ASL Talent or Deliberate Practice?

Wink translated his much discussed article published in the RID Views. To read the English article visit www.WinkASL.com

[@terpcoachnetwork7738]

Thank you Wink for your commitment to our community's wellbeing! We are better off because of your encouragement, dedicated work, and continuous movement forward. Thanks friend!

[@aslsarah452]

I attended a workshop on deliberate practice last summer. This video helped affirm and clarify everything that I should be doing. Confession: I have become complacent in my interpreting. I work in a very rural area and it was difficult for me to understand why I must be more fluent in ASL than my clients. This is the kick in the pants I needed to start progressing again. Thanks!

[@sylviaayala2018]

yep me too. Complacency kills progress and the ones who suffer are our students.

[@ASLMasterTutor]

Thanks for sharing this, Wink. As a Deaf ASL Mentor/Tutor/Evaluator myself --- I cannot stress enough the need of multi-disciplinary practice for all areas of ASL interpreting - another important key is accepting constructive feedback from an expert ASL mentor - not just any Deaf person knows how to properly share inputs. As for ASL [e-mail]'s opinion - Wink's ASL style is called Superior ASL. :)

[@sylviaayala2018]

His workshop on deliberate practice has been my guide principle now as I train to improve my skills. Also I recommend the two readings he mentioned in the workshop, "Grit" and "Peak Performance". I listen to these two audiobooks on my long commute to work. It's kept me motivated.

[@thrivinginamber2642]

"Spend-a-lot-on", and "smooth" are the same sign. I can read this and I'm not, well, I can read this! What I was interested in and what I was good at were the same things, experiment, play, explore, natural things, it comes to you, before you know it, if you love it, maybe are distracted from disappointment, why feel that, does nothing, where did we learn that? What we focus on expands, put everything into curiosity, intrigue, discovery, let it blossom in us. Many of the signs you made say the same things, passionate, expressive, exploring, fine tuning, getting everything across, even if the signs are like no where else, still understand, that~

[@juliekiecker1075]

I watched this at just the right time. And as you can see, I am watching it after it has been out a while. But it was so so helpful. My deaf mentor/tutor has been giving me assignments and telling me to practice and practice. Of course, what my idea of practice was, and her idea, was totally opposite. Just a couple of weeks ago(after seeing her for a year) she said to practice my homework 20 times everyday. Now I am the type of learner who can't just watch it once and spit it back out, or sign it back out. But I wanted to be. So FINALLY, I got it through my thick head, that I need to be really practicing 20 times a day! I am quite stubborn. So, finally, just last week, I started doing it. She had me give a synopsis of a video on children learning language, particularly ASL. It was a 30 min video, and my summary was 10 minutes. And I practiced it 20 times a day for 3 days. Oh my gosh! What a difference! There was new vocabulary in the video, and you used probably 8 words I just learned through that video. Just by watching it that many times and practicing my summary again and again, I understood those words which of course helped me understand your video. P.S. I absolutely love the way you sign! Your facial expressions/NMS are so great! And you are so understandable. Maybe because your target audience is us ASL learners, you may have slowed your signing down a bit, but whatever the means, I learned SO MUCH. Thank you!

[@WinkASL]

Thank you so much! :) I'm glad you enjoyed the video and I'm thrilled to hear you are working with a deaf mentor! Keep working with the Deaf community and you will pick up the language just fine :)

[@tonynaturale7609]

Excellent presentation and enjoyable to watch. Thanks for sharing!

[@Jonrobrt]

Wink, I agree that practice is crucial for a competent interpreter, but there are natural abilities that some people have that makes language acquisition easier for some.

[@genolgra]

Great article, and something that's always at the forefront of my mind. Similar to Gladwell's theory of 10,000 hours to attain mastery, although I think with languages and interpreting mastery is something we constantly strive for - and you can't clock off after doing your 10,000 hours! The languages, cultures and communities we work with are ever evolving and deliberate practice is how we improve and maintain the skills required in order to provide the best service to those communities.

[@johnhancock1623]

WOW! Thank you very very much. Beautiful signship. Wish you the best. Dr Lucky

[@Totsiemulti]

Thank you for sharing...deaf lady..

