How to Learn Sign Language: Making Connections with Deaf People

One of the things to know when making connections with deaf people is what to expect when you meet someone and what to expect when you get to know someone. Connections in the deaf world are important, and by meeting, the information exchanged will help determine your connection to the deaf community. Here are some things commonly shared when meeting someone.

Names and surnames:

You must be able to spell your first and last name. The deaf person will also spell their first and last name. Feel free to ask them to spell your name several times until you understand it.

Deaf or hearing:

Deaf people, even from different countries around the world, have many shared experiences. Finding out if a person is deaf or hearing is one way to move the introduction in the right direction. The deaf person will ask different questions about a person’s background and experience in the deaf community depending on the answer.

If you are listening:

After exchanging names and establishing that you are hearing, a deaf person may ask you where you are learning ASL, whether or not your teacher is deaf, your teacher’s first and last name, and possibly why you are learning ASL. This starts your connection.

If you are deaf:

After exchanging names and establishing that you are deaf, a deaf person will ask you where you grew up, if you went to a school for the deaf, what years you went to school there, whether or not you went to Gallaudet, and if so. What kind. Based on these questions, the conversation could turn to people you may know in common.

Deepening the connection:

Within the deaf community, deaf people strengthen social ties by participating in various community activities such as sports, clubs, conferences, and other social events. Former classmates, co-workers, friends and acquaintances travel miles to attend these events for the deaf, keeping in touch with each other and sharing news about themselves, mutual friends and the community at large, expanding their connection to the community.

To start your connection to the deaf community, you need to be able to introduce yourself and provide information about your class and teacher (so learn to spell your teacher’s first and last name). Remember the first and last name of the Deaf person you know, so you can tell your teacher about meeting them. Your teacher may know the deaf person you know, and sharing that information with your teacher shows that you are fostering your own connections.