Thrilled to find Spokaneasl.com

Hello: My name is Mickey Boehmer. My husband Billy is a hearing person learning to sign. I myself am Latened Deaf. I am working on my Gerontology degree so I may assist older people in all aspects of life. My husband is retired. One of my classes is ASL-1. I have a wonderful Teacher "Kellie Plumlee". My husband & I plan on attending the event this saturday. We hope to attend each saturday. I say hope because I have a few illnesses as well as my husband.  We have a strong desire to communicate not only with each other but with others in the deaf community. Today (Thursday) my husband placed cotton in ears to help understand what I'm go through. Students are rude to me, each day I'm excluded and go home crying. I'm like the kid who know wants to play on their team. It is painful but I will adjust. I also have a strong desire & need to be with others who have gone through these same feelings (including hearing).  If it wasn't for Mrs. Plumlee I would feel worse. She has been very helpful and understanding of my needs. We are thrilled to find this website and the lessons as well as chat afterwords.

Mickey

Greetings and welcome Mickey!

Kellie was my first ASL instructor as well, she is a blast and was a great start to learning ASL. My other favorite, if you get a chance to pick at higher levels, is Melissa, though there are plenty of great ASL instructors available thankfully.

I hope you can make it to next week's session. I was unable able to attend this week's, but Katy (who is a much more skilled signer than I) was there for a while, then when she did not see anyone, she left after a while.

It is fine to post on this web page forum, so others know what is going on, but much of the dialog about who will be coming to meetings, and any last minute cancellations has been on the email list (though it would be great to get more people active on the website too, I'll try to be better about posting on it, though everyone can post if they register on the website.

To subscribe to the email list, send a blank email to list-subscribe@spokaneasl.com from a NON-MICROSOFT email address, and then you will receive a confirmation email to reply to. then you will be able to post to list@spokaneasl.com and everyone on the list will see your posting, and everyone can respond. There are several groups represented on this website, not just my Saturday 2-4 pm Study group at The Service Station Coffee House in north Spokane. There are monthly groups that meet around the Valley and on the South Hill that also post on the email list (would be nice to get them posting reminder on the website here too, I should prompt them about that ).

Anyhow, I hope both of you are feeling better, and can make it to the next meeting. I believe I will be there, and I think Katy and some others as well.  We look forward to meeting you in person.

As a heads up on how the study group operates, so that it is accessible to all levels, here is a quick summary of the rough schedule. Some people prefer to come later due to their more advanced skills, (completely changeable depending on who shows up as desired):

2:00 to 2:30 - Meet & Greet, settle in, warm up with alphabet and numbers, and basic "survival" signs.

2:30 to 3:00 - Vocabulary. We take turns from various vocabulary sources. All levels tend to benefit, it is surprising how many signs even veteran signers might not have known, and sometimes it is even the newer ones that bring in either new, or forgotten signs, that benefit everyone.

3:00 to 3:30 - Sentences - using various guide books, sign complete sentences, attempting to make them as ASL correct as possible, pointing out where it is more "pidgin" sign (mix of ASL & SEE and others signs), vs. correct ASL, vs ASL signs but signed incorrectly in "hearing" order.

3:30 to 4:00 and onwards - "Story time" and "Social time". Everyone takes a turn and tells a story, depending on their level of ability about their recent past day, week, month, whatever, or can make up whatever tale they like. The idea is to "put it all together". After everyone has a go at a quick little story, then some have to leave, while others hang around and socialize. We try to keep it all in ASL though.

Again. all skill levels are welcomed, it is just asked that everyone be patient with each other, since some who come are absolute beginners, sometimes more skilled signers can get a little impatient. It is asked to be considerate that everyone started out at the beginning at some point, and it is important to encourage and not discourage those who are new to this wonderful form of communication, and the rich culture associated as well.

Happy Signing!

-Hawke

Cell: 509.481.5437