<![CDATA[ASL Master Tutor - My Blog]]>Wed, 27 May 2020 13:03:10 -0400Weebly<![CDATA[If You Have Stiff Hands/Wrists- Do this:]]>Wed, 27 May 2020 16:28:11 GMThttp://www.aslmastertutor.com/my-blog/if-you-have-stiff-handswrists-do-thisHere is an excellent video to warm up and loosen stiff muscles in your  hands, although assigned for musicians, it applies for American Sign Language (ASL) signers too! 


Stay Safe!


RaVen Sequoia 

<![CDATA[RID Code of Professional Conduct]]>Wed, 12 Jun 2019 20:52:32 GMThttp://www.aslmastertutor.com/my-blog/rid-code-of-professional-conductSince I get so many requests for how to learn more about CPC here's an excellent video discusses about RID Code of Professional Conduct signed in ASL by a CODA interpreter named Wink (Will Smith):


Another interesting topic arose and lots of people wonder if ASL is used only for Deaf or hard of hearing people. ASL or sign language can be used by anyone - deaf, hearing, hard of hearing, deaf/blind, autistic, baby, teens, elderly - anyone interested in communicating in another visual language.

It's useful for hearing people in settings such as:
Bartenders and customers no longer have to lean over to shout in each other's ears in a noisy bar.

Scuba Divers can have fully expressive conversations in ASL and not limited to scuba gestures.

Construction workers no longer have to shout and/or use limited gestures to give important instructions.

Doomsday Preppers can stealthily communicate in ASL (or sign language) so intruders cannot eavesdrop.

Parents and babies can efficiently communicate with each with ease instead of guessing what their cries or tantrums means.

Militants, Police Force, Firemen, Paramedics can all use ASL with each other and for Deaf folks.

People who work with animals intimately, can use ASL to clearly give visual cues.

Patients who have had a serious invasive surgeries and cannot communicate with their mouths due to tubes - can sign to doctors or nurses to clearly communicate. Very important!

The list can go on and on of how useful ASL is for our societies in this world.

Who else do you think can learn ASL?

<![CDATA[ASL Vocabulary by Subject Area:                      February 03, 2018]]>Sat, 03 Feb 2018 06:05:59 GMThttp://www.aslmastertutor.com/my-blog/february-03-2018Discovered a great site that has a list of ASL signs by subject area: 




This is excellent for ASL students and/or ASL interpreters needing to expand or improve their vocabulary on different subjects. 


RaVen Sequoia

ASL Mentor/Tutor/Evaluator/Deaf Interpreter/Deaf Advocate & currently an ASL Lab Assistant Teacher at CSCC

<![CDATA[Introducing Feedspot]]>Tue, 21 Nov 2017 13:15:39 GMThttp://www.aslmastertutor.com/my-blog/introducing-feedspotPicture

I'd like to introduce a great website that compiles many ASL related sites in one place. They kindly voted my website as one of the good ASL website, which surprised and delighted me for I've a humble site, nothing fancy but it does its job. There are many other useful sites to check, very convenient thus saving us a lot of time and energy when researching things. Thanks, Anjul! 


We have considered following factors to rank the blog.

Search Engine ranking
Social media influence
Social media buzz
Alexa Ranking
Post frequency
Quality score by our editorial team
Blog Age


<![CDATA[Sept 2017: Digital Tools for Learning ASL]]>Tue, 05 Sep 2017 15:34:12 GMThttp://www.aslmastertutor.com/my-blog/sept-2017-digital-tools-for-learning-aslPicture
This month I have a guest to share invaluable tools. Introducing Sheldon Soper. 

Digital Tools for Learning ASL

Learning any new language can be a challenge. Experts will tell you that the more ways you can immerse yourself in your linguistic exploits, the more successful you will be. Learning American Sign Language is no different.
Obviously, having the help and support of experts and native speakers will always be beneficial. However, personal help may not always be available. So what are some ways to study and practice your ASL skills when you are on your own?

