Chapters 22-24

Chapter 22
I know it is considered very impolite to stare, but it has always been extremely difficult not to stare when there are odd situations in public (well for me atleast). Growing up, and even today, it is easy for me to be enticed by ASL users in public. I often stare and wonder what in the world they are saying. It is kind of like at the nail salon- girls, you know what I'm talking about- the Asian ladies are constantly jibber jabbering in their (whatever) language and just full of laughter. It's hard for me to just ignore it besides they COULD be talking about me, right? But, my mom gets so frustrated and goes on and on about how I just "rudely eye-balled" them my entire appointment. Anyways, I am glad this chapter cleared some things up for me, such as "There is no such thing as a private ASL conversation in public." Now, I don't feel so bad. Also, now that I have some basic ASL instruction, it is good to know that it isn't necessarily bad manners to enter a conversation (at the appropriate time). I've always wanted to be apart of it instead of a simple onlooker staring in complete awe! This brings me to my next point... my biggest, and yes corny, wish! I want a name sign SO bad! I totally thought that this one deaf guy I met at a DCE a few weeks ago would give me one after a solid hour and a half of conversation. Come on, Chaz! However, I am sure deaf people don't just give a random person/ a person they just met a name sign, so I understand. But, if any deaf person wants to make me feel pretty darn important/happy/special/crazy excited, step right up and give me a name sign! (It would be greatly appreciated) 

Chapter 23
When the deaf community/ deaf individuals question where you learn ASL and from who, is it considered gossiping? I 100% don't think that this should be considered gossiping, and if it is, then I feel like it is a positive form of gossiping. Before signing up for classes at WKU I did some "research" through some older friends who had already taken general education courses there. I asked them which courses to take, the ones I would learn the most, and what professors they preferred. This was all to benefit me, not to gossip and chit chat about professors or to put anyone down. I don't recall any negative comments being made about certain courses, only positive opinions being shared about the "good" courses. Negative "chit-chat" is what I consider gossiping. I don't think this is the intention of Deaf people. I believe that when they become very interested in your ASL background they are simply doing it for your benefit and for the growth of their language. I feel as if they want ASL students to get the best possible education, after all, it is not common to meet an individual devoted to studying ASL. By expressing their concerns or praises of different instructors they are guiding you on the path of success. 

Although I don't know much about ESL programs, if I were to meet a foreigner who spoke some English, I would be very curious as to where they learned it. Furthermore I would like to guide them in the right direction to better their understanding and progress of the language. I feel like this is how it is between most Deaf people/ sign language students. I am sure it is unrealistic to assume that all deaf individuals would be so welcoming and helpful, however I feel that if the majority of the deaf community would be a little less harsh (simply going by the tone I am getting from the book), students would be more eager to further pursue ASL, thus resulting in a larger number of high qualified educators and an increasing rate of ASL programs. 

Chapter 24
Respond to the following statement:  “Deaf citizens rightfully resent hearing people’s learning ASL so they can take Deaf peoples jobs away while increasing their own power in the Deaf Community.”

In my last post I discussed the desire deaf individuals have for the success of ASL students. While, I don't believe it is EVERY SINGLE deaf person's desire, I am a little peeved by this quote. I think that this is a strong generalization. A person having no exposure or knowledge of the deaf community, besides reading this book, could have a somewhat disturbing idea of the deaf created by this quote. I feel as if this book continuously reiterates the fact that "Hearing people" take no interest in the deaf community and have little respect for their culture. So, this puzzles me. Do they WANT us to learn ASL in order to create a community in which they feel apart of or do they NOT want us to learn it so we won't take away their jobs? All Hearing people aren't evil as this book sometimes depicts, and I don't believe it is the goal of ASL students to take away jobs that the Deaf rightfully deserve or to gain power in the Deaf community. Personally, I am taking ASL in order to serve deaf individuals that I might encounter along my career path as an audiologist. When a deaf child comes to me for hearing tests, screenings, in search of a cochlear implant, or hearing aid I would like to be able to make their day by communicating with them in a language that is familiar to THEM. I don't want to  take away a job position that I feel like a Deaf individual is better suited for simply because I know ASL. I feel like this is my first frustrated reaction towards this book. I have remained open-minded and mostly agreed with the arguments presented, but I have mixed emotions towards this argument. I don't feel as if deaf people should "rightfully resent" us until they understand our goals and know us on a personal level. STOP stereotyping "Hearing people." Many of us respect the "purity" and who is to say interpreters are only trying to "make money off Deaf people's language" ?? Geez!!