That Roger ASL

ASL in GIF "Professional Development Opportunities" I have a growing list of things I want to do to further my professional development. Here are some of the items on my list: 1. Work with Deaf-Blind. BC has over a thousand Deaf-Blind individuals, they have different accessibility needs and communication strategies. I want to work with Deaf-Blind individuals and learn how they want to communicate and be supported. Having experience with Deaf-Blind community will help me be better ASL Teacher because Deaf-Blind people are a part of the Deaf community, and as I teach ASL, I want to be sure that I include Deaf-Blind's needs.  I have applied for a part-time position supporting Deaf-Blind individuals, under CNIB . I want to work with a wide range of Deaf-Blind individuals so that I can get close as possible to understanding the full scope of Deaf-Blind community's needs. 2. Learn How to Teach ASL Sign Language Institute Canada (SLIC) is offering a 10-month Trainee Program...

This video is powerful! Austin Vaday both speaks and signs with passion in his TEDx Talk "Sign Language is my superpower". He explains what it is like being Deaf without access to information, which is the reality for so many Deaf people, and then he emphasizes why Sign Language is so important.  This video really hits close to home, I have personally experienced what he has gone through. So many times I've been at family functions where I was around many loved ones but felt completely alone because I cannot hear and was not truly included in the conversations. Sign Language is the only way I can truly connect with others.  At 4 minutes and 35 seconds, Austin mentions the biggest irony when it comes to Sign Language. Hearing Babies learn "Baby Signs" to promote communication early in their development but often Deaf Babies are discouraged to learn sign language because it may hinder their ability to learn how to speak  and understand English.  "The Greates...

This post is about my vision of where I will be in five years, so I am stating that by Winter 2027, I will have achieved the following professional goals: 1. Complete the Provincial Instructor Diploma Program (PIDP) Right now I am planning to do the whole program in two years. I am currently on my second course so I am still in early stages of this goal! My plan is to keep doing one course after another, and right now I am on track.  It is possible that my progress through PIDP will slow down as my workload increases. If so, I will aim to  complete PIDP in about three years' time. At any rate, I am confident I will complete it within five years! 2.  Work Full-Time as ASL Instructor There are a lot of opportunities to teach ASL classes and I am just starting out! I recently got my first job as ASL Consultant for a TV show being filmed in Vancouver. I have a growing network of ASL Teachers that are referring me to ASL teaching job opportunities.  I recently had an...

BuzzFeed has a video up of Deaf people reacting to common questions. As a Deaf person, it is hilarious watching the video because it is absolutely true!! I have been asked every single one of those questions!  Understandably, hearing people are naturally curious and trying to understand what it is like being Deaf, and the only way to find out is to ask questions! I am expecting to be asked those questions as I teach beginner ASL classes because I will have students that likely have never met a Deaf person before in their lives. ©  Roger Desmarais, 2022   

  Photo from  gwangjunewsgic.com In Chapter 16 of Brookfield's book "The Skillful Teacher: On Technique, Trust, and Responsiveness in the Classroom", he discusses that sometimes students have resistance to learning. This was a great chapter to read through because initial first reaction was "That's silly, why are the students there then? They signed up to learn, so why are they resisting?" Although as I started reviewing on my learning journey I realize that I have resisted learning many times over, even though I signed up for each course myself! One clear recent example was a First Aid course that I had to take for my job at a Group Home. I've done this course a few times in the past already but we are required to re-take it every five years to keep our First Aid certification. I was not in the mood sitting through a full day going over material I felt that I already knew and never used in real life. Also, I was the only Deaf person there, which added t...

Photo from  www.yorku.ca In Chapter 18 of his book "The Skillful Teacher: On Technique, Trust, and Responsiveness in the Classroom", Brookfield discusses how teachers will always hold the power.  It does not matter how much a teacher may idealize the perfect egalitarian classroom, the students will always perceive that the teacher holds the power. The teacher plans the course, decides the pace and structure of the course, and does the grading.   As a teacher, it would be a mistake to not recognize the power that I hold. By being conscious of the power I hold, I can then exercise this power responsibly.  Brookfield emphasizes that transparency is a great way to shift some of the power back to the students. By using a rubric, the teacher is being transparent with expectations and how grades are assigned. Students have the power to check off all the expectations of an assignment to get the best grade possible, or just do the minimum for a passing grade.  ...