Hello everyone,

This is just a bit of QandA I did a while back, for some reason my blog wasn't allowing me to post this video. I have it figured out now. I am on a bicycle tour through Europe for the next 4 months. I am going to start posting more videos soon. I know I kind of fell off the face of the earth, but right now I am trying to reply to a lot of your comments. Keep them coming, I have gotten a lot of great advice and I am taking it all into consideration for my videos to come. Thank you everyone. Happy signing!

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Here's a video of me signing / singing Free Fallin' in ASL. This is a basic description of the difference between signing songs in American Sign Language and conversational American Sign Language. I signed Free Fallin' by Tom Petty for my last Sign Language final in college. It was a blast! I really wanted to record it that day along with some of my other fellow students and freinds. Alas, I forgot to charge my camera sooo…here we go. Haha. I hope you enjoy and feel free to … sign or sing along!

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WHOA…here is the last video in the series. Sorry it took forever.

I am unofficially – officially done with my undergraduate career at Michigan State University. So get ready for a summer of awesomeness here at Talk With Your Hands.

In October I will be touring Spain on my bicycle. During that time I will try to find some of the Spanish Deaf commiunity. I'd like to see how SSL differs from ASL.

In the mean time. Practice Practice Practice and I will see you all later!

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Now you'll start to see how these all of this comes together in a greeting. I just gave you some basic questions and phrases to say. You do not have to adhere to these particular questions or responses. Make it your own!! Let me know if you have any questions or comments!! I realize that these videos are presenting a lot of new information. If there is anything you'd like me to elaborate on, I'd be happy to do so.

See you next time for Part 4 of 4!

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Part 2 of 4! Wooo!

CORRECTION: I just realized that when I sign "they" and "them" I don't point across. Well, I do, but its very subtle and doesn't come through on the video. Make sure that when you sign "they", "them" and "their's" you point across. Don't just point. When you talk about multiple people you want to bring your index finger and/or palm across, indicating there is more than one person.

Sorry for the confusion, but it is a simple correction.

Have a great day, and I'll see you tomorrow!!

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Hey Everyone,

Everyday this week I'll post a new video in the rest of this video series. Spend time on each video. I set up what the content of these videos will be like in part 1, so this one will be really easy to get through. Tomorrow I'll talk about pronouns and possessives in ASL and it will all start to come together.

By the end of the video series you'll be able to understand what I sign in the beginning of Part 1!!

Keep up the practice and I'll see you tomorrow!

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Hey everyone,

I hope you enjoy the blurry video.  This is a video of MSU's Sign Language IV class signing the National Anthem at the MSU vs. UofM woman's basketball game on February 19th, 2009. I am the person in the dark green shirt all the way to the left, next to the U of M basketball players.

I just wanted to post this because I had a lot of fun doing it with my ASL class. A bunch of students from the Michigan School for the Deaf came and I had the opportunity to sign with some of them. They were all very supportive and came in good spirits. Many people in the Deaf community are very willing to communicate with you in Sign Language, no matter what level you are or how much you know. Most of them are just thrilled that you are learning a language that can provide so many good connections and relationships between the Hearing and Deaf communities. I also met a wonderful girl named Ashley who attends MSD and she gave me a sign name which was super duper exciting!!! I'll be sure to incorporate my sign name in my future videos and give you all a little background on what sign names are and what they can mean.

One thing I'd like to note about signing songs in American Sign Language: Songs in ASL don't necessarily have to follow proper ASL grammar. Many times, songs are signed based on personal preference. My instructor, Marta Belsky made this version up herself. Signing songs are a great way to express yourself and a lot of times, you may see the same song signed completely different between two people, this is based on their preferences and how they like to express the lyrics.

Be sure to come back later this week, I finally figured out my youtube problems and will be more consistent about posting from here on out. I learned some great tips from some knowledgeable internet marketers at a meeting this weekend.

Keep practicing because in the next post I'll be teaching you introductions and greetings in sign language.

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YES! Video is up!

This one is pretty self explanatory. Pay attention to the direction my hand faces for numbers 1-5 and 5-10, this is very important. I will post more complex numbers in weeks to follow. Numbers are slightly difficult for some to learn, but I have confidence in every one of you.

Remember: PRACTICE, be a student AND a teacher.

See you all next week, we'll start to get into basic greetings in sign language. This is where the real fun begins!

Sorry about the lack of updates this week! I'm having an exceptionally hard time uploading my videos to youtube. I am trying hard to fix this problem, so bare with me! In the mean time, I thought I'd share an article from the State News (Michigan State University's student run newspaper) that talks about the all ASL speaking floor in Snyder-Phillips dormitory. Its a fabulous new cultural edition to student life here at MSU and my fellow ASL classmates, instructors and I helped petition to make it happen last year. Every Sunday and Wednesday nights there is a Signing Spartans meeting that takes place in the dorm's common room. This is a fantastic achievement that benefits deaf, hard of hearing and ASL speaking students. Even though no deaf students live on the floor yet, it's a great way to bring the Hearing and Deaf communities together. Just stop on by if you come with an open mind and with open…hands…

Living To Learn

Notice the glorious remarks made about UofM MUAHAHAHHA

Wish me luck in uploading these videos.

Keep practicing that alphabet! Start spelling people know, places you visit and things you see. Challenge yourself, teach the alphabet to a friend

See you later.

-Kristen

:)

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Hey Everyone,

Welcome Back!! I hope my video of the ASL alphabet gives you all a good feel for using your hands and understanding some basics of sign language. Just a few things about the alphabet…

• K and P are the same finger formation- K is upright and P is down
• G and Q are the same finger formation- G is to the side and Q is down
• Fun Fact: the American Sign Language letter for T is a derogatory symbol in French Sign Language. Sooo…if you ever run across a person who speaks FSL – don't throw up a T, they may not like it.

One thing that I cannot stress enough: PRACTICE FINGER SPELLING!!!! Do it EVERYDAY. It is a huge huge huge huge part of Signing. Knowing how to finger spell effectively will help maximize your overall singing potential. Once you know the alphabet, start finger spelling everything you see. Do it on your break at work, at home, on the toilet…whenever/wherever you want.

Make sure you annunciate as well, no Sloppy Hands – a syndrome I suffer from sometimes

If you want more practice, visit this great site: Finger Spelling Practice This site will not only help you with your own abilities but also give you practice in watching finger spelled words so that when you start singing with others you will be a pro.

Good luck, everyone! Get yourself a signing buddy and study up!