Your story

Why do you want to learn Sign Language? Do you know someone who is deaf or partially deaf? Are you deaf yourself? Is Sign Language a language that you wanted to learn for a long time or is it a newly discovered passion? We would love to hear your story...

Hi I have joined the Rocket Sign Language journey to better enhance my sign language skills. I am a hearing person married to a deaf individual. My sign has become stagnated and really not learning anymore very well at all. My wife and I need to improve our communication and I am in hopes that this learning package will do just that for us. We have been married just over 2 years now and my sign is still lagging :D I have just joined today 1/23/09 and looking forward to testing your product and learning to communicate with ASL more fluent. Thank you

Hi there, that's great. All the best for your Sign Language learning. I'm sure your wife will appreciate the efforts you make to learn this beautiful language. Please let us know how you get on. :D

Hello, I have just purchased this program. I am a hearing person, but have met the person of my dreams. But they are deaf. I am tired of text messaging them and not understanding their friends. I want to be able to communicate with them, and let them know how much in love I am. I want to be able to share and express the happiness I have found. My friends can all hear, and I have limited contact with the deaf community. However I would like to be able to enjoy their friendship as well. My friends think I am nuts to date a deaf person, they do not understand that love doesn't have boundaries, except those that we as humans place on it, and I do not want communication to be a boundary. I look so forward to learning and to this adventure, thank you for making it easy to start. Shane

Hi Shane, congratulations! The language of love doesn't know any boundaries and I'm sure you will be able to pick up signing quicker than you think. Especially if love is your motivation and you and your partner can practice together. All the best for your Sign Language learning and enjoy the course! :D

Hi I’m Julie, I must admit I’m very keen to get started on my ASL adventure! I live in North Carolina and my congregation is looking for someone to learn signing, so I volunteered. There’s a young man who attends our church with his family who cannot hear. I want to help him understand the service. I pretty well have the alphabet down pat and know some common phrases, but was looking for some websites that feature signed hymns. Does anyone know of any reputable sources? I work at signing most days, I even poise in front of the mirror to see if it looks right! I’m not quite ready to sign at my church, but I don’t think it has to be word- for- word, just a sense of what’s being said. Has anyone here participated in signing at their church? I’d love to chat with you, as I’m a bit nervous. Thanks very much, Julie Wade.

Hey there, I’d like to learn some Sign Language because my grandfather has lost his hearing. I think if I can teach him a few signs, he may feel better, even empowered by being able to communicate with his peers. My folks found a support group for him nearby the retirement village his live in Michigan. The Deaf group is with other ppl his age who can no longer hear. He goes when my dad takes him, but he doesn’t know how to sign. Because he could hear all of his life he seems to get by reading lips, or at least has an idea. I think he wants to learn, but is a bit intimidated at having to, especially at his age. For someone who wants to communicate with Deaf people, what are some of the first signs they should use? I think if I get him started and a bit confident, he’ll want to continue. Any advice would be appreciated, Ben.

Hi there, you could start by teaching him the alphabet, that way he will be able to say every word, it just takes a bit longer. If he finds it hard to use his hand or fingers I would recommend teaching him a few essential words first. I'm sure that once he gets the hang of it and realizes how easily he will be able to communicate then he will feel more confident. You could teach him I want, I need, I would like I don't want, I don't need and I don't like Then he can point to whatever he wants or fingerspell it. You can then extend it to Nice to see you, hello, good bye, happy, sad, unwell, hungry, thirsty, tired, relaxed, please, thank you, etc I hope that helps

When I was in junior high and high school I though I was going deaf, because I couldn't hear the person right next to me sitting on the gym bleachers. It turns out I have an auditory processing disorder. My brain can't keep up with what the ears are sending it, so it makes up words to try to keep pace. I learned to look at people's lips when they speak and I didn't use the phone much. A deaf man I got acquainted with in college introduced me to text relay after I bought a TTY to communicate with him (and new deaf acquaintances at church). I used it for a while and then discovered that I could say a lot more using e-mail. Since I found relay to be a little slow and since I didn't call anybody except family, most of whose voices did not give me any problems, I stopped using relay and relied on e-mail and telephone amplifiers for 10 years. Then, I started giving care to a senior citizen who requires many calls to docs, nurses, therapists, pharmacists, etc. Out came the TTY. Finally, a new deaf friend called me via video relay. Well, that was interesting, because I had to play the part of a hearing individual and listen to a female relay agent. The FCC does not allow video relay to call TTY users through text relay. My deaf friend has gotten rid of his TTY so I can't call him up on the text telephone. Text relay calls for my senior patient were taking forever, so I got in touch with a couple of Video Relay Services (one for a TV set top video phone and one for a wireless video phone). Thankfully, the VRS that installed the set top box allows me to hear the other party when I make a voice carry over call. However, I'm not sure if the VRS who sold me the wireless video phone will do the same thing, since that VP hasn't arrived, yet. Hmmm. . . . Anyway, I'm finding the interpreters easier to understand since running through the dictionary of Rocket Sign Language. I'm changing a lot of my ten-year-old (and wrong) signs after seeing them demonstrated in video. In fact, sometimes I don't even use VCO (voice carry over), now, if my call is a short one. I know it's cliche, but "Thanks Rocket Sign Language!" <huge grin> Melvin

I am learning ASL as I have a deaf friend. Was wondering if anyone would like to practice with me on skype? We live in the Bahamas in a remote area so not much chance of me joining clubs. The connection may not be good enough at times but hay I am willing to give it a go if anyone else is also willing. Thanks Linda

Hi Linda! I would love to practice with you on Skype. I just signed up for Rocket Language but have been learning ASL off and on for over a year now. I am working on regularity since my son is learning ASL for his school elective. I also think that I may progress faster if I have someone to communicate with regularly that has the same goal of learning, like me. I don't have a deaf friend but teaching deaf people the Bible is what is motivating me. Aloha, Henedina