
Anna:
In conjunction with the October release of a new 3rd edition of my book Reading Between the Signs, the publisher and I decided to make available as a FREE Ebook, the companion Workbook which was published several years ago.
The Workbook contains 22 exercises that help readers develop an intercultural perspective, undertake cultural self-examination and illuminate major contrasts between American Deaf and hearing cultures. Activities may be done either alone or in small groups. It complements all 3 editions of the book. Here is the link to download the whole book:
http://www.nicholasbrealey.com/Reading%20Between%20the%20Signs%20Workbook.pdf
Or you may get a FREE Kindle Version from Amazon
Here is a sample exercise called: YOUR POLITE IS DIFFERENT FROM MY POLITE
Directions: Read the statements below and decide if they describe an attitude more often found in mainstream American (hearing) culture or in American Deaf culture. Put an H (for hearing) or a D (for Deaf ) in the spaces provided.
______ 1. Sharing personal information benefits us all.
______ 2. The “grapevine” shows people care about each other.
______ 3. Name-dropping is pretentious.
______ 4. Graphic descriptions of bodily functions and surgical procedures often make people uncomfortable.
______ 5. Describing your ties to well-known community members can demonstrate your trustworthiness.
______ 6. Stories regarding your own and others’ illnesses and medical treatments are important to share.
______ 7. Passing along the latest news about mutual friends is considered “talking behind their backs.”
______ 8. Softening a critical comment often makes it easier for the other person to accept.
______ 9. If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.
_____ 10. Some topics (such as money and bathroom habits) are off-limits in polite society.
_____ 11. You owe it to your friends to inform them if a new hairstyle is unbecoming.
_____ 12. If you have a criticism, tell it straight.
Draw lines between pairs of sentences above that express opposite messages.You should end up with six pairs.
Remember that these are generalizations of tendencies within each group.Individual members of either group may subscribe to the attitude expressed by a particular statement to a greater or lesser degree. (Suggested answers to this exercise appear in book on page 120.)
Please share this free resource with any ASL, Deaf Culture or Interpreting instructors that you know. Thanks!!