Thank You!

Thank you for following my blog throughout this process. I enjoyed learning sign language, especially when Caleb joined me. After everything, I learned the alphabet, many words, and some sentences. Thanks!

My Speech

Nathan Vaughan

20% Time Speech

The Unheard Language

            My name is Nathan Vaughan. We, as a class, started 20% time in November. I chose sign language, which I have always been interested in, but never had the time to try it. I realized it would be difficult learning a whole new language, but I was eager to begin. When Mrs. Browning said that it wouldn’t be graded, it took a lot of pressure off of me because I realized that even if I didn’t complete it, I wouldn’t be hurt by a bad grade. This helped me slow it down and pace myself better.

            I had made a plan for my 20% time project, but I fell short of completing it. I enjoyed the process though. My original plan had me starting sentences in February, but by that time, I hadn’t learned enough words to formulate sentences. I got somewhat discouraged when I realized I was so far behind, but I kept going.

            By December, I had the alphabet down pat, and had already started on some simple words. Learning the words was the hardest part of the process because after you learn the words, making sentences is easy, and the alphabet is just 26 letters. It consumed so much time that I couldn’t start simple sentences until late March.

            Around that time, my friend Caleb, who was doing basketball skills for his project, decided to switch to sign language. We partnered up, but he had a lot of catching up to do. I helped him learn the alphabet and a few simple words. After a while we started doing simple sentences. It did slow down my progression because I had to back track and help Caleb out, but in the end it was worth it.

            Since November, I have come to realize that 20% time isn’t necessarily about learning a new skill, it is about having fun and enjoying it. It was even more fun when Caleb joined me because I had a great friend to do the work with. So, if I am asked if all of the hard work was worth it even though I didn’t complete my goal, it’s a definite yes.

Almost there!

We are one week from our presentation. My friend Caleb has joined me. Today we start on our poster board.  Almost there!