See Laura's Thoughts regarding Blog # 1

Hi reader!
My name is Laura, and this is my very first blog for English 495ESM. My hopes are to become an English teacher for Deaf students. It is my goal to teach them in their native language, American Sign Language (ASL). Because I will be teaching in my second language, my fear is that I will not be as clear to my students as a native signer. I believe Deaf students should have the same opportunities to learn English as hearing students, and they should be able to learn without becoming bogged down by communication issues. By achieving fluency in ASL, I will be able to provide them with the opportunity to learn directly from their teacher without losing precious time in repairing errors made because of miscommunication. Technology will play an important role in my class. The internet provides an amazing amount of information, and students will most likely use the internet to research papers and find information for upcoming presentations and assignments. For a Deaf student, the internet is a vital tool, providing students with the ability to contact other students and the teacher. I would like to provide a place online for the class to come together. Film could be used to support or expand the student's learning, but as the teacher, I must be careful to choose media that has closed captioning or English subtitles. As Deaf students are often incorporated into classrooms with hearing students and teachers who do not know ASL, my hope is that more teachers will become aware of the needs of their Deaf students. Although the teachers may not be able to communicate in the language of their Deaf students, I hope they will be able to respect ASL, and provide a classroom environment that includes and respects the Deaf student.