Savannah started
an online ASL course when I home schooled the girls for the 2018-2019 school
year in Latvia. She liked it, but she started loving it
when she started learning songs and she went from learning isolated words to
forming sentences and phrases. And who doesn't love to learn the lines to
music? That's kind of how it is with learning any new language; music
takes the interest and vocabulary to a whole new level.
Amazingly enough, when we went to register her for 8th grade here in Virginia, we
found out that they were starting a new ASL course at the middle school and
high school this year! We couldn't believe our luck! After a month
or so of school, I met with her ASL teacher, Ms. K., for a parent teacher
conference. She had nothing but praises for Savannah and said "she's
a natural" and "has real potential to be an interpreter or whatever
she wants to do with ASL some day if that's what she wants to do." I
had felt that too, but I didn't know if that was my motherly bias, so it was
good to hear from a professional ASL interpreter and instructor. Ms. K also
said that Savannah is always willing to help the other students in the class
and that the other students have asked if Savannah could substitute
for her if she ever had to miss a day of school. :)
The first songs Savannah started to learn were from
the movie "The Greatest Showman." She has a favorite lady on
YouTube that has taught her most of these songs. So recently she went
back to this lady to learn "A Million Dreams." Within a few
days, she had the song memorized. The
reason why I captured this video of Savannah signing, was because she was
actually having a hard afternoon on this particular day after school. She
was moody and feeling discouraged with how some things went at school and some
upcoming assignments. After trying to console, comfort and encourage her,
I left our apartment for 10 minutes and came back to find her signing this
song. She was so happy with a light in her eyes that I hadn't seen since
she had gotten home from school. Truly, ASL makes her happy! As her
parents, we are enjoying as we watch an "interest" develop into a
passion and a talent. I may have even teared up as I was recording. I love to see my kids happy doing what they
love!
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