American Sign Language (ASL) Lesson 19 Narrative (story)

[@sign-language]

Hello ASL Heroes!!! Hey, I could really use your help. If you’ve enjoyed having access to an expert in ASL you can help me continue my work for you. A donation from you would instantly make a big difference here at the studio because teachers don’t earn much and I could use some help paying for server and domain hosting for Lifeprint.com. Right now you can help out a humble (not to mention kind, caring, generous, compassionate, helpful, friendly, fair, and hard-working) ASL teacher -- just go here and a few clicks later you too will be a true “ASL Hero!” www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=64QMBRBXQSV6G Thanks! - Dr. Bill p.s. Want to have your very own USB drive with four semesters worth of ASL instruction (that’s the equivalent of two years of colleges classes) for just $79.95? See "SuperUSB" in the ASLUniversity bookstore at: lifeprint.com/bookstore/bookstore.htm Take care and love to you all. :)

[@snowangel8505]

I love how he types when he is explaining something. My teacher didn't really do that and i was often lost when she explained things

[@sign-language]

Thanks. I try to provide "comprehensible input." When teaching beginners it doesn't do much good to wave one's hands around signing things that are incomprehensible to the students. Then again, constantly typing the whole class wouldn't work either. So I try to find that ever changing balance between using enough of the student's native language to function as a scaffold (like you see around buildings that are being built) to help the student better understand the signing -- and doing enough immersion-style signing to cause the student's brain to switch to processing & learning the target language.

[@lisahinton9682]

Such a great teacher. I'm learning a lot. :-) How wonderful that your students have you as their teacher. Thank you for making these videos.

[@imunaisrael7206]

You know your learning sign language when you don’t need captions 😆

[@DayumQuitPlayin]

You are my favorite ASL channel on YT. You make it fun and I like your teaching style, especially when you give other versions of sign then say which one you prefer to use. It feels like actual lessons that one would get at an actual class as opposed to videos of some words and phrases then telling people to check out their other videos. Those feel incomplete and fragmented. I just ordered your SuperUSB :)

[@tiktokqueen5596]

i love you bill vicars you are teaching the man

[@Dee-rt8nd]

I have learned many signs through your videos . My reading signs has improved greatly. I still get behind though. ❤ Thanks so much for the videos❤

[@iloveshaakah]

This is amazing . I plan to donate .❤

[@sign-language]

How to use ASL University to learn sign language for free: 1. Visit Lifeprint.com and become familiar with the ASL University website. 2. Bookmark the official ASLU KZbin master playlist: kzbin.info/aero/PL6akqFwEeSpiLwRFA3ZvuOWMwPXwI7NqA 3. For quick reviews (to prevent memory extinction) bookmark the "Signs" channel playlist page: kzbin.infoplaylists 4. If you use a desktop or laptop computer you can look up signs using this page: www.lifeprint.com/search.htm 5. If you use a mobile device you can look up signs using this page: www.lifeprint.com/search/index.htm 6. If you can’t find a sign after using the search options at Lifeprint.com then consider applying to join the Lifeprint-ASLU Facebook group and asking your question there. See: facebook.com/groups/Lifeprint.ASLU/ 7. Go through the ASLU Lessons for free: www.lifeprint.com/asl101/lessons/lessons.htm Your comments, questions, or suggestions are always welcome. To contact Dr. Bill Vicars, see: www.lifeprint.com/asl101/pages-layout/contact.htm Ways to support the ASL University channel: 1. Click the “thumb up” (like) icon on videos at KZbin.com/billvicars 2. Click the “subscribe” button at KZbin.com/billvicars (if you haven't done so yet) 3. Click the “Share” link and share the videos. 4. Visit the “ASLU” bookstore at www.lifeprint.com/bookstore/bookstore.htm (feel free to suggest new products that you would like to see). 5. Buy some ASL University “official” clothing at: ASLU gear: teespring.com/stores/aslu 6. Subscribe to the ASLU subscription site: asl.tc (For information see: lifeprint.com/asltc/ ) 7. Donate via: www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=64QMBRBXQSV6G 8. For other donation options, see: www.Lifeprint.com/donate.htm If you have any friends who might be in a position to do so you might want to consider inviting them to donate -- thus supporting Deaf children and the promotion of free sign language resources via Lifeprint.com

[@morenacota8519]

Bill vicars is my teacher in KZbin that is!! I love him he is very good!! Teaching!!

