He Flashes Me a Smile September 18, 2009
Posted by bookncurls in A Comment.Tags: ASL, Sign Language, teaching
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So I’m down on the field during the Homecoming football game for some public relations things I’m doing with our exchange teacher from Egypt. It’s fun because so many of my students are either players or cheerleaders, band, dancers, student government, or ROTC and doing push ups to the points scored. They’re in my sign language classes because a lot of them enjoy the visual and physical nature of it. They’re the active types, the performers and the team players. They’re fun to be around.
The players don’t have their names on their backs so I’m not always sure who is who. Then one of them turned my direction, pulled up his helmet so I could see his face and flashed me a great smile before jumping back in the game. Did I mention I love my job?
Incidentally, we won. 21-7
Prom Moment in ASL class April 4, 2009
Posted by bookncurls in A Comment.Tags: ASL
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I got to be part of a guy’s plan to ask a girl to Prom. I was a stop on his scavenger hunt before he revealed who he was. Very creative. I loved seeing both their faces light up. He planted the message in my room. I taped it to my board so everyone would see it. She lit up when she read the note but at my stop she still didn’t know who was behind it. She was told to meet him in the parking lot at 5:00pm. He even came back later to make sure I had followed through. I hope she said yes.
Counter-terrorism Simulation January 5, 2009
Posted by bookncurls in A Comment, Middle East.Tags: ASL, counterterrorism, Middle East
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Ok. So we’re doing a counter-terrorism simulation in two of my ASL classes. I did a master’s degree in International Law and World Order from Reading University in England. During the year I participated in a CIA/British Intel sponsored counter-terrorism simulation and am quoted in the paper that was written about it. We also have a Peace Keeping element.
\”Expatriate Games: Interorganizational Coordination and International Counterterrorism\”
Anyway, I sorta do a mock up of the real simulation I did in England for the students with some modifications and a slight twist–they have to do everything in Sign Language. The students come out of the 2-3 week simulation with phenominal ASL skills, know their geography a little better, get to see how the international community works or doesn’t work together, and I get to talk about things I love.
The other cool part is that I am also the Arabic teacher so I keep a close tab on Middle East goings on. I therefore have some credibility with the students to teach them that Arabs are people rather than ‘terrorists’. We spend some time helping them understand that terrorists exist all over the world. In fact, did you know that the most concentrated area of known terrorist groups is in Ireland? They are learning most of this through experience rather than lecture. I also show them pictures of my Arab friends and you should see their eyes light up when they start relating to them.
It is so much fun. They get to take real news articles and use them to get points in the simulation as well. It’s great for language study because they learn vocabulary out of necessity rather than because it will be on a test.
Dr. Bezzant Praises Provo High ASL Program December 15, 2008
Posted by bookncurls in In the News.Tags: American Sign Language, ASL, Provo High, Provo School District, UVU
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11 Dec 2008 Laken Cannon, Media Relation Specialist, Provo School District
5 Dec 2008
Mark Bezzant, the Assistant Vice President at Utah Valley University, visited a Provo High School American Sign Language class to express his desire that all ASL programs across the country be as excellent Provo High School’s. Bezzant said the Provo ASL students can be streamlined right into college-level courses and pick up right where they left off in Provo High. The education given them at Provo makes it easy for them to succeed and progress, he said. “This school and class provides a quality of ASL instruction that is a model to the rest of the nation,” Bezzant said.
Provo High School offers four levels of ASL instruction, including receiving some college-level instruction when reaching the fourth level. Audrey Bastian, the ASL teacher at Provo High, said her students work extremely hard to master the vocabulary and is thrilled they can continue their ASL instruction at higher levels. “I’m really excited that UVU wants these students and is willing to take them even further in their ASL,” she said. “It is a great opportunity for them to continue studying a skill that is in such high demand.”
Pirate Retreat March 30, 2008
Posted by bookncurls in Reminicing.Tags: ASL, Camp Utaba, Deaf, pirates, Silent Weekend
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I just took some of my high school students on a retreat to an Ogden cabin site with other high schools throughout the state. We had so much fun. I got home and fell immediately asleep.
An International Education March 22, 2008
Posted by bookncurls in Uncategorized.Tags: American Sign Language, Arabic, ASL, international, teaching
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I studied international relations, history, and Arabic. Now I teach Arabic and American Sign Language at a public high school. I also speak Mandarin from my LDS mission to Taiwan. I love to write. …
Guy gets a date signing September 24, 2009
Posted by bookncurls in A Comment.Tags: ASL, dating, Sign Language
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Ok. So there’s this assignment where students try to experience a little about what it’s like to be deaf and then report about it in sign language. Today one of the boys in the class gave his report. Turned out to be a play by play of how he got this hot girl’s phone number by signing and having his friend translate for him.
Gotta say…it would have worked with a lot of girls.