View source for Helping Children Who Are Deaf:Learning to sign

{{bctrail|segments=3|chaptitle=Chapter 8: Learning to use a sign language}}
{{DISPLAYTITLE:Learning to sign}}
{{SideSupplement|bookabbreviation=hcwad|pagealt=is from<br> pages 89 to 94 of|chapterpdf=http://hesperian.org/wp-content/uploads/pdf/en_hcwd_2024/en_hcwd_2024_08.pdf|bookurl=Helping Children Who Are Deaf|booktitle=Helping Children Who Are Deaf}}
{{chaptertoc|In this chapter:|
<ul class{{=}}"noprint">
<li>[[Helping Children Who Are Deaf:Chapter 8: Learning to use a sign language|Chapter 8: Learning to use a sign language]]
</li>
  <li>[[Helping Children Who Are Deaf:Help your child learn different kinds of signs|Help your child learn different kinds of signs]]</li>
  <li>[[Helping Children Who Are Deaf:Learning to sign|Learning to sign]]</li>
  <li>[[Helping Children Who Are Deaf:Understanding groups of signs|Understanding groups of signs]]</li>
  <li>[[Helping Children Who Are Deaf:Using groups of signs|Using groups of signs]]</li>
  <li>[[Helping Children Who Are Deaf:Teaching sign language to parents of deaf children|Teaching sign language to parents of deaf children]]</li>
</ul>
}}
When your child sees people around her using sign language to communicate she will begin to use signs herself. Remember that some signs are easier to use than others. 
<table width:"30%" style="float:right; line-height:110%;">
<tr>
<td style="padding-left:20px;">[[Image:HCWD_Ch8_Page_89-1.png|right|70px|alt=A hand demonstrating how to sign.]]</td>
<td>[[Image:HCWD_Ch8_Page_89-2.png|right|70px|alt=A hand demonstrating how to sign.]]</td></tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding-left:20px;">''This shape<br> is easier.''</td>
<td style="padding-left:20px;">''This shape is<br> more difficult.''</td></tr></table>

When a child learns to sign, she first learns where to put her hands. Then she learns to move her hands in the right way and, finally, to shape her hand and fingers correctly. 

Your child is not going to make every sign exactly right. At first, you may not even be able to understand the sign. But praise her for trying, and do not be too anxious about her signing clearly.

====''Ways to encourage your child to begin using signs''====
<ol style="font-weight: bold;">
<li><span style="font-weight: normal;">
Watch for the messages she is already sending through gestures, sounds, and expressions on the&nbsp;face. <br><br>
<div style="margin-left:50px;">[[Image:HCWD_Ch8_Page_89-3.png|left|210px|alt=A girl looks up at her older brother as she points to a pitcher.]]</div></span></li> {{clr}}

<div style="margin-top: 1.5em;"></div>
<li><span style="font-weight: normal;">
Give her the sign for the message she is sending.</span></li>
<div style="position: relative; height:160px; width: 325px; text-align: center; font-style: italic; line-height: 110%; float:left;font-weight: normal; margin-top:1em;">[[Image:HCWD_Ch8_Page_89-4.png|center|170px|alt=A boy signing to his little sister.]]
<div style="position: absolute; width: 115px; top: 7px; left: 70px;">Drink. </div></div>
<br><br><br>
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<div class="page-break"></div>
<li><span style="font-weight: normal;">
Emphasize the sign, and repeat it several times. Encourage her to imitate you.
<br>
<div class{{=}}speechbub style="position: relative; height:220px; width: 280px;  float:left;font-weight: normal; margin-right:20px;top:35px;">[[Image:HCWD_Ch8_Page_89-5.png|right|200px|alt=A boy and his little sister signing to each other.]]
<div style="position: absolute; width: 115px; top: 32px; left: 100px;text-align:left;">Drink?</div>
<div style="position: absolute; width: 115px; top: 8px; left:180px;text-align:left;">That's right, <br>Fatima, drink!</div></div>
<br>
If she tries to imitate you, praise her. If she does not make the sign in the right way, do not correct her. Instead, simply repeat the correct sign.
</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-weight: normal;">When your child has learned a sign, encourage her to use it often. <br>Find ways to include it in your everyday activities.
</span></li>
</ol>
<br>
<div  class{{=}}speechbub style="position: relative; height:200px; width: 425px; float:left;font-weight: normal;">[[Image:HCWD_Ch8_Page_89-6.png|center|200px|alt=A woman signing to her daughter, who holds a cup near her doll’s mouth.]]
<div style="position: absolute; width: 115px; top: 9px; left: 259px;text-align:left;">Dolly<br> drinks!</div></div>



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Ask questions that can be answered with a single sign. 