[@superman20235]

Very amazing sign language 👌 and I am hearing impaired with both ear in hearing machine .

[@elainabristol4298]

This Brandon guy looks SOO familiar to me.. I can't figure out who he looks like! I enjoyed the video :)

[@lilykhalil6128]

he lowkey looks like Bellamy from the 100

[@imunaisrael7206]

@@lilykhalil6128 agree 😂👍🏾

[@zahirabetkaoui3839]

Hi bill I am really enjoying your videos this is it’s help me a lot I am beginning ASL

[@danielsalazar8547]

Really enjoy learning from you. Keep it up.

[@760mom]

I love how it is quiet and i can concentrate. Yes i know it's a signing video. :)

[@elibrown153]

Nice ASL video you both did good

[@Sonicxis4ever]

The student next to you is cute 😍😍😍😍

[@thebig_cheeze]

WHAAAAAT?

[@tyree3774]

@@thebig_cheeze the student next to him is cute.

[@blvkfvng2727]

thanks for teaching me asl in order to talk to a woman I like. 😅 Its going great!

[@MelaniePageGrabtheLapels]

Did it work out?!

[@sunmiduo]

how is it going

[@vanessamatusdelaparra6958]

Update us!

[@thebig_cheeze]

Hey Bill, what is the difference between health and brave? I'm getting confused.

[@sign-language]

The "health" sign is a multiple meaning sign. See: www.lifeprint.com/asl101/pages-signs/b/brave.htm That one sign can mean: "brave / courage / healthy / heal / become well" -- depending on context.

[@allanwesley9212]

My Brazil ASL 🇧🇷🇺🇸👏👏👏

[@Sonicxis4ever]

I have a question about states. Most states are finger spelled as lexicons right? Like Florida being FLA and most of the time skipping the middle letters....what if you are talking to a Deaf blind person? Is it ok to finger spell states especially if I am interpreting? My friend is Deaf-blind

[@sign-language]

First thought is to ask your Deaf-Blind friend what they prefer directly. Second thought would be to join the Lifeprint-ASLU Facebook group and post your question there since we have some Deaf-Blind participants (including one of the moderators). You are asking me if it is "ok" to fingerspell states -- well, I suppose itf there is a need to clarify or allow no little room for misunderstanding you could spell out a state -- but it might not be "ideal." If your client understands FLA then it would be silly to spell out "Florida."

[@lisabrauer7010]

Hi Dr. Bill. In the sentence about the girlfriend passing the test, could you use the sign for success in place of pass? Thanks!"

[@sign-language]

The sign SUCCEED can be used in situations matching the English concept of "succeed" or "succeeded." If someone sets up the context, "How did your girlfriend do on the test?" "She succeeded!" So, with enough context, "SUCCEED" or "succeeded" works in either language. Interestingly, the English phrase "that worked" -- is often best signed as "THAT SUCCEED!" (rather than signing THAT WORK). However I think it is important to not fall prey to the idea that ASL signs can't or don't have multiple meanings. Many signs do have multiple meanings.

[@mull2one]

Brandon so CUTE

[@sign-language]

Dr. Bill: Focus Adam. Focus! Adam: I AM focusing! (On Brandon!)

[@mull2one]

@@sign-language LOL, you are correct. I love watching your videos, thanks so much for teaching! I love your expressiveness, and I think you are a fantastic teacher.

[@veevee111]

Well done!

[@ashleykim4157]

I love this video :)

[@lanierbrazile7931]

Why "C" on forehead for fire fighter I don't get?

[@sign-language]

Probably started out as representing the badge or identification insignia on the helmet.

