TIPS ON HOW TO DO WELL IN MY CLASS

1)  Follow the schedule, so that you’ll know exactly what I will be covering when you come to class and study accordingly.

 

2)  Study the lesson material BEFORE you come to class.  

Familiarity with the vocabulary will help you, at the very least; catch the gist of what I am signing.  I do not expect you to catch everything – that comes with practice.

 Be aggressive about your study habits. 

Expect to invest 8 hours a week, outside of the class room studying the material – not a half hour.

Study before you to go to bed, so that you can process it while you sleep.

Use repetition.  Go over the material again and again.

Attach mental images to signs to help you remember what they look like.  Take notes.

Some students have printed out study cards, with a word on front and a picture or clue on how to sign the word on the back.

 

3)  Even better, take the Quizzes – as soon as possible. 

Do NOT wait until the day they are due, which is the third day (class activity) of a lesson period, after ALL the material has been covered.  THREE class sessions are devoted to each set of lessons:  Intro, Practice and Class Activity. 

Waiting until the third day doesn’t help you on the first (intro) and second (intro/practice) day in the classroom.

Taking the quizzes help YOU (not me) to study and will help you keep up with what is being taught in the classroom.

Remember, I NEVER give busy work.   Therefore, the quizzes are vital to your success in comprehending on what goes on in the classroom.

 

4) Be aggressive about where you sit.  If you sit in the far left corner, you are going to miss half of what I am Fingerspelling.  Sit closer.

 

5)  Go to Class.  Sometimes you’re not able to come to class – that’s understandable.  But don’t make it a habit.  Why?  Because that’s where you get the practice.

 

6)  If you’re not getting enough practice, then practice outside of the classroom.

Find a study partner and practice, outside of the classroom.

Avail yourself to the FREE ASL tutoring services available on campus.

Create friendships within the deaf community.  Go to where deaf people are. 

When class is over, talk to me.  Engage ME in conversation.  Make yourself known.

 

7) Come to class refreshed. 

Get some sleep at home, (not in the classroom).  Make sure you’ve eaten, so you’re not distracted.  Stay alert.

 

 

8) Relax.  A lot of my students get uptight about catching every single word.  Not going to happen.

First, make sure you’re situated so that you can see me clearly. Watch for familiar words.  

Think of it as piecing together a collage or a jig saw puzzle. 

Focus on the pieces until a coherent story or sentence emerges.   Don’t be afraid to fill in the blanks.

You catch a sign that is not familiar or is unexplained on the white board, raise your hand.  ASK. 

Asking is a way of cementing ideas in your head.  And plus it helps the other students.  So again, ASK.

 

9)  If you’re not catching what I am Fingerspelling, don’t sweat. Instead, be proactive.

Practice your reading skills at www.asl.ms.  Engage in frequent and daily drills. 

Don’t be afraid to guess.  Try to catch at the first and last letter, and a couple consonants in between, and fill in the blanks – like a crossword puzzle. 

If you got bogged down on what letters you’re missing, you’ll be left behind. So GUESS!!!

Practice, practice.   Fingerspell the names of the roads while driving.  You’re sitting in your math class, practice your numbers.  Fingerspell the names of the different politicians in your political science class.  Fingerspell the menu while you’re standing in line, waiting to order your burger.  Become a fingerspelling freak.  Eventually, you’ll get it down.

 

10)  Vocabulary retention.  See #9.  Same concept applies.

 

11)  Factor in the culture behind the no voice policy.

I’ve deliberately established a no voice classroom, knowing that it’d be difficult to do.  You’re not used to it.  In fact, many of you are probably conditioned to fall asleep when it’s silent.  Right??   I could sign and voice at the same time, but trust me, this is NOT overly helpful in the long run.  I’ve conducted class both ways: voice and sign, versus no voice and sign.  Invariably, the no voice WINS hands down.  The students sign better and the comprehension is light years away from those that are heavily dependent on vocal cues.  If you find the no voice environment intolerable, practice.  Wear ear plugs.  Try watching TV without sound.  Study at home, whatever the subject, in total silence.  Build up your tolerance.

 

12)  Last, but not least:  my teaching style.

I do not LIKE teaching straight vocabulary.  I prefer to teach vocabulary and then engage the class in dialogue.   I like to teach and then implement.  I will show you the vocabulary and then I will tell a story, a joke, or call up a student up front and engage him/her in a conversation in front of the class.   This helps you expand your receptive skills.  Often I will use words you will not know, or words that will not EVEN be part of the vocabulary.  Usually, if I am aware, I will write those words down on the board or at the very least, fingerspell them.  If you don’t, then it will be YOUR job to raise your hand and ask.