Thankfully, there are plenty of digital options for conveniently expanding your ASL knowledge! Whether you are seeking to improve your ASL vocabulary, helping someone explore the language, or simply need a handy reference, here are some helpful digital tools to make the process both painless and engaging.

The ASL App
Platform: iOS & Android
Price: Free app with several vocabulary packs included; additional vocabulary packs available via in-app purchases
The ASL App is an American Sign Language learning tool that uses video tutorials to teach common words and phrases. The videos are filmed at a high enough resolution that gestures are clearly discernable. Many of the videos also offer speed settings to allow users to slow things down to catch important nuances and movements. Some of the videos even include alternate camera angles as well.
A nice added feature is the included set of handshape exercises. These provide helpful ways to keep hands and fingers both flexible and nimble!
While the ASL App is no replacement for a proper ASL course or ASL tutor, it can be a handy way to help novices build their fluency with common, everyday phrases while on the go.
Similar Apps: Marlee Signs (iOS - Free, in-app purchases); ASL Dictionary HD (iOS & Android -$5.99 or Kindle - $6.99)

ASL Translator
Platform: iOS & Android
Price: $4.99
ASL Translator is an internet-enabled application that allows users to translate text into ASL signs. Once the user inputs text to translate, the app uses an algorithm to try to determine the most efficient and widely used ASL phrasing. The app provides results as helpful videos demonstrating how to communicate the inputted text through sign.
While there are over 100 phrases that are included in the application for offline use, the majority of the app’s features require an internet connection. This is something to keep in mind given the fact that the app’s primary functions involve downloading streaming video (especially for those with sensitive cellular data plans!).

Platform: virtually any web-enabled device
Price: Free!
You can learn just about anything on YouTube. The challenge is, with over 300 hours of video uploaded every minute, how do you know where the quality content is hiding?
There are several excellent channels on YouTube dedicated to providing quality educational content for ASL learners.
  • Rob Neilson – Rob is a deaf, certified ASL teacher. His channel is chock full of lessons focused on topics ranging from colors and body parts to jokes and holidays. The content is clear and well produced.
  • Dr. Bill Vicars – “Dr. Bill” provides a plethora of online resources through his website to help ASL learners. The video content on his YouTube channel is some of the best. Most videos feature “Dr. Bill” communicating with a student while key components of the conversation are captioned clearly on a monitor behind them.
  • My Smart Hands – This channel is an awesome resource for boosting your ASL vocabulary. While the site features songs and content focused toward children and families, that doesn’t make it any less engaging!
Regardless of the videos you are watching, be aware that YouTube allows users to adjust playback speed on most videos. This can help make catching certain sign language nuances that much easier!

The Future
Real-time translation of both text and speech have become commonplace technologies on modern computers and smart devices. Sign language is also getting in on the act!
Technologies like Uni ( created by the Rochester, NY based company MotionSavvy) are helping improve communication between the deaf and the hearing. The Uni application uses the built-in video cameras on compatible smart devices to translate sign language into spoken text. As a result, deaf individuals can use the tool to effectively communicate with people whom they otherwise would be unable to speak with. Within the same application, vocal responses are translated to text making possible genuine, authentic conversations between sign language and spoken word.

Technology has made learning languages a much more interactive and convenient process. ASL is no exception! When paired with instruction from certified experts, learning ASL has never been more accessible!



<![CDATA[June 2017:  The Talent Code]]>Mon, 05 Jun 2017 15:44:37 GMThttp://www.aslmastertutor.com/my-blog/june-2017-the-talent-code

Hi Everyone! 
It's now June 2017 and I have a few goodies to share with you ASL folks (it can apply to anything that you want to learn actually). 

Some may wonder what is the missing ingredient that will help me to improve my receptive and expressive signing and/or interpreting skills? 

I want to share an extraordinary excerpt from Mr Daniel Coyle who wrote a book called "The Talent Code".  

Daniel Coyle describes how the brain reacts when a person develops a new skill.  
Performing an action involves firing an electrical signal through a neural pathway; each time this happens, it thickens the myelin sheath that surrounds nerve fibers like the rubber coating on electrical wires.  The thicker the myelin sheath around a neural pathway, the more easily and effectively we use it.  

