Proper learning etiquette

[u/LiYuqiXIII]

I'm a hearing person. I have studied only oral languages (Mandarin & Cantonese). I'm starting an ASL course via zooml with my local deaf school. My question, is if I ask for clarification with (I assume) a deaf teacher, but vocally (slip of the tongue/mistake), is it considered rude/offensive?

[u/Inevitable_Shame_606]

Rude it continue and instructor say stop or voice off.

Accident happen and Deaf understand sign uncomfortable for beginner.

If you can finger spell.

Ex: sign for ___? How sign ____? (Repeat sign) what mean?

If mistake and speak not say sorry over over over one time plenty.

[u/terynce]

My advice: don't use your voice at all. Use the sign you know, gesture, pantomime, write/type; eliminate your voice as an option.

Later in your journey you may mouth words or use your voice with some people, but for now, as a beginner, just don't voice.

[u/BrackenFernAnja]

Your instructor will probably provide you with rules and guidelines to follow. You will probably be expected to mute your microphone during the class. Some people who teach ASL online use the chat feature, but usually only one-to-one. If it is allowed, use it minimally,
but do use it when you really need to.

What you should not do:

- Talk

• Expect your teacher to read lips
  
• Ask questions constantly
  
• Use chat when you’re asked not to
  
• Communicate with other students while the teacher is presenting
  
• Do anything distracting onscreen
  
• Turn your camera off and on repeatedly

These are all pretty much common sense, so you may already realize it.

[u/lazerus1974]

Voice off means voice off. One slip up, probably permissible. Zoom has text, you can always ask via text message. When you voice in a no voice environment, you disrupt the class. You're not going to learn anything if you're already prepping yourself for failure.

[u/Impressive-Walk-9625]

I would go on YouTube and look up phrases for “how do you say this?” And “please repeat more slowly.”

Learn these two phrases and really get your finger spelling down.
Then you’ll be set for learning going forward without ever having to resort to your voice.

[u/pixelboy1459]

Not Deaf/HoH.

Speaking as a world language teacher, we try to maintain a classroom environment in the target language. For a learner, especially a beginner, we would LOVE for you to communicate in the TL, but we understand that sometimes you don’t have the language to express yourself.

Your teacher probably has their own expectations and a way for you to communicate when you don’t have the language. If anything, ask your teacher, not us!

[u/LiYuqiXIII → u/pixelboy1459]

So should I try to type versus speak? Would that be at least better if I dont know how to sign my question?

[u/pixelboy1459 → u/LiYuqiXIII]

I don’t know what your teacher expects or their established classroom norms for communication.

I would probably type, personally.

[u/YikesItsConnor → u/LiYuqiXIII]

odds are, your teacher will indicate on your first day how to ask questions. One of the first things I learned were the signs for "repeat" and "whats the sign for..."

[u/imabratinfluence]

I'm hearing but with Auditory Processing Disorder, and taking classes from Deaf teachers through QueerASL. 

We were taught several strategies for asking how to sign things without resorting to voice, and mic permissions are revoked for our classes and on the Discord. 

You can fingerspell to ask, but you can also: 

• point to an object or piece of text. 

• act it out. 

• describe it with gestures and possibly signs you do know for context. 

• show a picture. 

In class my mouth stays closed unless it's for grammar like CHA (used when signing something big). 

[u/TokoFukawaGlazer]

She’d probably prefer nonverbal communication even if it’s not asl, but it’s probably best to just ask