<table cellspacing="0" style="width:125px; margin-right:35px;" align="right">
<tr>
<td valign="top" style="border-top:1px solid; border-right:1px solid; border-left:1px solid; padding-left:10px; padding-right:10px; padding-top:6px;">[[Image:HCWD_Ch8_Page_90-2.png|center|80px]]</td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td valign="bottom" style="border-right:1px solid; border-left:1px solid; border-bottom:1px solid; padding-bottom:2px; padding-left:10px; padding-right:10px; text-align:center;">want</td></tr>

<tr>
<td style="border-right:1px solid; border-left:1px solid; padding-left:10px; padding-right:10px; padding-top:6px;">[[Image:HCWD_Ch8_Page_90-3.png|center|80px]]
</td></tr>

<tr>
<td style="border-right:1px solid; border-left:1px solid; padding-bottom:2px; border-bottom:1px solid; padding-left:10px; padding-right:10px;" align="center">doll</td></tr>

<tr>
<td style="border-right:1px solid; border-left:1px solid; padding-left:10px; padding-right:10px; padding-top:6px;">[[Image:HCWD_Ch8_Page_90-4.png|center|80px]]
</td></tr>

<tr>
<td style="border-right:1px solid; border-left:1px solid; padding-bottom:2px; border-bottom:1px solid; padding-left:10px; padding-right:10px;" align="center">blanket</td></tr>
</table>
<div  class{{=}}speechbub style="position: relative; height:200px; width: 425px;  left:100px;">[[Image:HCWD_Ch8_Page_90-1.png|center|300px|alt=A man signing to his little girl.]]
<div style="position: absolute; width: 110px; top: 12px; left:258px;text-align:left;">Do you want your doll or blanket?</div></div>
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<div  class{{=}}speechbub style="position: relative; height:250px; width: 325px; float:left;">[[Image:HCWD_Ch8_Page_90-5.png|center|250px|alt=A small girl signing to her father.]]
<div style="position: absolute; width: 115px; top: 115px; left: 180px;text-align:left;">Doll.</div>
</div>
<br><br>
If your child answers, praise her. If your child does not answer: 
<div style="padding-left:325px;">
* she may not understand the sign. 
* she may not understand the idea of a question—that it needs an answer. </div>
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<br>
One way to teach your child about questions is to answer them for her at first. After a while she will get the&nbsp;idea. 

<table width="100%">
<td valign="top"><div class{{=}}speechbub  style="position: relative; height:200px; width: 300px;">[[Image:HCWD_Ch8_Page_90-6.png|right|230px|alt=A woman and a small girl in a garden signing to each other.]]
<div style="position: absolute; width: 135px; top: 6px; left: 80px;text-align:left;">How many squash do we need?</div>
<div style="position: absolute; width: 115px; top: 67px; left: 123px;text-align:left;">Squash?</div></div></td>
<td valign="bottom"><div class{{=}}speechbub  style="position: relative; height:200px; width: 300px;">[[Image:HCWD_Ch8_Page_90-7.png|left|200px]]
<div style="position: absolute; width: 115px; top: 6px; left: 10px;text-align:left;">We need<br> 2 squash.</div></div></td>
</table>

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====''How to encourage your child to communicate simple needs''==== 
<div  class{{=}}speechbub style="position: relative; height:240px; width: 294px; float:right;top:20px;">[[Image:HCWD_Ch8_Page_91-1.png|right|280px|alt=A woman signing to her daughter beside a basket of fruit.]]
<div style="position: absolute; width: 155px; top: 8px; left: 28px;text-align:left;">What do you want, Rani? Tell me in sign language.</div></div>
When your child wants something, she is more eager to learn a sign that will help her get what she wants. Here are some ideas for encouraging your child to use sign
language to communicate simple needs: 
* Whenever your child seems to want something, encourage her to sign for what she wants. 
* Create situations that need your child to ask for something. 

