France Study Abroad 2019: French Sign Language and Deaf Culture

"So, how many times did you go out clubbing while you were on your 'study abroad'?" Truthfully, twice! Though not in the way you might be thinking of. Deaf theaters and clubs have been a key aspect of Deaf culture in multiple countries. However, small communities and the primary use of social media as a means to connect with other Deaf people means that the prevalence of these theaters and communities has dwindled. These experiences I had in France with Deaf theaters and clubs were the first interaction I'd ever had with those spaces, and both were unforgettable and incredibly enjoyable. Express Yourself: The International Visual Theater I'd previously heard only of Deaf theaters in the US, like Deaf West and National Theater of the Deaf. They're not as well known as mainstream theaters around the world, but sometimes they come into the spotlight, as Deaf West did a few years ago with their showing of "Spring Awakening" entirely in si...

Though I did say that visiting the Deaf schools of France was my favorite experience over the historical elements of France we got to visit, don't downplay the museums the country has to offer. The Louvre has the spotlight, obviously, and I was incredibly excited that we were getting to go see this iconic museum. But the other museums we got to visit were amazing as well, and I actually ended up enjoying the Orsay Museum better than the Louvre! This may or may not have been due to my immense love for Vincent Van Gogh but who's to say. (It was.) While in Paris, we got to visit three museums: the Louvre, the Musée d'Orsay, and the Musée des arts et métiers, which were two art museums and a sciences museum for children, respectively. It'll Put A (Soft) Smile on Your Face: The Louvre The Louvre is hyped up for a reason, folks. The museum itself, even sans art, is gorgeous. It's got that iconic glass pyramid that you pass under as you enter the main ...

I love learning. I love getting my hands on new information, meeting new people, and experiencing completely different stories. I absolutely, without a doubt, love  to learn. But I absolutely hate school. Which is why I was pleasantly surprised to find that even after eating crepes in front of the Eiffel tower, seeing the Mona Lisa, and walking through the luxury that is Versailles, the days we visited schools was my favorite part of our time abroad.  I know. I'm just as confused as you are. We had the opportunity to be involved in classes both on an elementary and middle school level, so children anywhere from the ages of six to fourteen. Each experience was different, but enriching because of the kids we got to meet and the education we got to experience. Back to the Basics: Elementary School The elementary school classrooms we got to observe were at the Ecole Elémentaire Condorcet, a bilingual elementary school in Paris. The school was not a Deaf sch...

When I told people I was going to Paris, I got some of the standard questions: how long are you there, when do you leave, where are you staying, etc. The basics When I told people I was going to Paris to study French Sign Language, it felt like I kept getting the same three questions: 1. "Wait, so sign language isn't  universal?" 2. "Well, why are you studying French Sign Language? Isn't British Sign Language closer to American Sign Language?" 3. "So... how similar are they?" Since these questions seemed so wildly popular (and, coincidentally, a convenient way for me to frame my blog post on LSF) I figured I'd break it all down for all the curious, interested, and intrigued folks of the world. "Wait, so sign language isn't  universal?" Nope! Just like there's no universal spoken language, there's no universal signed language either. While they may have occasionally developed in collaboration with other signed ...

"American Sign Language came from French  Sign Language?" In my three (almost four) years of pursuing an American Sign Language degree, this is one of the most common questions I get, aside from "What are you going to do with that?" The first question, I like explaining. Please stop asking me the second question. While most history surrounding ASL begins with Thomas Gallaudet and Laurent Clerc in Hartford, Connecticut circa 1817, ASL's roots in France mean that its history is shared with LSF, almost like a tree branch that starts together before splitting off into two different directions. LSF's history is rich and full of stories of exploration, liberation, and education, offset by stories of oppression and misunderstanding. In this section, we'll explore a brief history of LSF: its beginnings, its influences, and where it stands today. Compassion and Communication: The Beginning of LSF Early Deaf history in Europe is a history full of misund...