[@박마음-y9k]

awesomeෆ˙ᵕ˙ෆ

[@ghadawarda1257]

You are fantastic .from Egypt I thank you .but I think it is better to make lesson for certain subjects for each one to be more organized

[@sign-language]

Teaching certain subjects or topics is less effective for rapid language acquisition than focusing on teaching frequently used concepts starting from the most frequently used to the least frequently used. Let's consider English for a moment: "There are more than 500,000 words in the English language, but a person who masters only 250 words will recognize more than two-thirds of all words shown in television captions -- provided the 250 words are those that are most frequently used. Equally dramatic, a beginning reader could be taught just 10 words (the, you, to, a, I, and, of, in, it, that) and then recognize more than one out of every five words. Mastery of the top 79 words means being able to read half of all words captioned." Source: Perspectives in Education and Deafness, Volume 16, Number 1, September/October 1997 The same principle applies to ASL (sign language) acquisition. Teaching specific subjects sacrifices more frequently used vocabulary for the sake of introducing less frequently used subject-related terms. By focusing on teaching signs based on frequency (and not based on topic / subject) we empower students to quickly start having conversations using the signs they are most likely to need. Compare it to a tool box. An effective tool box has one each of the most commonly used tools - not ten different screw drivers. The same goes for students learning ASL they need one each of common signs not 20 different colors all at once. If teach a student four signs based on a single subject such as colors -- for example: RED GREEN BLUE YELLOW -- the student cannot meaningfully communicate yet. If I instead teach a student a combination of useful signs such as: YOU WANT RED APPLE? -- the student can immediately start communicating. I'm not opposed to teaching deep dives on specific subjects. For example, in my later lessons (after lesson 60). However, the time to teach lessons based on "subjects" is *after* the student has rapidly acquired functional communication skills via focusing on more frequently used vocabulary. Thank you though for reaching out and sharing your thoughts. Warm regards and best wishes to you.

[@ghadawarda1257]

@@sign-language I appreciate and respect your point of view Dr.Bill .I learnt many things from your precious videos .I wish you may come to Egypt to give us courses of sign language .... I am an English teacher in Egypt +I have a professional diploma in special education in general ..it was in Arabic. This time I try to learn asl wishing I could teach it using asl for children in my country ...I owe to you alot you are the most practical and professional I have ever seen teaching asl .Besides I enjoy your way with trainers your jokes and laughing without voice which I learnt to do ...please I want you to help me to improve my self in sign language by involving me in any groups or courses you do ..if you please .At the end I don't want to forget to send you many thanks and respect Dr.Vicars

[@joelenriquemendoza6897]

Hola Joel Mendoza

[@christirh3760]

You should do live streams and take super chats.

[@sign-language]

Why do you suggest that? I looked into it a bit and according to Google: "Super Chat and Super Stickers are ways to monetize your channel through the KZbin Partner Program. These features let your viewers purchase chat messages that stand out and sometimes pin them to the top of a chat feed. Learn more about eligibility, and how you can turn on this feature." However, it just seems to me that trying to pay attention to a stream of chat messages when I'm teaching a lesson would distract from the overall effectiveness of the instruction. How do you visualize a "live stream" going? What content?

[@valeriachilders]

@@sign-language have you tried doing a meetup or a zoom meeting for ASL learners? I am sure a lot people would be interested. It would be so awesome to have sign language accessible to everybody who wanted to learn it. :-) thank you so much for what you do already. you are an awesome teacher!

[@sign-language]

Valeria, Letting you know I have read and considered your comment. Thank you for the nice feedback and the suggestion / brainstorming. I have experimented with using Zoom for online teaching. The video quality is rather limited (generally 720p) and sometimes the stream lags. Your comment suggests that offering Zoom meetings for ASL learners would be awesome in that it would make sign language accessible to everybody who wants to learn it. Hmmm. I've got around 400 instructional videos in my master playlist that make sign language "accessible" to people who want to learn it. I suppose I'm just not yet "seeing" the value of a live Zoom course to my subscription base. Sure, it would be fun or "nice" for the participants in that particular session but afterward that session would not necessarily be of much value to a wider audience (without extensive editing). Any time you get more than about 5 people in a "sign language"-based online environment it turns into a bit of a zoo. Apparently improvements are being made in various algorithms to auto focus on whoever is actively signing. Will be interesting to see how the ASL instruction field continues to grow and develop over time.

[@valeriachilders]

@@sign-language you do have a very good point In everything you just said. I am replying to you while watching your 024 ASL vocabulary expansion series. All your videos are amazing thank you so much for putting so much time on them and sharing.

[@christirh3760]

Hey!! Not sure how I missed your response...sorry!!! You don’t have to read the super hats as they come in. So if you do an hour live stream, for example, you address superchats at the 20 minute and 50 minute mark. Some streamers even do them during their next stream.

[@jessicacoob89]

Y

[@yongkim2230]

😂