Overcome Your Fears in ASL | 4 Lessons Learned From My Story

[@sherryharris8441]

My youngest grandson was born deaf and I am determined I WILL communicate with him! ♥️ 🤟

[@love_serenity9391]

i believe in you!

[@sherryharris8441]

Thank you!

[@WVgrl59]

I am a new grandma for the first time @ 64 and am trying to be prepared for everything. Our daughter has a rare bone marrow disease called PNH, was pregnant but the baby had to be taken at twenty-nine weeks and he was diagnosed with PVL. We don't know yet how severe or what will be affected. But I am preparing to do everything for him and to love him so much. ❤️ from West Virginia

[@sherryharris8441]

@@WVgrl59 You've got this! 💪

[@barbarachilson5428]

I have a deaf adult son, and now he is married to a deaf woman and they have a deaf child, and I have another deaf child. I have cousins, hearing impaired, and they sign. I need to learn for my family that we can be true family and sign together.

[@AzDesertFoxx]

I'm learning ASL to communicate to several deaf co-workers to make them feel welcome, and recognized.

[@LearnHowtoSign]

What an incredible gesture to learn their language to include them.

[@aiwithbri]

I'm doing the same for one coworker and also the customers.

[@KillingTheUnsaid]

This is what I needed thank you for posting this!!! God spoke to me saying he has a need for me to learn ASL for not just church but a mission trip He has planned for me

[@lovelypeaches1819]

I made friends with a deaf kid at my school and we both make mistakes while signing! We both go to an asl club where one of the school interpreters teaches us signs. I also love using your videos to help me communicate more with her!!❤🤟

[@grumpydavid3839]

"Perfection is overrated"? Yes, THANK YOU Meredith!

[@markpool1321]

It’s a beautiful language and I want to be able to sign in our church as a reach out to the deaf community

[@mikem3543]

Yeah... I’m 52 and just signed up for my first in person ASL class. Definitely a little nervous.

[@LearnHowtoSign]

Way to go!!!!

[@aditiananyaaggarwal344]

I am learning ASL because it may come in handy anytime

[@dman0044]

Me too, I have done some signs to use instead of speaking, signs for; sorry(not that often used).so-so sign, many know i love you sign, surfers do hang loose, the "Y" .Seen Chimps being taught so they can communicate with us. I go to OTB(Outside the box) a place for adults with handicaps/disabilities, a group of people started learning ASL on Wednesdays cause there are a few deaf people there on Wednesday. It happens that we watch you Meredith.

[@SomethingDevine]

I am trying to learn ASL for my 4yr old daughter because she is autistic and non verbal. I want to be able to communicate with her and I want her to be able to communicate with others in any way so that she is less frustrated. Thank you so much for teaching me!

[@lorieguill0317]

I've been watching several ASL instructors and am beginning to learn there are different signs for the same word for example, Kind could be the description of a person or also a type of something such as , what kind of drink do u want? I'm sure a deaf/HH person wouldn't be too upset if I used the wrong sign because as u said, they're thrilled that I'm reaching out and learning their language but I'd love to see more videos showing the differences in signing the same word. Loved seeing your mom on here! Thanks for continuing to help us improve on our ASL journeys! 🤟

[@chandracarroll2772]

I find the language to be a beautiful language and found remembering signs a bit easier then learning other languages.

[@keocoles403]

Very easy to learn from you ..simple and clear…my 5 years old grandson and I learned from your videos every week..in three weeks my grandson learn the plague elegance very good better and faster then me a 61 years old Granny lol thank you for your great work to teach us all ..

[@juliesherman6710]

I suddenly lost my hearing on the right ear, my fear is my left will follow. So…I thought I’d teach myself how. Thank you

[@susanhenley8240]

Oh how I wish I was only 37 and just starting to learn. I'm decades beyond that! I'm learning with my grandson, so he will grow up bilingual. Also for my work in pharmacy, so I can translate for our patients.

[@g.l.3124]

The joy of making mistakes and then continuing on. I've learned that a lot with Spanish and now with ASL. Thanks for sharing your stories. Learning a language is always a humbling experience.

[@JOHNch4.v.v.7to10]

I'm moving to Florida to join a Baptist church that has an ASL ministry. I would love to sign in church, and I would be honored to share the gospel with those in the deaf community!

[@liviryddle1953]

I work at Chipotle, and I had a deaf woman come in a couple days ago. She had an interpreter with her, so we were able to communicate, but I felt really bad because I didn't know enough ASL to even sign a greeting or anything. So that's what prompted me to learn. I want to be able to communicate with the deaf community at my job and wherever the chance arises.

[@itisamesophia9525]

I’m only trying to learn it cause learning another language is fun, especially being able to talk without using your voice

[@RoseOfTheValley13]

I learned how to sign the ASL alphabet as a kid just out of curiosity. I was later the only person able to communicate with a family member who was intubated while she was in the ICU and she knew how to finger spell as well. Now I want to learn ASL because I love learning language. This language is beautiful to me. And we can teach it to babies to communicate with them before they’re even able to speak with their voices! I am absolutely loving these videos.

[@chandranelson2772]

My wife is HOH and is fluent in ASL. I’m just not great at learning knew languages. Working on it.

[@LearnHowtoSign]

That is an awesome why.

[@lilpoohbear653]

it will be worth it!

[@jgoodangel1]

I've been trying to learn sign for a very long time! I would pick it up and drop it often. As a teen, i had a neighbor that was Deaf, and I hung out with him and his friends all the time, but I didn't actually start learning sign til I was a little older. I just loved the language, I think its amazing that we can have full conversations without ever saying a word. Recently though I was given the opportunity to work at our local school for the Deaf, and so not only do I just want to learn, but now learning the language is also very important to my career! You can imagine my fears when I first started working there! But in the last year, my fears have greatly eased, and I am much more comfortable with communicating in sign, even though I still have a lot to learn! Your videos are very helpful for me!

[@BarbieMudcat]

I was curious about the language years ago and learned a few basic words but during one of my pregnancies I became 100% deaf 🚫 in my left ear 👂🏼. That's when I started watching some of your videos with my kids and learning with my husband. I later lost hearing in my right ear for 3 days. Complete silence. So I want to learn for my health and because it's a rare beautiful language. It's also nice to be able to say something to your husband or kids without others knowing what your saying lol.

[@sjhirst3]

I am almost 40. I have had an interest in ASL since I was in kindergarten. We learned the ASL alphabet and a bit about Helen Keller. I wanted to be an interpreter for a long time but never was able to go to school for it. My older son is autistic and was nonverbal until he was 7. I learned a little more ASL to communicate with him before and after that. He's 16 and we still use it some. I have made it a goal for the year to commit to learning more. I'm using this year that I turn 40 to make some changes. One of those is learning ASL. I've been consistently watching your videos and practicing so far this year. My why is so I can communicate with my son and help him communicate when spoken language is difficult for him to get out and my other why is so I can communicate with deaf people if that opportunity arises.

[@camisuire786]

I’ve always been interested in signing. I’m 37 and taking classes now. I’m definitely slower and it can be frustrating seeing other people catching on so quickly. We played the telephone game in my last class and I messed up the message big time. I felt horrible. This video helped me to not be so hard on myself. Thank you!

[@delphi-moochymaker62]

I am learning ASL because I feel it is a skill that will come in handy, and opens up a new world to me. I also find it interesting. I have been self learning ASL for 4 months now. I know many many phrases and words and the alphabet and joined an online learning group. I quickly learned that I couldn't understand 80% of what was being signed to me! Knowing the signs and recognizing someone else using them are two different things! Intimidating. I need to work on comprehension. I am very cautious about watching others sign in public because I don't want to eavesdrop. I also wouldn't ask someone to keep repeating and explaining signs which is what would happen if I approached a person who signs. Fun fact that I just learned. Here in Canada we are a bi-lingual country. At least that's what I believed. We are actually a tri-lingual nation as ASL is an official language here!

[@thelthrythquezada8397]

I want to learn ASL for when we go to the streets to do out reach. I want to be able to bring the Word of God to them too.

[@justfrani23]

My fear is saying the wrong things, and not helping the way I’d like at all. I want to get over them and ACTUALLY communicate use what I’ve spent so long training and practicing!

[@Nana-wn3jb]

HI Mereidth i just love all of these ASL videos i am finshing l high school to become A interpreter for churches and i wanted to be able to communicate with others who are deaf and be able to sign in ASL with the sermons as well i am self taught and learned for the first time and i looked up some videos in ASL and i learned since then just got back doing it again think you for this.

