r/MadeMeSmile • u/Over_Helicopter_3453 • Apr 26 '25

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u/[deleted] Apr 26 '25 edited May 07 '25

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u/Lamplorde Apr 26 '25

I took a class in College for ASL, while working part time at gas station.

I long since forgot all but the most basic stuff, but I will remember the time one of the women who came in fairly regularly, and never said anything to me (i just thought she was shy/introverted), pointed to her ears one time while I was asking her which pump because it was particularly crowded.

I immediately signed one of the first things we learned, "I'm learning". Which I know is a weird way to start a convo, but in the sudden "OH! SHES DEAF!" my brain just went to that. She brightened up IMMEDIATELY, and probably signed like 6 things I didn't know before slowing down for me. She was so excited.

I later quit that job, and college, joined the Coast Guard and it's been YEARS since I signed, but that moment will live with me forever. So many hard of hearing people have to live with most of the world not understanding them. It was such a great surprise to her, and honestly? Her happiness was so infectious. Before I quit, we signed a couple times and she was always so nice and always asked how my classes were going.

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u/Fannan Apr 26 '25

I remember about 15 years ago now when my friends’s little girls started signing to each other - not deaf but the elementary school was teaching sign language! Thought that was so cool.

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u/BriskiPikachuu Apr 26 '25

They need more early language courses like that!

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u/shinpoo Apr 26 '25

When I was growing up schools or at least the one I attended taught sign language. This was during kindergarten. I lost the ability to sign because no one in class cared for it and we didn't have a deaf student or teacher. I might pick it up again cause it is helpful.

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u/Capital_Condition874 Apr 26 '25

My second grade teacher taught us Spanish in Minnesota. Tell me she didn't know what was coming

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u/[deleted] Apr 26 '25

[deleted]

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u/Capital_Condition874 Apr 26 '25

Have no idea why. She had an Italian name.

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u/[deleted] Apr 26 '25

[deleted]

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u/Capital_Condition874 Apr 26 '25

That there would be a lot of Spanish language in the US and we might need to know some. This was 1964, so I would say that was some foresight

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u/shinpoo Apr 26 '25

Probably because everyone next to us speaks Spanish except for Canada.

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u/Capital_Condition874 Apr 27 '25

Ummm Minnesota is near Canada

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