Deep practice
Visualise the skill
Try the skill and fail at first
Next analyze your errors
Now try again
"Fail better"

Practice requires people to feel vulnerable, and feel comfortable making goofy and sometimes funny mistakes and keep at it until perfected. 

Learning ASL or anything you wish to learn is a lot like gardening. You plants seeds and water them daily and nothing at first seems to be growing, but it is! Looks invisible now but in about 3 weeks, the cute tiny seedlings will emerge. Then a gardener may be impatient for the flowers to bloom or fruit or vegetable to grow - again, can't rush it -- but it'll grow - unripe and slowly ripen. Staring at the plant will not make it grow any faster. Same with learning American Sign Language - getting impatient and frustrated will not speed up your learning progress. Keep at it. 

How long does it take for you to reach 100% fluency in advanced ASL - it depends: 

1. How quick you can memorize new signs/concepts: 

As a Deaf person, for most of us, when we are exposed to a new sign, it's quickly absorbed, retained and utilized. 
Example in the 80's - microwave used to be a compound sign - "square" and "flash".  Then when more and more people acquired microwaves, it became a norm to use one sign "flash" with two hands. Just like a spoken language, we are learning new words all the time and automatically incorporate in our daily dialogs- few examples: wi-fi, emoji, internet, cell, etc. 

Make it a habit to memorize at least 10 new signs per day during the week. It's best to sign the new vocabulary in a full sentence and several different sentences. Take the weekend off to just review what you've memorized. 
Apply the new sign in various different sentences on purpose to help your muscle memory to retain the new vocabulary/concept. 

If you forget a few signs -- add it to your new list, where you have 13 signs to memorize in the next week.  
Use a regular ASL Dictionary and go through each page. 
Or jot down any topic that you're struggling with and go over it with me and I'll demonstrate how to apply that new concept into accurate grammatically correct ASL sentence. 

2.  How often do you need to go over a homework assignment- such as sentences or a story? 

You need to practice signing all the sentences until you're fluent. 

3.  How do I know when I am fluent? 

Being fluent means: 

A. ASL grammar 100% correct. 
B. Smooth movements with arms/hands/fingers
C. Body is relaxed & still & accurate posture
D. Keep your composure entirely
E.  All ASL Parameters Errors fixed 
1. Hand shapes
2.  Palm Orientation
3.  Non-Manuel Signals/Emoting/Mouth Morphemes
4.  Location
5.  Movement

Some students complain that a slight imperfections is not a big deal. Oh really? Si of i Was to writ liki this, wood this buther you? (Translation: So if I was to write like this, would this bother you?)

If you're aiming to be an ASL interpreter, you need to be at least 98% accurate. We're in the professional field where we handle delicate private information from Deaf customers at important appointments or at classes that requires accurate information to pass a course and so on. Some interpreter's seemingly innocent mistake can create serious hardship for both Deaf folks and the hearing person they're interpreting for. 

Thus the need to put more effort in paying attention to your ASL Parameters. This is the number one issues that puts signers in the beginner's level and an ASL Interpreter in the amateur level if you are below 98% accurate. 

F.  Strive to do your best.
What does this mean? Avoid being a perfectionist where some folks get too distracted in making sure everything is 1000% perfect. Perfectionists need not to apply. 
Wait for a Deaf person to show a puzzle facial expression to determine if your finger-talked word or signed sentence was clear. If they look passive and still nodding, it means they got your drift. If they have a "What?" Look --- then you may want to repeat that one word, try to avoid repeating the entire sentences. 
Avoid being too defensive. This is where adaptibility comes in. Copy the expert's demonstration and mimic until it looks the same. 
Avoid being lazy. Post-poning your studies will only create stress upon yourself and can lead to failing a class or failing an exam for a state certificate. 

