This week has been a really strange one as I have been pottering back and forth between home, my Nieces and my Daughters. Not really knowing which house I will
decide to sleep in each day until virtually the last minute.
My Sarah is moving on or around next weekend and of course there is a lot to do getting her all organised for that. On top of that she had to have a visit to the hospital for x-rays and MRI scans. This is for her knee. Many of us have hereditary "squidgy" knees, which cause us all problems in different degrees and Sarah in particular, but this present problem is because she has ripped/torn (whatever) her cartilage. She had the tests last night and is booked in for the op on the first knee on the 18th May, so she will be off of work for a couple of weeks after.
We went back to our signing classes last Wednesday, the first after the Easter hols, and I swear my brain had been emptied at some point during the previous 2 weeks. I could remember nothing of what I have learnt and couldn't retain anything new we were covering that day.
But.................. Whilst staying with Beverley her next door neighbour, Pippa, popped in for a cup of tea. Now Pippa is deaf and is coming to the end of her 2nd year of signing, as I am coming to the end of my 1st year. She stayed for a late breakfast with us and her and I managed to get some serious signing in while Beverley pottered out the kitchen.
After signing with Pippa for almost 2 hours I was thrilled to realise that I actually know far more than I gave myself credit for. On top of that Pippa has invited me to go visit her next Wednesday morning for a couple of hours for another signing session. My class will be on the Wednesday evening so I should be nice and hyped up with a busy brain for that class and not the soggy slug I was for last week's group.
I really need to sort out getting a place for the "Pre Level 2" course which runs through the summer for 8 weeks. Although it's not a requirement for continuing into level 2, I feel that it's very important to keep ones hand in, so to speak, through the long summer break before level 2 starts in September. It also prepares us for the different way of teaching for level 2.
With level 2 there is no talking, or as little actual talking as possible. It will be all signing. During the first year we have concentrated building up a vocabulary and the short sentences needed to scrape through in order to communicate with the deaf. I suppose one could liken it to having a holiday language. Level 2 is all about far more in depth communication. At the end of level 2 one is qualified to teach level 1 and to also work professionally with the deaf. For the majority of people this is as far as they go with learning the language as Level 3 is more for training as interpreters and for teaching Level 2.
At this point I will of course be doing Level 2 but wont decide on Level 3 until far nearer the time as that will depend on finances and location of where the course will be held. As fewer people go onto Level 3 it isn't always possible to find a class in ones own area as the amount of classes held around the country are less. But we shall see.
On a side note. my smoking, or lack thereof, is coming along nicely. I am now down to 6 cigarettes a day leading up to a quit day of May 1st. Fingers crossed that works out for me and I am finally able to kick old Nic O'Tine in the butt. If you wish to have a read of my Smoking Blog then please make your way to http://kick-the-habit.u.yuku.com/blog/view
My Sarah is moving on or around next weekend and of course there is a lot to do getting her all organised for that. On top of that she had to have a visit to the hospital for x-rays and MRI scans. This is for her knee. Many of us have hereditary "squidgy" knees, which cause us all problems in different degrees and Sarah in particular, but this present problem is because she has ripped/torn (whatever) her cartilage. She had the tests last night and is booked in for the op on the first knee on the 18th May, so she will be off of work for a couple of weeks after.
We went back to our signing classes last Wednesday, the first after the Easter hols, and I swear my brain had been emptied at some point during the previous 2 weeks. I could remember nothing of what I have learnt and couldn't retain anything new we were covering that day.
But.................. Whilst staying with Beverley her next door neighbour, Pippa, popped in for a cup of tea. Now Pippa is deaf and is coming to the end of her 2nd year of signing, as I am coming to the end of my 1st year. She stayed for a late breakfast with us and her and I managed to get some serious signing in while Beverley pottered out the kitchen.
After signing with Pippa for almost 2 hours I was thrilled to realise that I actually know far more than I gave myself credit for. On top of that Pippa has invited me to go visit her next Wednesday morning for a couple of hours for another signing session. My class will be on the Wednesday evening so I should be nice and hyped up with a busy brain for that class and not the soggy slug I was for last week's group.
I really need to sort out getting a place for the "Pre Level 2" course which runs through the summer for 8 weeks. Although it's not a requirement for continuing into level 2, I feel that it's very important to keep ones hand in, so to speak, through the long summer break before level 2 starts in September. It also prepares us for the different way of teaching for level 2.
With level 2 there is no talking, or as little actual talking as possible. It will be all signing. During the first year we have concentrated building up a vocabulary and the short sentences needed to scrape through in order to communicate with the deaf. I suppose one could liken it to having a holiday language. Level 2 is all about far more in depth communication. At the end of level 2 one is qualified to teach level 1 and to also work professionally with the deaf. For the majority of people this is as far as they go with learning the language as Level 3 is more for training as interpreters and for teaching Level 2.
At this point I will of course be doing Level 2 but wont decide on Level 3 until far nearer the time as that will depend on finances and location of where the course will be held. As fewer people go onto Level 3 it isn't always possible to find a class in ones own area as the amount of classes held around the country are less. But we shall see.
On a side note. my smoking, or lack thereof, is coming along nicely. I am now down to 6 cigarettes a day leading up to a quit day of May 1st. Fingers crossed that works out for me and I am finally able to kick old Nic O'Tine in the butt. If you wish to have a read of my Smoking Blog then please make your way to http://kick-the-habit.u.yuku.com/blog/view
Last edited by: Zandranna 04/26/09 11:30:12.
Edited 6 times.
Comments
Posted: 04/25/09 18:34:59
I am so impressed that you are doing so well in your signing class. And what a great thing to be able to visit with Pippa. I bet that helps a lot.
Posted: 04/25/09 20:14:09
Sandy, if you decide to continue on to Level 3, will you use that to do some work, volunteer or other?
Posted: 04/26/09 02:59:46
As for my signing. Sarah and I have already been asked if we would volunteer to be part of a scheme to go into the infants and junior schools to start teaching the kids. Just to initially give them an interest in it. They don't know how this is going to work yet as the deaf association (of which my tutor is a very active participant) are just getting that organised now.
My Sarah and Aimee will both be going onto level 3 so I can't really seeing me not also doing it. Can't let them know more than me now can I, lol.
I have no intention of attempting to use it for a job as I do like my retirement too much but it does open up many opportunities to take me into my retirement.
Already I have met people I wouldn't have met and I fully intended to do some sort of voluntary work in my retirement and to volunteer for something that I love doing is a great bonus. Beats working in a charity shop. Although I had intended originally to volunteer to do guided tours of some sort.
Having said that, of course at the end of next year I would be qualified to teach level 1 so could do that.
Pippa is great and a good laugh. I can see her and I getting on like a house on fire, and is now pestering for me to go to the deaf club at least once a fortnight. This I must do, not only to keep my hand in through the summer but also to start socialising more within the deaf community.
I've told Pippa to correct every single tiny little mistake I make. Not to worry that I will get fed up with being corrected because I wont. I don't want to just pass exams I want to be as perfect at is as I possibly can.
I have no real plans for how to use the knowledge, if at all. I am just thoroughly enjoying it and am going to play each step by ear. At the very least, if as I get old I lose my hearing, I will still be able to communicate with my girls without frustration on either side.
Posted: 04/28/09 13:59:42
Posted: 04/29/09 00:06:50