Two Deaf Women Show Us Bilingualism At Its Finest 

I had a deaf woman come into my store with her husband and three small children. Her family was hearing but she was deaf. I know so little ASL. But I made sure to sign thank you to her and she smiled because it might have been the first time someone used her language outside of her family during their trip. I was so excited I wanted to show a lot of love to her. Idk I have this curiosity about deaf people and their language. So neat.

We have a deaf daughter and are a hearing family. We have used ASL from the start and spoken English. It seemed natural to give her as many options as possible. The biggest challenge we faced was finding a place to learn ASL as a family. You would think that organizations would realize the whole family needs access to learn in order to make it a part of their lives.

Please consider captioning this video so that the Hard-of-hearing community can enjoy it as well. The automatic captions are subpar and do a grave disservice to the speakers, signers, and message of the video. Not only that, but then there's the message of non-inclusion that it sends to the HOH (or late-deafened, such as myself) community... Let's bring the two together, make DHH truly that. Deaf AND Hard-of-hearing.

I'm hearing, I am learning ASL and I love it. I would like to have kids. If my kids are born deaf they will know ASL and English, it they are hearing they will learn ASL and English. Both are beautiful languages

When I adopted my three yr.-old daughter from China years ago, she couldn't speak Chinese because of a bilateral cleft lip and palate. I used Signing Time Videos to teach us all signing. Her first real language was sign. She started special ed preschool just a few months after coming here, but the school would not provide a sign interpreter for her. I believe as a teacher and as a parent that ASL should be taught from kindergarten up. It enhances literacy for hearing children as well as providing communication skills.

I think it is stupid that deaf people are expected to choose between asl and english sign language. They should be allowed to which ever way they want.

Why is it a practice to advise parents to pick only one language? As an early childhood educator, I have been taught that the first five years of life is the optimal time to learn language. In addition, the bigger a child’s vocabulary, the more successful they will be in school. So we give opportunities to learn other languages to increase their vocabulary. Also, I have met many bilingual children under the age of two. One child had two home languages and was learning English at school. Just doesn’t make sense to limit a child to one language when they are perfectly capable of learning more than one. I give big kudos to the families that put the work in to teach their children both languages!

Thankyou for this!!!! You don’t know how much it has helped me. I was never taught Sign language as a child, I had to teach myself later. I’m hearing person who used to find it frustrating not being Able to talk to all the children of whom couldn’t use their voice and ears for communication. I found it very frustrating not being able to go and play with so, when I have children, From birth, I am going to teach them sign language and Makaton in BSL & ASL. It’s a great way to keep everybody included in this world and I love that you answered my question so thoroughly. Thank you so very much.

Thanks a lot for your videos ¡ I'm english-french-spanish translator. I'm from Colombia and i'm currently studying to become a colombian sign language interpreter. I would like share this video in particular with my friends but most of them don't understand english. That's why I would like to subtitle it , if you agree with that....

Psh, I wish I could take off my glasses when I got home. I'd be unable to function.

I wish sign language was a universal thing, though that would make finger spelling complicated. I really feel the world could communicate if we all had something in common

Thank you for this video. For those who are struggling with making the choice of which path to go down, do choose the best one for you. I personally believe, having both paths, is the best choice. I work with Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing students, and this is what I tell them, " Choosing the best option for you is what you need to do, but remember to have an open mind, you never know what your future will hold." Being a CODA, I had no choice, but I absolutely love this path my life has been on. I have the best of both worlds.

Stumbled across this video while doing some early childhood development research. I'm glad I found it! The Coleman's are actually my neighbors! I was pleasantly surprised to see their faces pop up 😊

I'm not going to lie I like the fact deaf people have more emotional facial expressions. I feel like hearing people aren't....so...emotional with their expressions? if that makes sense.

So well said& signed!

very good video. I love what the woman says: "we could choose either to sign, to speak, or both". Great idea.

The Signing Time show was great and I remember little Leah and her Mom. Both sets of parents made the right choice for their children. So happy for both women.

If you are deaf or know a deaf person, Please support this project by simply coming to our page and clicking "Like"...Okay? ;) facebook.com/DONTTELLVERA/ We are trying very hard to get Hollywood producers and corporate sponsors to invest in this movie featuring a deaf character. DON'T TELL VERA can and will be successful if we can get lots of "Likes & Shares" from the deaf community.

There's a girl in my school that has a cochlea implant (I hope that's how you spell it) and the teachers have to wear special microphone type things so she can hear them from further away but when we're speaking to her personally we don't need it, we just have to make sure to say it quite clearly. It's kinda cool seeing how stuff like that work.

My daughter has Down Syndrome, and we watched Signing Time on Netflex to communicate with our daughter. I miss it on Netflex.

Awesome story!

Oh my gosh, look at Leah! I haven't seen her since all of the signing time movies. Wow!

Also, how in the world do you raise deaf child without learning ASL??

I wosh asl was offered in school to kids like spanish or french. Why cant is be considered the same as a second language... I tried to take it in my community college but it was no longer offered so i took spanish.

I'm hearing, but I'm interested in signing, and now I'm learning a little. I have been researching and teaching muselg

I was a preemie when I was little. I didn't talk until three years old so I had to use ASL. I still remember watching signing time!

I REMEMBER WATXHI G SIGNING TIMES!!!!!!!! I used to watch it in elementary school

If I have kids one day and they're hearing, I'll teach them ASL for sure. It's just wonderful to be able to speak it from a young age and communicate with deaf children. And, obviously, it's got another advantage: You can communicate without actually speaking, which equals "speaking" quietly.

I'm not going to get into the cochlear debate, not everyone is actually a candidate for a cochlear. My "niece" (Best friend's daughter) doesn't actually have auditory nerves and isn't a candidate. Cochlear debate aside.. doesn't what this video is talking about make sense? I don't understand whats wrong with raising a deaf child to sign AND speak AND read lips. That way they can communicate comfortably with the deaf community through signing, which I understand is alot more comfortable and easy for them. (and yes, their family hearing or not should learn ASL as well..it's your child's first language people!!) BUT with lip-reading and speaking, a deaf child/person can also get around in the hearing world.. just with alot of explaining that the person they're speaking to has to look at them. I don't know why either the hearing OR deaf community would be so stubborn as to NOT support sign/speak/readlips and proper English Education (I do think that students should have at least some classes conducted in Signed English as opposed to ASL because from what I understand deaf people's English skills can be very poor.)

I'm hearing and I'm learning asl and it's wonderful for me to be able to talk to my family that is Deaf and people I know who are Deaf or hard of hearing

Hello! I'm learning ASL currently and also learning about other types of sign languages like pidgin signed English. It says in my book that the PSE is what most interpreters use, and since I'm still learning I couldn't tell for myself, I was wondering if you could tell me whether you used PSE or ASL in the video. Thanks!

Absolutely Linda. Bill Vicar is awesome.

This was incredibly interesting. I didn't realize so many things about the deaf community. I am hearing and actually don't know any deaf people, but I've always been drawn to ASL, and I am actively learning it. I have a love for all languages. Being bilingual with any languages opens up your world. I didn't realize so few deaf children weren't taught to sign from birth, but it makes sense if 90% are born to hearing parents. It's certainly easier for parents not to sign but I believe this is a huge detriment to the deaf child. I feel as though it's a no brainer that a deaf child will have to navigate in both worlds. Teaching them both ASL and English just makes those two worlds into one. Communication with people is a given. If a child can't communicate then we are setting them up for failure. Teaching our children both languages removes a large obstacle and allows them to focus on other issues. I also believe it removes them from "having a disability". It gives them tools to be "normal" and puts them on an even playing field with their peers. It makes them competitive and gives them the same chances for success in life like everyone else. They can become anything they want, not just settle for something "suited" for a deaf person. There is no "just" only "all" when we give them both sets of tools.

...I don't understand why you have to choose one? I learned two languages at once. I had a cousin who learned 3 at once. Granted they were all speaking languages but children learn so easily. This sound more for the parents who are too lazy to do both and needs an excuse to not do both...because the specialist said to do only one. But kudos for the these family. You sould try to enrich your children's lives.

My best friend's sister is named LEAH COLEMAN also. Like wow? It is so important.

I was never deaf but I couldn't speak due to having whats called a trache so I learned ASL when I was little and then in Highschool as a second language!

