Fw: report on SW workshop in Prague by Lucy

[Lucy]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Lucy 
To: sw-l at majordomo.valenciacc.edu 
Sent: Wednesday, September 27, 2006 6:56 PM
Subject: report on SW workshop in Prague by Lucy


Hi List,
I am finally able to write the report.
Well, as Honza wrote, we had 24 participants on the first day and 18 on the second day. It was a very Slavic/Slavonic workshop and I find it very important. Brussels or London are too far or too expensive for many of people of the Eastern part of Europe. Some of the participants had come for the EFSLI conference first and availed themselves of the opportunity to take part also in our workshop. One of the participants was even from outside the EU and had to get a visa to come to Prague! So, in my opinion, we have done really a good work, familiarizing the Eastern part of Europe with SignWriting.
On the first day we started with a multimedial presentation on the genesis and development in SignWriting. It was to be displayed in English but due to technical problems it was impossible (but later the problems were solved, after all). I had sent the presentation to Honza prior to my arrival to Prague, so he translated it into written Czech and printed it out, so participants could have the SW history in English or Czech (and this language is relatively easy to understand also by other Slavs).
I was signing in International Sign that I had learned in Brussels and, above all, in Nijmegen, Holland this year. But most of the participants had come across IS for the first time, so they could hardly understand me. However, Honza helped me a lot here, interpreting into Czech Sign Language (CZJ). I appreciate it all the more that he had worked hard at the EFSLI conference and we began with the workshop directly after that conference.
The materials Honza had received from Val were displayed on a table, the participants could view them during breaks, and and the end of the Monday workshop Honza distributed them among the participants. I can't say anything more about this issue as this was Honza's task.
After the theoretical introduction we started with basic symbols, writing them on the white board and comparing with our handshapes. I had two pairs of white and black gloves and they were very helpful although Honza's palms appeared to be too big :-)
We told the participants about those many computer programs for SW but as we mostly use SignPuddle, Honza introduced this program to the partipants. In the end of the Sunday workshop the participants were able to write their sign names down on paper. But they had still a problem to understand the operation of SignPuddle, so we focused on this issue on Monday. I worked at the computer individually with each participants, and Honza helped the others to write signs on papers. I had also translated the Goldilocks Level 1 book and a part of Goldilocks level 3 book into Polish and PJM, and the participants view it, compared to the ASL versions and tried to read it. I showed the participants SW materials in Polish that I use to teach PJM to hearing students, as well as websites of Kasterlinden and Osnabrueck schools for the deaf and I talked about how deaf childred are taught there.
I had a camcorder but was too embarased to take any recording, all the more than there was a Deaf man of Slovenia who had a professional tv camera. That's why Honza took photos on Monday only.
The atmosphere at the workshop was very good and the participants were really interested, especially those who were teachers of the Deaf.
We told the participants also about ESWO and the London workshop.
I was very glad to be able to teach SW in workshop and I would like to thank Honza for good cooperation, and ESWO and Valerie for their support and materials :-)
I wanted to send Goldilocks level 1 in Polish and PJM to the List but it appeared to be too large :-). So I'll send it to Val. Val, you can make a screet shot a page and that will do :-)
Lucy    
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