<div  class{{=}}speechbub style="position: relative; height:200px; width: 425px; float:left;">[[Image:HCWD_Ch8_Page_91-2.png|center|230px|alt=A boy signing to his father, who is holding a ball.]]
<div style="position: absolute; width: 115px; top: 20px; left: 237px;text-align:left;">Play <br>more?</div>
<div style="position: absolute; width: 155px; top: 150px; left: 375px; text-align:left;">Oscar’s father stopped their game until Oscar asked him to continue.</div></div>
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<br>
<br>
When your child uses a gesture that can mean different things, act confused. Encourage her to send a more specific message by giving you the sign. 
<table width="100%">
<td valign="top"><div class{{=}}speechbub  style="position: relative; height:150px; width: 300px;">[[Image:HCWD_Ch8_Page_91-3.png|right|230px|alt=A girl signing to her little sister, who points to a cup.]]
<div style="position: absolute; width: 115px; top: 9px; left: 161px;text-align:left;">Do you want your cup or ball?</div></div></td>
<td style="padding-top:10px;"><div class{{=}}speechbub  style="position: relative; height:200px; width: 300px;">[[Image:HCWD_Ch8_Page_91-4.png|left|225px]]
<div style="position: absolute; width: 155px; top: 10px; left: 76px;text-align:left;">Can you sign "cup"?</div>
<div style="position: absolute; width: 115px; top: 47px; left: 135px;text-align:left;">Cup.</div>
</div></td>
</table>
{{clr}}

====''How to help your child make and follow simple requests''====
As your child learns to recognize the names of objects, people, and activities, she can begin to understand simple requests you make. Begin with short requests. Emphasize the signs she already knows and use gestures to make the message more clear. Be sure to give your child enough time to respond and repeat the request if necessary. 
<br><br><div class="page-break"></div>
At first, make requests about objects or people she can see around her. 
<table cellspacing="0" style="float:right; margin-right:35px; margin-top:-30px; width:125px;">
<tr>
<td valign="top" style="border-top:1px solid; border-right:1px solid; border-left:1px solid; padding-left:10px; padding-right:10px; padding-top:6px;">[[Image:HCWD_Ch8_Page_92-2.png|center|90px]]</td></tr>

<tr>
<td valign="bottom" style="border-right:1px solid; border-left:1px solid; border-bottom:1px solid; padding-bottom:2px; padding-left:10px; padding-right:10px; text-align:center;">
bring</td></tr>

<tr>
<td style="border-right:1px solid; border-left:1px solid; padding-left:10px; padding-right:10px; padding-top:6px;">
[[Image:HCWD_Ch8_Page_92-3.png|center|80px]]
</td></tr>

<tr>
<td style="border-right:1px solid; border-left:1px solid; padding-bottom:2px; border-bottom:1px solid; padding-left:10px; padding-right:10px;" align="center">your</td></tr>

<tr>
<td style="border-right:1px solid; border-left:1px solid; padding-left:10px; padding-right:10px; padding-top:6px;">
[[Image:HCWD_Ch8_Page_92-4.png|center|80px]]
</td></tr>

<tr>
<td style="border-right:1px solid; border-left:1px solid; padding-bottom:2px; border-bottom:1px solid; padding-left:10px; padding-right:10px;" align="center">shirt
</td></tr>
</table>
<br>
<div  class{{=}}speechbub style="position: relative; height:200px; width: 525px; float:left;">[[Image:HCWD_Ch8_Page_92-1.png|center|320px|alt=A woman signing to her little girl in a garden.]]
<div style="position: absolute; width: 85px; top: 10px; left: 241px;text-align:left;">Ai, bring me your shirt.</div></div>
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<br>
<div  class{{=}}speechbub style="position: relative; height:230px; width: 425px;  float:right;">[[Image:HCWD_Ch8_Page_92-5.png|center|320px]]
<div style="position: absolute; width: 145px; top: 10px; left: 165px;text-align:left;">Ai, bring me some water, please.</div></div>
Then make requests about objects or people she cannot see, using signs you have taught her.
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<br>
<br>
<div  class{{=}}speechbub style="position: relative; height:250px; width: 425px; float:right;">[[Image:HCWD_Ch8_Page_93-1.png|center|300px|alt=3 children rolling a tire toward a girl.]]
<div style="position: absolute; width: 115px; top: 23px; left: 108px;text-align:left;">Play?</div>
<div style="position: absolute; width: 115px; top: 5px; left: 168px;text-align:left;">Yes, come play with us, Jama.</div></div>
Your child will soon learn to make requests herself. Everyone should encourage her when she tries to make&nbsp;requests. 
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====''Ways to encourage your child to learn more signs''====
The best way to help your child learn more signs is to communicate with her as much as you can &mdash;and to&nbsp;encourage her to send messages back to you.  Here are a few ideas forcommunicating throughout the&nbsp;day.
<table cellspacing="0" style="float:right; margin-right:35px; width:125px;">
<tr>
<td valign="top" style="border-top:1px solid; border-right:1px solid; border-left:1px solid; padding-left:6px; padding-right:6px; padding-top:6px;">[[Image:HCWD_Ch8_Page_93-3.png|center|70px]]</td></tr>

