Bring your karma
Join the waitlist today
HUMBLECAT.ORG

Starbucks Baristas: The daily grind

Full History - 2022 - 10 - 29 - ID#ygycuu
11
Starbucks ASL? (self.starbucksbaristas)
submitted by I_Main_Oru
My store has had an influx of people who use ASL to communicate. I'm interested in learning the language, well enough so I can help people at work since nobody else knows it. I think it'd be cool to know it, and so I can help those who are deaf or hard of hearing communicate and feel welcomed into the store and for them to know there's someone there who they can talk to. What's the best way to start?
badbaristuh 12 points 8m ago
The Gallaudet is a Deaf college that has online resources and classes! Learning from a D/deaf person or class is your best course of action here, because learning to be conversational and use the grammar of ASL is not as easily taught by a hearing person unless they’re very familiar with it. Here’s a link to the Gallaudet website! https://www.gallaudet.edu/asl-connect/
knufflebunnie 5 points 8m ago
There are tons of you tube videos. I taught all 3 of my kids basic signs when they were little.
I_Main_Oru [OP] 3 points 8m ago
I love that! My brother has kids both under 2 and they're doing the same thing with their little ones
jeanhouston 4 points 8m ago
Baby sign is not the same as actual ASL. I'm Deaf and people always try to compare them and it's condescending. I'd try Dr Bill Vicars on YouTube for real, adult sign. He's a deaf professor.
I_Main_Oru [OP] 5 points 8m ago
Am I correct in thinking signed English and ASL aren't the same, too? I want to make sure I'm polite towards customers and that I'm using the correct form :) but I'll make sure I don't use baby sign with customers to avoid that! And I'll check out that channel as well
badatlife15 7 points 8m ago
You are correct that ASL and English are not the same, ASL has its own grammar and ways of getting a message across. Things like facial expression, hand placement/hand shape are all a part of the language in addition to the signs. Like others have said, it’s best to learn from Deaf people, whether that’s a teacher at a school or a creator making YT or TikTok videos. For one, they know the language best as well as the culture, it’s also important because when hearing people are teaching ASL, especially in places like schools, they are taking away potential jobs from Deaf/Hard of Hearing people. I’m hearing, but currently taking ASL at my community college, so I’m explaining what I have heard from people in the Deaf community, both from school and the many Deaf creators I follow on TT. I’ve also been using an app called InterSign which has some good lessons, though maybe not always super specific to working at Starbucks :) but it can definitely be a tool to help learn some basics.
jeanhouston 3 points 8m ago
Just don't tell Deaf people babies you know use baby sign. We constantly hear that and it's rude. Babies stop using sign as soon as they can speak comfortably and never use it again. ASL is a difficult language that takes years to learn. I constantly hear that people "have always wanted to learn sign". No one ever does, because it's hard. It's a real language and there's a culture and history. ASL is not word for word translation of English. There are different types of ASL. Honestly most hearing people are so bad at sign that it's easier for Deaf people to just try to understand them in the ways we are used to doing. It's really best to take classes with a Deaf teacher. Baby sign is not different signs. It's signs that are in ASL, like "more" or "light". It's just not awesome to connote baby sign with ASL that culturally Deaf people use.
Low_Analysis3195 3 points 8m ago
i’ve been wanting to learn asl too since we have a couple of deaf and hoh customers. i just want to be able to ask basic questions and make them feel welcome. if anyone knows a yt account or a good app i would greatly appreciate it!
This nonprofit website is run by volunteers.
Please contribute if you can. Thank you!
Our mission is to provide everyone with access to large-
scale community websites for the good of humanity.
Without ads, without tracking, without greed.
©2023 HumbleCat Inc   •   HumbleCat is a 501(c)3 nonprofit based in Michigan, USA.