I remember I would watch signing with Alex and Leah in 5 grade and I would wake up early at 5:30 or so and watch the show to learn but when I moved and I looked for it it was there anymore I thought they had canceled the show but I'm happy they didn't this was the show that taught me the alphabet in sign language I'm not really good but I'm getting there

I've been learning ASL slowly and I wanted to go to school be an interpreter to be apart of the bridging-the-gap thing for the two worlds, but the colleges near where I live don't even have a class for it. Nothing. The nearest school that offers it is nowhere near where I live and work. This is pathetic. All colleges should have at least ONE class for it because there are deaf and hard-of-hearing people in every walk of life there is. It's so stupid that this isn't a common resource.

What wonderful parents! :D

I want to start learning ASL just as a skill. Does anyone have any tips for me? I'd really appreciate it.

I am deaf.I live in Ethiopia where i can sign language and Asl where i know a little. Thank you for teaching. How to skills Asl by practicing?

Unfortunately bilingualism (or poly-lingualism) is dis-encouraged in every community I've lived in (in the US and abroad). I see that as a huge tragedy. Giving your child an opportunity to learn a language or many languages from native speakers can only benefit them. It is a new culture, a new way of thinking and seeing the world. It's an amazing opportunity. It seems that there is still a prejudice and misconception against teaching children more than one language. The misconception being that it will impede their language acquisition in one or all of their languages and they will not develop language skills properly. That said, its important to learn from a native speaker/signer (or native level) who has an extended number of years of experience and an expansive vocabulary in many registers and on many topics. I think ASL could be taught in hearing and deaf elementary schools and/or day care centers - helping the kids to develop a new way to see and discuss the world.

I m a Coda from Germany. My mother and her little brother are both deaf and later they married deaf partners. My father was born 1930 and my mother 1937 and I was born 1967.I grew up with 4 deaf Adults in one house. Their Gerneration hat to go in special boarding schools from a young age .My father was 6 years as he left his family to learn to speak with his voice and to lip-read. Endless our of training these skills and the education , was not on the same level like hearing kids. Sign language was not allowed in the classroom. But in the "deaf Hogwarts universe"the magic off the talking hands secretly passed in the next generation.They teached me the German sign language and they tried to speak with their voice to me but they now that I can lip-read. In Germany ca. 1984 deaf kids became the right official by law to be teached in sign language. My personal statement is this: For the 90 % off hearing parents with a deaf kid.Take Asl our English sign language ,or what in your country is available. But in the End the spoken or the sign word are dust in the wind. Only the written word gives true freedom.

Iam Born deaf and got my Cochlear Implants bilateral Implanted in July 2006 I was 1 year old. It’s kinda sad I never learned sign language.

thx

Nice

i am hearing but am learning irish sign language

Very good video 👍🏽 I am deaf

This video is great and important, but as a HoH teenage boy you really should have represented someone without a cochlear, d/Deaf people don't need one to be successful in life

why would that even be a question? knowing multiple languages is good for your brain and just overall awesome. i was raised bilingual learning english and spanish (not sure if that's an inappropriate analogy please correct me if it is) but i cannot think why it would be a bad thing. thinking a child will get confused (yes maybe at first but not forever) is severely underestimating the ability of a child.

Deaf or not deaf, that is a rich girl in a rich family. Cochlear implant costs $100,000. Not all the "tools" are available to everyone.

I am currently learning more ASL and I know the entire alphabet but I really want to know a lot more

Yes I am both

So over 90% of children born deaf have families that speak. Why wouldn't you as a parent want to learn asl to communicate with your kid?! Glad they are on the rise to improve the parents to understand their kid

i really enjoy this but wished that the dad in the second family signed

I was watching music videos and now I'm here...

CIs are fine for those who want them but there's still the issue of giving people the _option_ to get the surgery or learn to talk (with or without a CI) instead of parents choosing that for the child before the child understands the different choices.. Either way sign language access as early as possible is definitely an absolute must. And it's important to note that you can still be "bilingual" without speaking; many Deaf people know English just through reading and writing, but it doesn't mean they don't "know" the language. ~:~

Muito bem falar linguagem gestual ajuda crianças 👍👌. I'm deaf, from Portugal

I'm born deaf but my parents tell me that I'm profoundly deaf and I really want to be deaf but I'm still making. My decision now and I use asl often and my family members are not deaf so I'm the first family member to be deaf that I know of and I'm 15 years old and 8n high school taking asl classes and being taught by a deaf teacher

Myself deaf and my all family as my sister , brothers and stepfather learn sign language to communication with me all time and some of my family ' s sign as ASL and some English and they not bother me and I usually to that And my only sister in law know sign language to communicate with me and also my only aunt know some sign language to communicate with me too. And I feel good to have my family that know sign language to communicate with me too.

