Retaping the project is where we REALLY learn from the project and apply everything that came before it.

You have taped it and "felt it" - you have watched the model interpret it - you have talked about elements that worked, and some elements that need more attention in your meetings... and NOW you're ready to practice on your own and PLAY with incorporating some of the new elements into your work.

Tips and Reminders from the Project 1 Feedback Sessions:

+ If you have not yet taped Project 1 - find it in GoReact and tape it.

+ If you have not completed the Self-Assessment for your project -- Do that. Look at the targets compared with the script. The targets are rated by asking the question, "Would a Deaf consumer understand the message in the target?"

+ If you have not watched the model for the project - Do that. Look in the Interpreting I GoReact Page, for Project 1 Model "Open for comment".

+ Don't forget to STAND for the retaping (and for everything we tape now). Set up the camera so it gives you plenty of space to play with. I don't want you restricting space in an effort to stay in the frame.

+ Remember that our goal is to look like we are Pam telling story the way she would tell it in ASL. Don't try to look like "the interpreter".

+ Eye gaze: We want to create this world. Look at the pictures that you "draw". You can look at the camera when you "narrate", but anytime you're using 3D space, introducing people or objects, describing or interacting with the environment you want to look at that space. The better YOU see it, the better your audience will see it. You have "permission" not to look at the camera.

Suggestions for Practice before you retape:

If you are processing too closely to the English source:

+ Tell the story in English from memory -- Paraphrasing skill distances us from the English source text - helps you think in big picture, not word for word thinking

+ Tell the story in ASL from memory -- Creates a target text that is distant from the English source; Let's you have all the time you want to play with the action of the story.

+ Interpret the story with the English, but GISH it. This means to include NO DETAILS. You may include some data if you think it's essential to the meaning.

= For example with the listing of the family members, maybe that means you say 1) me 2) Sister 3) sister 4) Brother; 10 1/2 years between 1) and 4). Gishing while interpreting enables you to listen for meaning, stay in control of your process, organize the information and gets you away from the English.

***Ironically, the challenge most people say they have when Gishing is that they want to include more details. Resist that temptation and listen just for the main points.***

If you're working on space:

+ Remember we can group/chunk space by relationships. For example the family that is introduced they can all be in generally the same space.

+ Don't put everything in front of you. Even if you put things in "wrong" places or move them -- put them somewhere. Sometimes we get stuck trying to figure out the "right place" to put things and we just end up putting them in front because we can't decide. Don't worry about the "right" place - just put it in a place that isn't the front, and then we'll refine as we go. But just get it out of center and then we'll work on it.

Role-Shifting:

+ Practice with Narratives (someone teling a story) - "Mexican Christmas" is posted below but you can use any narrative you want to work with. Play with acting out the actions of the story (Constructed Action).

Cue words for Constructed Dialogue are any verbs that talk about speaking: I said, told, yelled, asked, interjected... etc. that can be turned into dialogue for your characters.

Feelings and emotions are also cues for Constructed Dialogue: I felt like it wasn't fair = "It's not fair!"; I believe that all people are created equal = (become character) " I believe All people are created equal"

Working on Processing -- each of these can be used to work on your process at any time:

I've listed them all as a progression, but you can use them in any order or select the ones you find work best for you:

+ Visualization: Just as we did with the "Junk Drawer". Listen to texts and just let the information flow over you and as you listen start to visualize the information. You can start to visualize how you would organize the information for space, meaning. You might start to visualize how you would interpret it.

+ Consecutive Retelling/Paraphrasing: Practice listening to texts of varying lengths for meaning. Just listen. As you listen try to "chunk" or sort the information out into categories like we did with the introductions (Jeff Hardigan and Peter Leary). Then retell the story in the same language. This helps you practice listening for meaning, and chunking information to help with organization of information and short term memory. You can do this for sentences, then paragraphs, then full texts. Increase the length of the texts.

+ Consecutive Interpreting: Very similar to Consecutive retelling/paraphrasing, but this time change the message into the target language. Listen for meaning, chunking information to help with organization of information and short term memory. You can do this for sentences, then paragraphs, then full texts. Increase the length of the texts.

+ Simultaneous Interpreting at the Main Point Level (Gishing): Play the source text, wait and listen for MAIN POINTS just as do when listen to the text consecutively. Organize and chunk information at the main point level. Synthesize information in main point paraphrasing. Resist the temptation to include information at the detail level. Review the lesson on Gish if you need to make decisions about what level of information you want to include (Main point, objective, unit, etc). But a good rule of thumb is nothing that requires fingerspelling.

+ Simultaneous Interpreting at the Data/Detail Level: The real secret to this is that the process is the same as when you interpret at the main point level. But now, use that time you created by interpreting at the main point level, to add in the details onto that structure. Play the source text, wait and listen for main points just as do when listen to the text consecutively. Organize and chunk information at the main point level, add in more detailed information.

For the retape:

You have nothing to risk here. No grade. You are FREE to see what it's like to actually wait until you have a complete thought. Remember to listen in a relaxed manner, listen for comprehension. Listen for chunking, listen for main points. When you have the main point, convey that thought. If you miss information - I don't care.

Let go of the cliff. Don't cling to the English for fear of forgetting. Don't "look at the 3rd letter of the word" - listen for meaning and memory WILL happen. If you sign every other thought, but you experience what it feels like to wait for a message - then I'm happy.