A Little Bit About Me

Posted on March 7, 2011 by CathiB

Cathi Bouton

I’m Cathi Bouton and I’d like to let you know a little bit about myself.

I am hearing and started learning ASL quite a long time ago. I’m still learning – will always be learning! My first ASL class was taught by a Deaf woman who encouraged me to become an interpreter. I traveled all over the U.S. taking workshops, going to conferences and taking advantage of every training opportunity. I earned my RID certifications, CI and CT, in 1992.

I started teaching ASL at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) in 1996, after receiving my BA in Linguistics at UAF. After teaching for a few years, I entered the Master’s Program in Applied Linguistics at UAF. My research for my MA program was focused on methodology of teaching ASL, specifically using a Task-Based Language Teaching approach.

While teaching and working on my Masters degree, I also went through the process of earning certification from the American Sign Language Teachers Association. There are three levels of certification: Provisional, Qualified and Professional and I now hold the Professional level certification.

As a result of my teaching experience and my research I founded Visualize ASL and created the first of a series of interactive CD-roms for ASL learners. Volume 1 was developed as a resource to practice vocabulary outside of the classroom. Because classroom time is so limited and students have such limited exposure to actual language, to seeing and using ASL, I felt the more independent vocabulary learning they could get outside of the class would make our in-class time more productive.

I’m married, I have three children and 2 grandchildren. I enjoy juggling! and have been living on top of the world in Fairbanks, Alaska for 30 years.

Fairbanks

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Why Do People Set Out to Learn ASL?

Posted on January 19, 2011 by CathiB

Common responses include:

  • College or high school students taking ASL for foreign language requirement
  • Homeschool students taking ASL for elective or credit
  • Parents of Deaf children want be to able to communicate with their child
  • Parents of autistic or non-verbal children want to be able to communicate with their child
  • Parents of hearing babies want to give their baby a boost in communication
  • It looks like fun ….  Always been fascinated ….. etc etc.

How do ASL learners become proficient or fluent in ASL?

By interacting with the Deaf community – a vibrant and fascinating community of people who use ASL as their primary mode of communication. Really, this is the best way, but of course, you need to start somewhere… either taking classes, or using books/videos/CDs/online learning, etc to give you a base to work from.

Why I chose to learn ASL

I’m one of those people when asked why I started learning ASL that doesn’t have a very profound answer. I can recall having a Deaf program at my school (a very long time ago!). And I can recall working as a volunteer in a program for kids with multiple disabilities and working there with a young Deaf girl who had cerebral palsy. She was about 8 years old, and lying on the floor one day, she signed “bathroom”  and I happened to notice and recognized that one sign, and scooped her up and put her on the toilet. I can recall her sense of relief and delight that she was able to use the bathroom rather than the diaper she wore. The seed was planted. The first step had been taken.

Years later, I started taking ASL classes, and lucky for me, had a terrific Deaf teacher that helped me find the path to a whole new world filled with opportunities for interacting with and learning from Deaf individuals from all over the country.

I’ve had tremendous support along the way and I’d like to pass some of it along. I’d like to share resources I’ve found (and some I’ve created!), and share information about events and current topics of interest that will promote awareness of and respect for the Deaf community.

What’s your reason for learning ASL? What resources do you need? What kind of support would be beneficial for you? Join us here or on our Facebook Page and let’s share in this adventure.

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