[@609Georgiana]

a fellow interpreter sent this to me, and i'm so glad she did... looking forward to watching and learning more.... thanks for sharing, your style is so readable... :)

[@barbnxo]

Wow! What an amazing signer! As a student, I was practicing my skill trying to interpret as I watched.

[@Shutupandsign]

I really think that talent goes beyond just intensive practice - if someone practices incorrectly all day everyday, then they become very good at all the wrong stuff. Know what I mean?? I think you are right in that we must utilize a plethora of resources but ultimately it's the drive in us as well. If we are willing to knuckle down to the nitty gritty and work our arses off... the results will show. Experience is a huge part as well. Word :) I enjoyed your signing style. Thanks for sharing. Fascinating topic!!

[@shanielee29]

OMG! I just re-read this article from The Views just yesterday! What a coincidence! That was great. Just what I needed to hear/see. This is such a good reminder to interpreters that skill and expertise comes with much practice. BTW, your classifiers are awesome! Thanks again for doing this vlog ( and for the article).

[@kelseyregank-drawproductio9510]

Perfect timing. I feel like I've gotten into a rut in my interpreting, and failing the NIC performance exam this winter kinda stung. I know where I need to improve but it's been daunting, picturing the sort of interpreter I WANT to be and comparing her to the interpreter I am NOW. It seems impossible!! It doesn't help that my provincial certification is almost up, so suddenly my mind is thinking "I have to become super skilled in a few MONTHS to pass the NIC?? I'll never be ready in time!!!" Does this happen to other young interpreters? Because so much of my work is without a team, it feels like I'M the only one with these anxieties.

[@erinpuck8576]

I appreciate your post, as an aspiring interpreter, I have often felt that it seems impossible, it's nice to know I am not alone... hope your skills are improving

[@iStudyASL]

Muchas gracias por compartir este gran e inspirador mensaje, amigo. Tienes toda la razón, necesitamos colaboración para prepararnos y aprender a aprender acerca de varios temas diferentes y solo después de mucha práctica y esfuerzo podemos considerarnos talentosos

[@aimsforasl3534]

I'd like to find the resource mentioned in this article. Where can I lay eyes on "Deliberate Practice" by Dr. K Anders Ericsson? I'd also love to find a broad range of mentors. It just feels impossible.

[@harmonpmenkis7618]

Very Astute!!!

[@Universestarla]

Beautiful blog! Life requires daily practice, life requires various life experiences...or can study deep astrology or blueprint or chart, we will find if it is a right talent for each of us. Namaste! LOL

[@ASLInterpreterSHansen]

Hi! Thanks for posting! While I think the idea of self-study and effort to expand your competence and expertise is completely valid, I don't think it is a completely accurate assessment. I'll post a response on my channel...tried video response but quality was poor. On a side note: I feel like this vlog is presented in a stylized version of ASL...almost like a mime...does anyone else notice what I am talking about?...

[@Bfolks84]

ASL [e-mail] this guy is using more real ASL with classifiers and more use of constructed action. He’s definitely not using English syntax. In fact, it’s super impressive. If he’s not deaf or a CODA he’s really reached a level of ASL fluency many interpreters will not reach.

[@Serendipitymichelew]

Quick question Wink, I've been reading the recommended book however, I've been attempting to find a mentor and was told that perhaps I have "hit my ceiling" . Not really want I wanted to hear😕 Can this "old dog" learn new tricks? Thanks!

[@asljones1478]

don't ever give up! the only way is through! you can do anything you set your mind to- try, try again!

[@asljones1478]

don't listen to people that don't believe in you. I don't think you would have bothered asking this question if you didn't subconsciously know there was a way! If you really want it, study like your life depends on it!

[@ASLInterpreterSHansen]

Hey! Hope all is well with you. Just heard this on NPR...science to back up the conversation on expertise as development of natural initial talents. Reminded me of our conversations on this topic when this vlog was posted. www.npr.org/2016/08/19/490671304/stings-brain-scan-reveals-clues-about-how-the-musical-mind-works

[@mdlagreca]

Awesome. Maybe I could start by trying to voice this video!

[@johnhancock1623]

lol. i mean signmanship...but liked the gender neutral form...thanks for a great evening of practice on my ASL. Lucky