Week 2.2 Sign Language

   Learning sign language is much more difficult that I had anticipated. I never realized how precise every movement had to be and how much significance each and every action holds. Now that I step back and think about it, it makes sense. If you are sending confusing messages by making sloppy signs, then the whole purpose of communicating is kind of defeated. I tend to rush through things and so this week I really focused on making my movements clear and precise.
   Although I was focused on making neat signs, I also managed to learn something new. Brooke and I continued to work on animals this week. We have found that Youtube videos are working the best for us. The funny part of this whole endeavor is trying to follow along with the five year olds making the video. They really know their stuff and can go quite quickly. I try to use their skill as a motivator and tell myself something along the lines of, "if a five year old can do this, then surely a seventeen year old can." I hope I am right, otherwise I have just been shown up by a kid without her front teeth.
       I had a lot of fun learning all the different animals. I was talking to my mom the other day and she said she likes to use simple signs in her preschool classrooms. When she is teaching the alphabet, she likes to associate letters with actions so the kids better remember what they learned. She has discovered that the best way to do this is to sign the letter that they are working on. Sign language has many added benefits, besides the obvious of communicating with other people. It can be used in many different ways and that is why I wanted to learn it in the first place. I am enjoying seeing all of the ways in which sign language can be used.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-f1My_8OFE This is the link we used to learn the animals in sign language. Keep up with the kids if you can!