[@thrivinginamber2642]

My furnace, measure through wall, ten feet from my head same-time sleep, break, metal on metal, every-morning fix, all-night-long, llamas signed on ears, happen two year. right side short-time become deaf, come-back. KZbin advise watch ASL video, start, experience learn ASL, same-what? movie Avatar, bird, combine hairs, eyes-grow-big. so pretty much that~, it became so much more than simply "why", but "what happen when I learn ASL". Experience overwhelming, amazing, it become part of me. Now I join in-person ASL class, think very easy, no longer fear fail ASL, original fear pop-up, partial deafness., oh yeah, that, totally forgot, learn ASL distract soooo-much. My original motivation was to prepare for potential sudden complete deafness, now seem silly, but along the way learn what my level of hearing is, and sometimes it breaks a little, this way or that. I'm learning what happens in my ears, and how to handle it, and all the while, ASL has been a constant companion in this journey~

[@chasestroop1335]

I go to a Christian school and the only option for my school is Spanish but I failed the class and my resource teacher knew asl and she has been teaching me and we watch your vidoe all the time and we learn so much from your videos. I am gunna sign a song in church today!!

[@roberthomeyer8171]

I'm 64 years old I dated a girl that was hearing impaired. Years ago. Still thinking I need to be more. Amazing person family did not sign would like to be more involved. Good job much ❤

[@debbie7771]

So interesting and I enjoyed watching you sign while talking. I learned a lot. Will you be doing more videos like this?

[@trudygarcia798]

Yes

[@jondawalters]

Oh my goodness I'm from Arkansas how neat I. Want to learn ASL bc my husband is loosing his hearing also I think it's a beautiful language ☺️

[@anniemachado3406]

Iam learning ASL bc I wanted to learn a second language, nd always thought ASL was a beautiful nd neat. And bc I have trouble pronouncing words, and ASL is perfect bc I don't have to pronounce words. I run a business and it has helped me with my Deaf nd hard of hearing customers.

[@0vercastSky]

My grandfather used to be a substitute teacher at Gallaudet Uni, and when he had first started he was grading some tests in his office. A student came in to ask how he did on his test and my poor grandpa was so involved with what he was doing he made the OK hand shape (aka 'F' sign) and scared the poor student so badly hahaha. My grandfather corrected himself very quickly but hahaha

[@mistercody3935]

My Why: I work with people who have IDD (intellectual developmental disabilities) as their case manager! I want to be able to communicate with them, their families, and more! It is a beautiful language, but it almost alllllll for them!

[@chandracarroll2772]

I did 4 classes in college. Credits for the language part for the college. I became fearful of teying to get into the interpeting process due to others signing better then me. Although I didnt go further the interest of the language stayed with me for years.

[@beascastro4558]

I used to work at the Greyhound and I made a friend deaf passenger it interests me learn ASL.

[@nidannow]

I just subscribed and have been watching a few different channels as well as yours, and an app on my phone because I’m hard hearing with tinnitus and getting worse my fear is I’m slowly going deaf and don’t have many options where I live .

[@korierejoyce]

Great tips! Thank you ladies! 🤟💖❤️

[@KillingTheUnsaid]

#3!!!! Louder for those in the back!!!!!!!!!!

[@michaelweisneck9783]

I have customers that come into my job that are deaf and I want to be able to talk to them just as much and often as everyone else I get to interact with. Besides that, I feel like Sign Language is one of the most important languages in the world.

[@katiebrandt9844]

Omg, the other day our interpretator was absent. Since I know the second most sign in the class I was asked to interpret a story for my student. It felt like a mess! My student must have thought I was an idiot! I just kept telling her I was trying.

[@gwenharris8236]

Personal interest

[@tamarradavis2503]

It is such a beautiful language and if I need or can be a help then that would be awesome

[@ja_lil]

Thank you!

[@ja_lil]

It's hard for me to maintain eye contact when I don't understand, and I feel like I offended or annoy, the person

[@trudygarcia798]

I been practicing signing all the time now.