G.  Bite-sized chunks.  
Work on what areas that you need to work on the most first. Have a lot to work on? Fine, divide the hour into 15 minutes increments. 15 minutes to work on #FT; 15 minutes for receptive ASL practice through videos; 15 for hands on interpreting practice from a video; and finally 15 minutes for ASL conversation with a skilled ASL Tutor/Mentor. Take a break and continue through out the day until all the hours that you need to study, practice, memorize and rehearse until you're looking snazzy. 

H.  But every ASL teacher teaches differently. Who is right and who is wrong? 
This drives me insanely crazy too. I don't understand why so many ASL teachers teaches the same ASL courses differently. Ego? Maybe not trained properly? Maybe the department requires different goals in what they think is appropriate to learn. Whatever... just learn whatever the teacher teaches you so you can pass the course with a good grade - A or B. Then study how Deaf individuals in your work setting signs and ADAPT. To be a skillfull ASL signer and/or interpreter - you gotta be adaptable. 

I.  How long should I study?
Studying in ASL is not just sitting down and reading books like most courses requires. With ASL, it needs to be hands-on and eyes-on (my term I just now invented, grins!) and interactive with living breathing human beings fluent in ASL. 
When I studied advanced ASL in Level 5 Course - we were studying BIrds of a Different Feather. I had to memorize one scene by heart. We had two weeks to memorize. I have the worse memory skills ever (thanks to hashimoto's thyroiditis and ADD and dyslexia). So I found out that I had to watch the video and mimic it many times. Then I had to test my memory one sentence at a time.  If I forgot, I'd rewatch the video and repeat it until I got it right. By the end of the week, I realized it took me 20 "rehearsals" to have it firmly imprinted in my mind per day. Two weeks later, I was fluent in signingly smoothly this one portion of the story. The Deaf ASL teacher has us all share our pieces of stories in order as we stood in a circle - that was so much fun. There were a few students who didn't bother to learn their part and it created an uncomfortable smooth sailing of taking our turns. They failed the assignment.
Ended up I got an "A" in that class. As a Deaf student, it was still hard for me and I had to put 20 rehearsals a day. Do what you got to do to be smoothe as butter. 

Good enough is not enough. 
You need to be FLUENT. To be fluent for some may mean many hours per day. 
Remember ASL Interpreters - if you're planning to interpret 8 hours a day for a living. You can put in at least 4 hours of practice to get you perfected so you can pass your exams. 

ASL students - if you want a Deaf person to feel comfortable around you & vice versa - you need to show sincere effort to improve your all of your skills until you're fluent. 

So put in 4 hours or more daily --- if you still find yourself still struggling- add one more hour.  

Here is a true story of my learning journey after many years of not being in college - I have learning differences - ADD, dyslexia and dyscalculia and the worse memory ever.
In order for me to pass my Social Science course - I realized I literally needed to study 7 hours per day. My learning differently brain takes longer to process and MEMORIZE information accurately. My first exam, I got a B in it while about 30 other students failed. Albeit, studying that much put too much stress on my body and I had to withdraw as with chronic fatigue and Fibromyalgia and Hashimoto's disease -- I no longer can attend college. I love learning but there's a limit my body can handle. However, at my own pace, I continue to push myself to learn certain skills (whatever they are, doesn't matter) and keep at it until I get it. 

Some of you may need to put in extra hours. So be patient with yourself and keep at it and it will gel. 

J.  I don't feel confident yet. 

You don't need confidence. What does this word mean exactly?
(I Googled this up online)

You need patience, willingess, flexibility, adapatability and stick-to-it attitude.
Not feeling assured with yourself? Appreciate what you have already learned thus far. You got this far, you can go further. Heck, if I could do it, so can anyone else. 
Does a baby who has been crawling for many months give up when it's learning how to walk? No, they continue, all the while making huge mistakes - smacking their poor heads into furniture, falling down backwards, plopping forward, body getting all wobbly as hey almost lose balance, etc. They keep at it until they're walking - then watch them walk really fast to what they desire to explore & watch their faces light up. 

Like a doting parent, I love seeing my ASL students faces light up with recognization, "Oh! I get it now!"

