Comments on: When I was learning to Cue http://wecue.net/2008/11/when-i-was-learning-to-cue/ Discussion on how to live, learn, and work using Cued Speech Fri, 25 Jun 2010 05:24:12 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Tami http://wecue.net/2008/11/when-i-was-learning-to-cue/comment-page-1/#comment-384 Tami Wed, 12 Nov 2008 05:54:29 +0000 http://wecue.net/2008/11/when-i-was-learning-to-cue/#comment-384 Barb, Many deaf adults were not introduced to ASL until they were in their teens or as adults. Many people are not only saddened but also angry that they were not given access to it in their childhood and feel that they missed so much. Have you read the book "Alone in the Mainstream" by Gina Oliva. This might give you a better insight into finding ASL later in life. I learned a lot from this book as a mother myself. Barb,
Many deaf adults were not introduced to ASL until they were in their teens or as adults. Many people are not only saddened but also angry that they were not given access to it in their childhood and feel that they missed so much. Have you read the book “Alone in the Mainstream” by Gina Oliva. This might give you a better insight into finding ASL later in life. I learned a lot from this book as a mother myself.

]]> By: Barb Ballard http://wecue.net/2008/11/when-i-was-learning-to-cue/comment-page-1/#comment-383 Barb Ballard Tue, 11 Nov 2008 22:40:33 +0000 http://wecue.net/2008/11/when-i-was-learning-to-cue/#comment-383 I'll agree with you that learning ASL does not hurt. In fact, now in high school, my son is taking ASL to fulfill his language requirements. High Schools here require 2 years of 2 different foreign languages, or 3 years of one foreign language. They allow ASL to be a language which meets that requirement. Learning any 2nd language is only as useful as the degree to which it will be used in the future. Let's face it, I "don't know much about the French I took..." (Sorry, just reverting into song there.) I hope that his learning ASL as a 2nd language will be more useful to him than my French was to me. I think it gives him more opportunities in the future in fact. But, English will remain his first language. If he's in a class being taught in English, then a CLT will be the appropriate accommodation. If he's in a class being taught in ASL, then of course he should be able to understand that as well. I’ll agree with you that learning ASL does not hurt. In fact, now in high school, my son is taking ASL to fulfill his language requirements. High Schools here require 2 years of 2 different foreign languages, or 3 years of one foreign language. They allow ASL to be a language which meets that requirement. Learning any 2nd language is only as useful as the degree to which it will be used in the future. Let’s face it, I “don’t know much about the French I took…” (Sorry, just reverting into song there.) I hope that his learning ASL as a 2nd language will be more useful to him than my French was to me. I think it gives him more opportunities in the future in fact. But, English will remain his first language. If he’s in a class being taught in English, then a CLT will be the appropriate accommodation. If he’s in a class being taught in ASL, then of course he should be able to understand that as well.

]]> By: Dianrez http://wecue.net/2008/11/when-i-was-learning-to-cue/comment-page-1/#comment-382 Dianrez Tue, 11 Nov 2008 19:54:17 +0000 http://wecue.net/2008/11/when-i-was-learning-to-cue/#comment-382 Times have changed, I see...when I was in university, CART, cued speech interpreters and other systems weren't available. As I understand it, availability is still a problem in areas where there isn't a strong Cued Speech center, wheras ASL interpreters are far more available. CART being very expensive is another factor limiting availability. My point was actually about ASL being more versatile as a method to bridge between Deaf and Hearing in education as well as other areas. For all children who will need auxiliary aids in the future, my advice is to add ASL to the package somewhere along the way as it does not harm language development (contrary to some beliefs) and it is potentially valuable at the advanced education level. It is also potentially valuable to the young adult in moving between the Deaf and Hearing communities and finding a dual culturalism. Not to say that it is mandatory, as you say one size does not fit all, but it is just another tool in the child's toolbox. Times have changed, I see…when I was in university, CART, cued speech interpreters and other systems weren’t available.

As I understand it, availability is still a problem in areas where there isn’t a strong Cued Speech center, wheras ASL interpreters are far more available. CART being very expensive is another factor limiting availability.

My point was actually about ASL being more versatile as a method to bridge between Deaf and Hearing in education as well as other areas. For all children who will need auxiliary aids in the future, my advice is to add ASL to the package somewhere along the way as it does not harm language development (contrary to some beliefs) and it is potentially valuable at the advanced education level.

It is also potentially valuable to the young adult in moving between the Deaf and Hearing communities and finding a dual culturalism. Not to say that it is mandatory, as you say one size does not fit all, but it is just another tool in the child’s toolbox.

]]> By: Barb Ballard http://wecue.net/2008/11/when-i-was-learning-to-cue/comment-page-1/#comment-381 Barb Ballard Tue, 11 Nov 2008 18:32:22 +0000 http://wecue.net/2008/11/when-i-was-learning-to-cue/#comment-381 There are a growing number of CLT's available and they are trained in Cued Speech. Finding one has rarely been a problem for us. I'm not sure why you think my child would want an ASL interpreter when English is his first language. If a CLT were not available, I'm sure he'd prefer either a CART system or a note taker. The choice of method varies by individual though and I'm glad you found a method which works for you. That's the whole point of having a variety of methods available. One size does not fit all. There are a growing number of CLT’s available and they are trained in Cued Speech. Finding one has rarely been a problem for us. I’m not sure why you think my child would want an ASL interpreter when English is his first language. If a CLT were not available, I’m sure he’d prefer either a CART system or a note taker. The choice of method varies by individual though and I’m glad you found a method which works for you. That’s the whole point of having a variety of methods available. One size does not fit all.

]]> By: Dianrez http://wecue.net/2008/11/when-i-was-learning-to-cue/comment-page-1/#comment-380 Dianrez Tue, 11 Nov 2008 02:09:44 +0000 http://wecue.net/2008/11/when-i-was-learning-to-cue/#comment-380 Just a thought to ponder...an interpreter was quoted in a blog recently as hoping that a deaf client would not be dependent on Cued Speech as most interpreters aren't trained in it, and it is slow going when breaking words into component syllables when the ideas are flowing rapidly. Cued Speech may have its place for certain kids and certain situations, but generally, it is more useful to know ASL by the time one is in college especially if one will need interpreters. It takes about five years of daily use to become comfortable with understanding interpreters in lecture situations. This is based on personal experience--by the time I attended college, I could understand sign language one-on-one but not classroom or lecture interpreting until well into graduate school. Just a thought to ponder…an interpreter was quoted in a blog recently as hoping that a deaf client would not be dependent on Cued Speech as most interpreters aren’t trained in it, and it is slow going when breaking words into component syllables when the ideas are flowing rapidly.

Cued Speech may have its place for certain kids and certain situations, but generally, it is more useful to know ASL by the time one is in college especially if one will need interpreters.

It takes about five years of daily use to become comfortable with understanding interpreters in lecture situations. This is based on personal experience–by the time I attended college, I could understand sign language one-on-one but not classroom or lecture interpreting until well into graduate school.

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