I am hearing,I know English and my biggest struggle with ASL is trying figure out what English words are typically dropped in ASL. Like you don't sign "How old are you?" You sign "Old you?" And thats odd to me. Particularly when translating English songs.

I was just watching animations... How am I here?

congrats

Leah and I have the same glasses

the bronzer though

Ok I know this is going to sound extremely stupid but I am new to learning about sign language and I'm really so lost about what they are talking about. Do they mean they wanted her to choose between learning to speak the English language and ASL or choosing between ASL and a form of English sign language like following literal English words?

used to be deaf children were automatically put in a dead residential program and the parents never bothered to learn sign, at least now there are many more options but i think ever pre-verbal child should be exposed to baby signs, they understand most of what is said around them by 9 months old, but the muscular control in the mouth and throat for speech does not develop for at least another 6 months to a year.

I was on Signing Time.

I dont think it is silly I think it is stupid to have to choose. I think that parents and their kids should be allowed to choose witch one they want. Or to give them both as these two families did.

they are not going to have an issue finding a boyfriend. beautiful. from England xx

A deaf woman came into the fitting room I was working in. She could speak but still signed to me. I found myself speaking louder to her, even though I knew how stupid that was. It worked out, though.

Leah Coleman looks like Rachel Ballinger

I'm sign I can't talk

i love asl... it is now my second language

This is how it should be. Both.

i would want to ask a deaf person if they wanted me to sign or speak because i dont know how they would want to communicate. i think its honestly up to each person to decide which langauge to learn but saying you can only choose one is a bit ignorant!

SIGNING TIME WITH ALEX AND LEAH!!!

Are the girls signing PSE? Or am I seeing that wrong?

How are high heels a tool?

cool ^^

I kinda just assumed deaf and hard of hearing people just learnt both. I want to learn sign language but i struggle with all languages so im hesitant to try it

I'm an ESL

What about Cued Speech?

I cannot understand why there are even any thumb downs..?

Здравствуйте, уважаемые! Я решила задавать вопрос узнать о курсы жестовая речь все одинаковые штаты все по Америке? Курсы платные? и прочее:)

Couldn't be me. Unless my child is hard of hearing or hearing I wouldn't waste my time teaching them a language that isn't the most convenient for them. If my child was Deaf they would learn sign and then I would teach them different ways to interact with hearing people without sign to get their point across. Takes less time, less effort, and allows more time for them to focus on what they want to do. If my child wants to be an astronaut I'm not going to make sure they can speak English. If they can sign all they need is an Interpreter. I'm glad that the total communication route worked for these two, but you wouldn't catch me doing this.

I'm not deaf so it's easier, I can sign most BSL (British sign language) and of course I speak English.

Children learn languages 100 times better than adults. If you can teach them multiple languages, start as soon as humanly possible. It will be very helpful to them through out life.

can she actually hear music with the device she was wearing in the gym?

my cousin is deaf but she can still talk and read lips

deaf good me girl taecher in so

I don't understand the "one or the other", that's ridiculous! Shouldn't you teach all options available to your child and have them choose instead of limiting their potential? I don't get it! I'm hearing, but my mom is HOH and one of her close friends is deaf. My brother and I learned ASL from an early age, and I'm continuing to learn. Both languages are beautiful, and I think all children deaf or otherwise, should learn ASL and English, like schools want us to learn other languages! It opens the doors of communication up instead of us sticking to just what we grew up around.

I am young man single 31 yr looking for deaf women

wowow l like sign language check out Dr.bill vicars

That makes no sense. Why is there regulation of what language you can learn?

I pity an island like Cyprus fingerspell in Greek and Turkish

katon goukakyuu no jutsu suiton suiryuudan no jutsu

deaf am good asl. :-P:-)

More benefits to being bilingual 😁

"Only 20% of them (parents of deaf people) will learn ASL" Me: wait of course I'm in Taiwan. I'm not gonna learn ASL if I just want to be signing to my deaf kid, I'd be learning TSL Me: oh wait they mean Americans Me: ...yeah only the weirdos like me would choose to learn ASL instead of local sign language, while being not American and not deaf