previous knowledge/experience.

Also, let me know where you want to go with it.  Is it because you have a child with hearing loss?  Do you want to become an interpreter?  Did you see someone signing at church and think it was just the most amazing thing you ever saw?  Or maybe you just wanna know more about the Deaf or special needs populations.  etc….  This also lets me know what class may work better for you.

The summer and fall schedule WILL fill up quickly.  So be sure to fill out the contact form and let me know what you want so I can start scheduling.  Once I get at least 3 folks interested in the same type of class in the same area of town, I will create a private group email to update the group on the details of the whens, wheres, and hows of it all.

If you have ANY questions, feel free to email me at instructor@ASLasl.com.

Give your baby the opportunity to express their wants, needs, and observations with you in a language you can both understand – American Sign Language!

ASL – As a Second Language and The Knowledge Tree located at 2095 Exeter Road in Germantown have partnered to offer Sign with your Baby classes from 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. on Thursdays from April 14th – May 19th.  Cost is $45.

The class is conveniently located across the street from the Methodist/LeBonheur hospital in Germantown, TN.

Connie Robinson is a certified Sign2Me instructor as well as a hearing loss support specialist who can assist parents and caregivers in communicating with their pre-verbal child.

The Sign with your Baby program is an excellent option not only for parents/caregivers of typical pre-verbal children, but also for those with exceptional needs, speech delays, hearing loss, and children at high-risk.

Visit the Online Registration page at www.ASLasl.com or email instructor@ASLasl.com for registration options and your questions. 

But hurry…. April 14th is just around the corner!

Online registration at www.ASLasl.com is required for each of the below offerings EXCEPT Afterschool ASL at Riverdale Elementary School.  Email me if you have questions – instructor@ASLasl.com .

April 12 – May 31 (Tuesdays) from 6:15 – 7:30 p.m. – Community ASL for Adults:  (registration deadline is April 10)

This is a beginner class that starts from ground zero and is perfect for anyone who ever wanted to take a sign language class but either never had the time to devote to it or always felt a bit intimidated by the language or the Deaf.  Meets at Magruder Hall Rm 104 at the Mid-south Community College in West Memphis, Ar.  Cost is $65/student with supplies included.

April 12 – May 31st (Tuesdays) from 7:30 – 8:45 p.m – Mimes & Idioms Class: (registration deadline is April 10)

If you have already had a beginning sign class but are not yet on an intermediate signing level, this is the class for you.  This is a class for those who already know the manual alphabet, how to introduce themselves, and some basic signs such as colors, animals, or family members.  We will take a look at the role visualization plays in building our sign vocabulary.  Meets at Magruder Hall Rm 104 at the Mid-south Community College in West Memphis, Ar.  Cost is $65/student with supplies included.

April 14 – May 19th (Thursdays) from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. – Sign with your Baby Class (registration deadline is April 12)

For caregivers and their children approximately between the ages of 6 months and 30 months.  Also a perfect option for families with speech and developmental delays.  Learn how to communicate with your pre-verbal child in order to promote bonding, increase safety, and improve overall communication.  Meets at The Knowledge Tree located at 2095 Exeter Road, Germantown, TN (in the shopping center across from Methodist Hospital).  Cost is $45 for the 6-week session.

April 26 – May 12 (T/Th) from 3:15 to 4:30 p.m. – Afterschool ASL

This class is part of the Germantown Parks and Recreation’s REACH program.  Therefore, the Parks & Rec Dept handles the registration.  Any elementary student may enroll as long as they provide their own transportation.  Meets at Riverdale Elementary School, 7391 Neshoba Rd, Germantown, TN.  Cost is $60 for the 3-week session.  Call (901) 757-7376 to enroll.

April 15 – Essential ASL Presentation

ASLasl will be giving 3 different 60 minute presentations on Friday, April 15 to three different organizations including:  Memphis Goodwill, the FBI, and the Bartlett Senior Citizens Center.  If your organization would like to arrange for an Essential ASL Presentation, please email instructor@ASLasl.com.  To learn more about the Essential ASL Presentation, please scroll to the bottom of this page of the website:  http://www.aslasl.com/services.

Why wait to communicate?  The Sign with your Baby program is an excellent way to encourage good communication skills early on regardless of a child’s hearing levels.  How so?

Think about it.  When is the last time you saw a young baby stay perfectly still 24/7?  Typically, this just doesn’t happen.  Why?  Because  to move the body to communicate comes naturally.  We throw our arms up in the air, kick our legs, move our head around in efforts to express what we are feeling, satisfy our curiosity, or just take in the scenery.

So it is only logical that we naturally use gestures to augment our thoughts.  Babies have lots of thoughts.  Wouldn’t it be great to know what they are?

You can.

How?

The Sign with your Baby program will teach you how to teach your baby (or pre-verbal child) to use sign language to express themselves. 

Look at Video #2 on this page of ASLasl’s website:  http://www.aslasl.com/video_learning

and you will see what I am talking about.

Sign with your Baby classes are now available for caregivers of babies ages 6 months to 30 months (approximately).  Here are the specifics:

6-week session beginning April 14 – May 19 meeting on Thursdays at 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at Knowledge Tree in Germantown, TN.  Cost is $45.  ONLINE REGISTRATION ONLY at www.ASLasl.com.

Classes for Adults and Children in March

ASL101

This is an introductory American Sign Language class.  It is the same curriculum that is used at California State University with an ASLasl twist to vocabulary memorization.  Please note that there will be no CEUs available for this class.

• March 10 – April 28 (Thursdays)
• 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
• Germantown, TN
• $165 (with supplies included)

Aftershool ASL

This is an offering of the Germantown Parks and Recreation Department.  Therefore, ANY child can register as long as they can provide their own transportation.

• March 22 – April 7 (T/TH)
• 4:30-5:30
• Farmington Elementary School Campus, Germantown, TN
• $65  – Call (901) 757-7389 to register

Presentations and Classes Available in April

Essential ASL

Learn the basics to hold a rudimentary signed conversation.

• April 15  (Friday)
• 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
• Bartlett Senior Center, 5727 Woodlawn Dr, Bartlett, TN
• $5

Community ASL for Adults

This class starts at ground zero assuming you know ABSOLUTELY nothing about sign language.  It is a low-stress learning environment that introduces you to the language and self-study techniques.

• April 12 – May 31 (Tuesdays)
• 6:15 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
• Midsouth Community College, 2000 Broadway, West Memphis, AR
• Meet in Room MH104
• Email instructor@ASLasl.com with your registration questions.

Mimes and Idioms

For those who already know some signs and can hold a rudimentary signed conversations (i.e. introductions).

• April 12 – May 31 (Tuesdays)
• 7:40 p.m. – 8:55 p.m.
• Mid-south Community College, 2000 Broadway, West Memphis, AR
• Email instructor@ASLasl.com for registration information.

Teacher’s Workshop in June

Signing in the Classroom

Worth 2.0 CEUs this class is for educators as well as those seeking enrichment in America’s third most commonly used language.

• June 27 – June 30 (M, T, W, and Th)
• 9:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. (30 minute lunch)
• Northwest Mississippi Community College, 4975 Hwy 51, Senatobia, MS
• To register call:  (662)562-3349