<tr>
<td valign="bottom" style="border-right:1px solid; border-left:1px solid; border-bottom:1px solid; padding-bottom:3px; padding-left:6px; padding-right:6px; text-align:center;">
your</td></tr>

<tr>
<td style="border-right:1px solid; border-left:1px solid; padding-left:6px; padding-right:6px; padding-top:6px;">
[[Image:HCWD_Ch8_Page_93-4.png|center|80px]]
</td></tr>

<tr>
<td style="border-right:1px solid; border-left:1px solid; padding-bottom:3px; border-bottom:1px solid; padding-left:6px; padding-right:6px;" align="center">pants
</td></tr>
</table> 

<table>
<td valign="top">
*Everyday activities are a good time to learn new signs. This gives a child a chance to use the same signs over and over.</td>

<td><div class{{=}}speechbub  style="position: relative; height:340px; width: 330px;float:right;">[[Image:HCWD_Ch8_Page_93-2.png|right|280px|alt=2 sisters sign to each other as they get dressed.]]
<div style="position: absolute; width: 175px; top: 11px; left: 74px;text-align:left;">What goes on next, <br>Mei Mei? Your pants?</div>
<div style="position: absolute; width: 115px; top: 61px; left: 267px;text-align:left;">Pants?</div>
<div style="position: absolute; width: 255px; top:270px; left:50px;text-align:left;">Always make sure your child is looking at you when you sign with her.</div></div></td>
</table>
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<div class="page-break"></div>
<div  class{{=}}speechbub style="position: relative; height:240px; width: 425px; ">[[Image:HCWD_Ch8_Page_93-5.png|left|280px|alt=A woman, her husband, and 2 children sitting on the floor as they prepare for a meal.]]
<div style="position: absolute; width: 115px; top: 5px; left: 122px;text-align:left;">Who’s this for? <br>Is it for Raj?</div>
<div style="position: absolute; width: 115px; top: 59px; left: 151px;text-align:left;">No!<br> Neela! </div></div>

* Make a mistake to encourage your child to correct you. Here, this child’s&nbsp;mother called her by her brother’s&nbsp;name. 
{{clr}}
Try making up games that include some new signs. For example, these children are playing a game to find hidden objects they can name by sign. At the same time they are learning some new signs.

<div  class{{=}}speechbub style="position: relative; height:260px; width: 675px; ">[[Image:HCWD_Ch8_Page_94-1.png|left|330px|alt=A girl signs to a group of girls and boys.]]
<div style="position: absolute; width: 135px; top: 8px; left: 123px;text-align:left;">See if you can find the cup, bottle, spoon, and can.</div>
</div>
{{clr}}
<div style="position: relative; height:200px; width: 675px;">[[Image:HCWD_Ch8_Page_94-2.png|center|330px|alt=The children searching for the objects.]]</div>

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{{Previous and next sections|Help your child learn different kinds of signs|Understanding groups of signs}}

[[en:Helping_Children_Who_Are_Deaf:Learning to sign]]
[[es:Helping_Children_Who_Are_Deaf:Cómo enseñarle a su hija a hacer señas]]
[[fr:Helping_Children_Who_Are_Deaf:Apprendre_à_faire_un_signe]]
[[vi:Helping_Children_Who_Are_Deaf:Học_cách_làm_kí_hiệu]]
[[zh:Helping_Children_Who_Are_Deaf:学习使用手语]]
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