My 7 year old cousin is very interested in continuing her learning of american sign language.  I would like to encourage that but not with a software program. So, I would like to find classes for her where a teacher would be able to give her the guidance & experience she needs.
131624
call the local schools and universitys
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Not only is sign language not universal it differs from region to region in the US, sort of like dialects among speaking people. I've seen a deaf person from the south argue with a deaf person from the north about what a certain sign should be.\n\nBut for the most part, someone fluent in American Sign Language can communicate with other signers anywhere in the US.  Leave the US and there are some signs that are the same but most are not.\n\nLearning basic signs for very basic communication is not hard. But ASL itself takes years of study since it is a separate language with its own syntax and usage rules that are much different than spoken english.
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http://www.lessontutor.com/ees_asl_relgious.html\n\nhttp://www.deafmissions.com/?PageID=18&Letter=A
176748
you could try private teaching or tutoring of a skill you know. the student(s) could just come to your house. you could teach a language or some physical skill like carpentry, whatever it is you know enough about. you could teach adults or children in your community. im sure if you advertise you will get some takers. hope you find something soon.
489127
This is a great site \nhttp://www.awmi.net/\n\nyou can also download teaching for free, call there 800# and they will send you tapes or cds for free to get u started!
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Actually there are summer camps out there which include daily tutoring for kids in many different subject areas. I work for one such camp in Pennsylvania. Try searching the American Camping Association website at http://www.acacamps.com you can search by location and many other features. You'll have to check out each camps website as they should list if they offer tutoring as well if not call the camp and ask. I  think camp would be better since your daughter would get to enjoy many other activities rather than feel like she is doing summer school.
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Here is a free screensaver of sign language. \n\n  http://www.palatineinc.com/contact.htm
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Well, you can give classes of something to kids from your neighborhood.\nI'm just in the same situation, and i'm starting to offer english classes to kids, so i can do that in my house, and i can be with my son as well - he migth even help if he wants.\nI live in Mexico, that's why i'm thinking of doing that, in the public schools we have not english classes for kids.
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if you really get your child into it, they could become professional and open thier own studio. i just wanted to say that there are other types of dance out there than just tap shoes and ballet. i'd imagine there are local youth groups who perform hiphop and have never really thought of giving lessons. theres also all sorts of dances that your child could learn. if your dutch, there is that dance with the pointed hats, braids and clog shoes. if your african there is that dance in the red cloak and rainbow necklaces with the wooden stick. if your only thinking tap or ballet id say create your imagination today. you get my point!
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Please tell me, are you in the U.S.A.?  Including your location will help us answer you better, because laws and opportunities vary and mentioning your area may encourage answerers from your location.\n\nIn the USA the laws  are such that the public school which cannot provide the appropriate learning environment may have the option to send the child (until 21 years of age if needed) to another public school in the county or an "approved private school" (at least that's the term in Pennsylvania, USA) and the public school pays the cost of tuition and transporation.\n\nIf your son has a specific diagnosis, you may be able to find the right public or private school by searching on the internet using the diagnosis for example "autism", "private school", "reviews", and your general location fro example "Montgomery county, PA"\n\nThere are schools and knowledgable & caring educators out there!   Your teenager is not the only one who needs special attention and structure.  There are also parent/guardian support groups on line and probably in your local area, ask the doctors or specialists you've dealth with or the area hospitals or libraries as groups often meet there.  Depending on your situation, you may find some ways to teach or support his learning at home with specifically designed learning materials -- ask his doctors or therapists for recommendations and since he is 16 you need to get him "on board" with the desicions, if he can help make some of the choices and work with you as a team he will be better motivated to work hard and continue to develop.\n\nAsk more questions about specifics as you need to, there are teachers, parents, siblings, and child advocates "listening" who understand your situation (I'm all of the above and still advocating for my adult brother and my teenager)  God Bless you!
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Dragon Naturally Speaking seems to be on the top of the list for this sort of program.  Try Staples, Wal-Mart, WalGreens, or other such stores.  Office supply stores that carry software typically have it.  You can also order on line.
