90 HAWAII PARENT September/October 2024 something that interests you motivates you to use the language to talk to others about it.” No matter your child’s skill set or ability, centering signed language around an adventure with family over a chore can help make the learning actually stick! Through immersion and family fun, plenty of learning can be accomplished. “Sign up together for classes taught by a Deaf person. Make friends and look for fun family-friendly Deaf events. When a child finds themselves surrounded by signing hands, it won’t be long before they discover their own”. like to start with phrases that a child wants to know and is excited to learn. A younger child might want to learn about zoo animals. The Hawaii Deaf community has done events at the zoo. An older child might be interested in sports or hobbies.” Most Importantly, Fun As someone who teaches senior-aged students, Hsia has found that it is a no-brainer to include food, another bridge to different lives and forms of communication. “The Deaf Olympics was last March in Turkey. Almost everyone loves to talk about food. I find that planning events around food really breaks down barriers. Learning “Learning sign language becomes an adventure when it's centered around interests and family fun, turning communication into an exciting and engaging experience for children and adults alike."
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTcxMjMwNg==