Question:
An ASL learner / researcher writes:
What's your experience with teaching adults who are tackling ASL as a 3rd (or
4th, or 5th...) language, vs. adults who are learning ASL as a second language?
Do you find that those learners are less likely to ask "what's the sign for
<insert English word of choice>?", or do you think that tendency is unrelated to
how many languages a person already knows?
Response:
Multi-lingual individuals picking up an additional language tend to be rather
fearless about asking questions and trying-out new signs. They also seem to get
(understand) that the goal is communication (not perfection). So many "ASL as a
second language learners" who are taking ASL at a college become (unfortunately)
perfectionists due to getting their knuckles (figuratively) rapped by ASL
teachers (in the form of missed points on quizzes or harsh corrections in front
of peers).
Multilingual learners are "different." They have "made it out the other side"
(already learned a new language) so they have the confidence to make mistakes
and keep going without thinking "I'll never get this." Instead they think, "Okay
I can get this -- I just need a massive amount of exposure, practice, and
feedback -- now where and how can I get that exposure, practice and feedback?"
-- Then they get to it.
Notes:
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