Keep your mind and emotions blank --- and just rehearse, rehearse, rehearse. 
Learning ASL is not linear --- it's actually like a spiral as it consists of learning many multi-dimensional levels of sign language. 
Then take small actions to improve your skills. 
Don't know what you need improvement with or how?
​That is where a professional Mentor or tutor can assist. 
Then do your homework faithfully and entirely.  

I had three ASL student one year - one needed 2 years of meeting with me on weekly basis. The second one needed 1 year. The third one stuck with me for 6 months and I'm proud to say that they all pass the qualifying exam. Put in the time, and you'll shine! 

For those who are currently my ASL student now, if you read this far, you will get one DVD to rent for free in your next session! Thank you for your passion in learning ASL - for we are preserving a living language for Deaf community today and tomorrow. 

RaVen Sequoia
ASL Master Mentor/Tutor/Deaf Interpreter 

<![CDATA[April 2017: Spring pah here! ]]>Fri, 14 Apr 2017 18:24:19 GMThttp://www.aslmastertutor.com/my-blog/april-2017-spring-pah-herePicture
At last, spring is finally here, at least in Columbus, Ohio.  Flowers are blooming here and there on trees, bushes & fields in various places. 
Hope you're all getting outside as much as possible to soak in the warm air, sunshine & friends. 

For today's blog - I'm going to cover something I find real important for amateur ASL interpreters to notice.

I came upon this important law from Oregon state that sums up skills that professional ASL interpreters need to be aware of: 
  1. According to ORS 45.275(9)(c), a “qualified interpreter” is: “a person who is readily able to communicate with the non-English-speaking person and who can orally transfer the meaning of statements to and from English and the language spoken by the non-English-speaking person. A qualified interpreter must be able to interpret in a manner that conserves the meaning, tone, level, style and register of the original statement, without additions or omissions. ‘Qualified interpreter’ does not include any person who is unable to interpret the dialect, slang or specialized vocabulary used by the party or witness.” 
As you see in bold letters - the key words were "meaning, tone, level, style and register of the ORIGINAL statement, without additions or omissions." 

A lot of amateur interpreters wonder why it takes about a good solid 1 to 2 years to mentor with me when they can only commit a few hours per month. Research has proven that 4 hours per week is best amount of hours to master a foreign language - may I add, that is also IF a person is able to retain all new skills they've learned & apply it fluently and with a lot of practice to upkeep. 

Because most ASL students cannot just swallow up 1,000 of new words/signs and ASL concepts in few hours...it will require a lot of time to sift through multiple layers of processing, synthesizing and expressing complex English information into ASL and vice versa---- however, I understand and respect very busy adult students who are full time schooling, parents, and working a full schedule. But I do get tired when people are suspicious that I am out for their money which is not the case at all... I expect my ASL students to be high advanced level according to the ACTFL gauge. 

Because I don't want to lecture people when I am training them - they may sometimes assume I am not teaching anything important. Many times when I point out the same issues that keep cropping over over months or a year or so - it's because the students needs to drop that bad habit or add a new better skill to get ahead. 

So with great ORS 45.275(9)(c) law - a "qualified interpreter" must be able to interpreter fluently the meaning, tone, level, style and register of the original statement, without addition or omissions. 

So when I observe an interpreter, I am watching for all of these skills that you have to FLUENTLY demonstrate. This is A LOT to cover and a lot to remember and apply. 

So always ask yourself: 
1.  Is my meaning the same as what the spoken message is conveyed?
2.  How is my tone matching to the presenter's tone?
3.  Am I using the appropriate level?
4.  What style do I need to apply for this deaf customer/s?
5.  Am I using the correct register for this lecture?
and the most important:
6.  Am I omitting very important details?
7.  Am I adding unnecessary "fluff" or untrue details that does not belong in my interpreted performance?

Apply this daily in your homework and it will surely speed up your learning progress. 


<![CDATA[﻿March 2017: Spring is almost here...]]>Wed, 22 Mar 2017 03:05:09 GMThttp://www.aslmastertutor.com/my-blog/march-2017-spring-is-almost-here
It's been a long crazy winter with Global Warming affecting our environment. It's not good for the fibromyalgia that I suffer every time the shocking and abrupt temperature drops - it immediately wears my thyroid glands out and makes my musculoskeletal system ache horribly. 