[@subliminalsgore]

I think it’s a beautiful language. And I think it sucks that people with language barriers are able to communicate especially when they’re is not a lot of people who communicate sign

[@gardeniagirl1374]

Hello Meredith, I appreciate your vulnerability in this video! What is the sign you do as you describe being partnered with the president of the Arkansas Dean Blind Association? ND palm down like an open B facing the floor and then DOM hand is a claw 5 hand scratching your ND palm? I like the idea of making myself uncomfortable to learn sign because it encourages me to cut myself slack, instead of freak out, when I don't know a sign. This is an informative and funny video. Thank you to both you and Ms. Darla for giving us a blur of your past mistakes. Your mistakes encourage me to keep trying 🤟🏼

[@trudygarcia798]

I want to join the program myself cuz I want to show off my signing skills.

[@destinypowers1146]

hi Meredith, i noticed alot of these videos shows a year ago, are you still doing them to teach? ty

[@rebekahhesketh1220]

Hey, Meredith, I was curious: what does your t-shirt say? The one you wore under the white sweater in the live video. I saw a couple of ASL hands on it..... 😊

[@coletteloudin8881]

my mom makes me do asl for school

[@Keepsigningeveryday]

I Love ASL and would one day love to sign in church 🤷‍♂️

[@justinmckibben4534]

Can someone tell me what the hand sign is that with the pointer, pinky, and thumb sticking out means? Same as logo of this channel?

[@trudygarcia798]

I want to learn ASL because I have a deaf friend at school.

[@ThriftyCrocheter]

I want to join your class but my problem is schedules. I work 1230-9. What day(s) and time is your class?

[@LearnHowtoSign]

Our 101 class is Sundays from 4-6pm CST and Thursdays 6pm-8pm CST. Our 201 class is Sundays from 6:30-8:30pm CST and Thursday 8:30-10:30pm CST.

[@oscarvelasquez8673]

I think it is a beautiful profession and i want to make a career out of it.

[@TranslaterMono]

I am learning signs just for fun and just in case if I have an American deaf friend. PS:Also to understand when there is in movies and no subtitles written

[@minillatea3973]

Yall got a discord?

[@GiaMaxwellConsulting]

How do people with carpal tunnel or arthritis use ASL? is it even possible?

[@blaqmermaiid]

Id love to know your reaction to rhe Superbowl asl interpreter that made waves on social media. She brought the show to life! I also wondered how is it possible to sign in time to the rhythm like that if one is deaf? It was an amazing interpretation

[@LearnHowtoSign]

Justina Miles gave an incredible performance. I loved every bit that has been shared on social media. I only wish it was easily accessible for the masses to see.

[@blaqmermaiid]

@@LearnHowtoSign oh i saw it available on youtube now..the full version. Thanks for mentioning her name, i forgot to do so. Its vibesy! Do signers have to improv in situations such as these where there may not be a sign for an expression, like Rihanna's music? Eg. Her "Work" song with the muddled lyrics?

[@ambergilbert5804]

My sister is deaf and I want to learn more.

[@LearnHowtoSign]

Yes! Love your why!

[@dorisyquiles6386]

Is a beautiful language. And a have a Deaf friend.

[@setfreestoryteller]

I am learning ASL in order to minister the Gospel of Christ to the Deaf!

[@shinyantony5349]

👍

[@dennisheiman2656]

I play Santa Claus and would like to learn ASL for the deaf community so they can fully experience Christmas 🎄

[@xmustardcandyxx6093]

i wanna be a counselor who is able to communicate with anyone

[@Nana-wn3jb]

chance

[@hollyallen2215]

Want to use it in church

[@irenehumphreys6387]

My best friend is deaf& can not speak at all, I want to be able to communicate with him.

[@petramontez6955]

7:50 have a friend that is deaf mute

[@mkleon497]

I just wanna talk wit hisin class lessons

[@dawudashanke4677]

To be a profession madam

[@jimcolebank8469]

I drive school bus and I have a deaf student on my bus

[@JeffreyUssery-dp6de]

Tinnitus, getting worse really fast

[@keithcook8354]

I know someone can't here

[@sarahraaymakers14]

Why? …. I am Signing for our church for Our choir … and we also have a Deaf Person in church!

[@LearnHowtoSign]

LOVE your why!

[@chrisb8014]

Church

[@Stephanie-SageFox]

I want to be a translator.

[@davedefehr7477]

I just met a deaf friend.

[@aditiananyaaggarwal344]

Doesn't she look like Millie Bobby Brown?

[@ashleelarsen7765]

Yes!

[@petemarquez2990]

I wanted to meet a young lady

[@sheetsie1962]

Deaf church friends

[@plb67-ox5gu]

I want to learn asl because I'm going deaf