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A good read. \n\nThe first school for deaf people was the Institut Royal des Sourds-Muets (or the Royal Institute for the Deaf and Mute). This institute taught French sign language, or presently known as FSL.\n\nIn the 19th century educators were starting to oppose sign language being taught to the deaf. Supporters of this idea questioned that if the deaf were taught to speak they could be less isolated from everyone else. This method, the method of teaching the deaf individuals to speak, was called oralism. By the 20th century many educators of the deaf were using this method called oralism, in fact all deaf education in the United States and France was oralism. But oralism not consisted of teaching the deaf to speak but also teaching the deaf to read lips, in a sad fact they often went to the extreme as punishing deaf children when they signed among themselves. Linguist William C. Stokoe was to thank for today’s booming 500,000 individuals that speak sign language today, because he worked to place sign language education back into the schools and succeeded.\n\nLinguists have found similarities between spoken language and sign language.
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I agree with the previous answer.  Is there a local mtna chapter in your area?  I know that the chapter I belong does referrals and that is a nice way to get students and to network with local piano teachers.   Try visiting www.mtna.org  the Membership is worth it.
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I'd recommend Mandarin Chinese.  It is very different from English and so it will stimulate new and different parts of your brain.  Also, China may be taking over the world soon.\nIf not that, how about International Sign Language?  Again, a very different language, and a useful one, too.
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See my answer http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AjMlD7OAHX9tfoW8fkuNEcrsy6IX?qid=1005121501236\n\nThe important part is "In the United States this is location specific. There is a national rating and membership in the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) Their outline of how to become a certified Sign Language Interpreter is at http://www.rid.org/start.html." (1)\n\nI don't know what the situation is in California, but I would expect it to be quite progressive. Check on your state website and you will likely be able to find California's requirements and testing procedures.\n\nAsk around. There may be some universitys that already have a reputation for turning out interpreters. Look for one that has a high percentage of Deaf students because that will help you immerse yourself in the language. \n\nThat immersion is necessary. As one book puts it, "knowledge without experience is like a jackass carrying a load of books." It's like the experience we've had on the computer. Going into chat rooms has helped more people learn to type than all the business schools that have ever been.\n\nGood luck. I'm sure you'll enjoy it. Many actors take Sign Language as a way to free up their bodies and to make themselves more expressive.
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First of all, I apologize for any typos.  I lost my reading glasses.  I am an ESL  (English as a second language) teacher and I commend you for helping your friend learn English.  I think it makes sense to approach learning a language in the most natural way possible.  When you think about how we learn language as babies and as young children it has to do with having to learn how to express our needs along with socially interacting with others in meaningful situations. We learn functional language first so that we can negotiate what we need and want.  So, think about what the needs are for your student.  Is your student a parent that would like to be able to have basic communication with their child's teachers?  Is your student in school themself and he or she needs to be able to communicate in their own classes?  So, what I am saying is it is best to design your curriculum according to what your student needs are in particular.  Once you know this information, you can create little role plays for praticing oral language skills.  Designing, reading and writng the role plays will help your student develop literacy skills.  What you teach your student will be meaningul to him or her and help them to function in real life situations.  If your student is a beginner just keep everything fairly simple at first and go slowly so that they don't get frustrated.  Keep in mind that it can be a scary to practice foreign language in front of others, but eventually you can set up real life situations for your student in order to give the chance to practice in a real exchange.  For instance, going to the grocery store and needing to ask whick aisle has the household wares.   Good luck to you.  I think you'll have a lot of fun with your student.  One word of caution; try not to codeswitch between languages (translating between Spanish and English) when you are working with your student.  Research has proven that this holds students back from learing language.
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Check out an ESL class in your area. A good starting point is the United Way they can refer you to a class. They fund a great deal of literacy. My mother teaches ESL (English as a second language) in Houston and she volunteers her time to teach. I don't think there is a charge for most of these classes anywhere. Good luck to you on learning. PS you can also do some online.