I got to attend to the annual Deaf Women of Ohio's Tea Party. Volunteered with decorating and photographing the party. It was a lot of work running around photographing everything the chairperson requested me to take but I was glad to be of some help. 

Other than that, not much news really - as I have not been able to get any local ASL students to tutor as many schools and organizations provides free tutoring or other ASL tutors have steady customers attend to them. As a new face here in this fairly new city, I have a ways to go in getting new local students. I even applied for some ASL teaching jobs but was turned down, for unknown reasons. 

So when Convo Relay Inc will lay me off in the end of June - I will have to sadly find another part-time steady income job and it will affect my day schedule with my long distance ASL students who wishes to meet with me during mornings or early afternoons.  But since ASL tutoring has never been a steady source of stable income, it's a passion of mine and always will be -- but I need a stable source of income that keeps a roof over my head and food on the table and pays for expensive thyroid medicine that the insurance does not cover, etc. 

Today, I will now share you a fun free online service that allows deaf and hard of hearing people test their hearing range by themselves. It's fascinating. I discovered I lost some more hearing (which doesn't bother me at all. The more the merrier I become as I find certain environmental noises irritating anyway!) 


Anyway, from now (March 21, 2017) to June 30th, 2017 --- my schedule can fit in about at least 5 more ASL students per week. If there is any Columbus, OH folks that needs a private ASL tutoring via in person or web-cam - feel free to make an appointment with me. I miss tutoring people in person! 


RaVen Sequoia 
<![CDATA[Happy Winter Solstice & Happy New Year]]>Tue, 27 Dec 2016 06:15:33 GMThttp://www.aslmastertutor.com/my-blog/happy-winter-solstice-happy-new-year
Hope everyone had a nice holiday.  Life has kept me pretty busy as I adjust to living in Columbus, Ohio.

On the left, you'll see my darling Ziggy, my hearing service dog, posing so seriously in front of the holiday tree.  I have to learn to use the white device to brighten dim room and a black furry dog.

I'm hoping to get a small teaching job for ASL Level 1 at DSC next month. Deaf Service Center offers free ASL classes for local Columbus students - only need to pay $30.00 for materials. I look forward to applying my successful techniques (TPR, using props, role playing, Language Hunter's techniques, etc). 
I can only do my best and hope they'll find it fun to learn. 

I still offer private ASL tutoring or mentoring service for local folks needing extra help. Email me for an appointment - Tues to Friday - 10am to 5pm EST. Wed nights are reserved for ASL classes.
First come, first served.

Have a productive, healthy, fun, adventurous 2017 everyone!

RaVen & Ziggy

<![CDATA[Happy Thanksgiving]]>Wed, 23 Nov 2016 21:23:19 GMThttp://www.aslmastertutor.com/my-blog/happy-thanksgiving
It's been a wild ride as I adjust living in Columbus, Ohio.  

I am thankful to have a roof over my head and two kind housemates. 
Yesterday, I moved my "office" from one end of the basement to the other and I feel much more productive. 
Now I just need new shelves to organize my books and then things will feel just right. 

Due to the holidays, I'm keeping this blog very short.  
I  want to repeat that I am now located in Columbus, Ohio - Franklin County.  
For any ASL students, ASL interpreters, and/or hearing parents with deaf or hearing babies - I'm available from Tuesday to Friday - 10am to 5pm EST - first come, first serve. 
My hourly rate is $27/hour - pay once a month for however amount of lessons you'd like. 

If you refer a friend to  me, you'll get $5.00 off in your next lesson! 

Feel free to spread the word around of a new Deaf ASL Tutor and Mentor available in Columbus, Ohio.

For ASL students in the North America or even in other countries - if you have a high-speed internet, a good web-cam and a reliable computer --- make an appointment with me via email: aslmastertutor(at)gmail.com

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

RaVen Sequoia