American Sign Language: "teach" & "teacher"
TEACH:
The sign starts near your head and moves out. Imagine taking information from your head and putting it into someone else's head.
Notes:
This sign can use either a double movement or a single movement. The more formal version of the sign is done up near your forehead. A more casual version of the sign starts considerably lower (down near your shoulders). The double movement (forward, back, forward) can mean "the process of teaching." For example, I'd use the double movement to convey the concept of "teaching" in the phrase: I ENJOY TEACH TEACH ("I enjoy teaching.") If you use a single movement you get a sentence such as: I LIKE TEACH CHILDREN. ("I like to teach children.")
I'd do the single movement version of the sign in the phrase, "I TEACH ASL." There is a lot of variety and you will see people doing it either way and meaning the same thing--so don't stress about it.
TEACHER: The sign for "teacher" combines one quick movement for TEACH and then does the flat-handed version of the "PERSON" sign.
The sign TEACHER starts with both hands held up near the head in somewhat "flattened O" handshapes.
Then both hands move forward about six inches. Then they change into "flat hands" (like "B" handshapes with the thumb alongside--not draped over the palm) and move downward to show a version of the PERSON sign. Thus you have a combination of TEACH + PERSON = teacher. Memory aid: Take information from your head and put it in the other person's head.
TEACHER:
0:00 / 0:00
Note: The casual version of the sign "teacher" is done lower. Down closer to the chest and shoulders.
TEACHER (casual version):
0:00 / 0:00
Notes:
Where this sign is taught:
Taught in Lesson 01.Reviewed in lessons: 10, 11, 15, 16, 19, 24, 26, 29, 33, 39
Practice sentences using this sign:
YOUR TEACHER what-NAME? (What is your teacher's name?)ASL TEACHER YOU? (Are you a teacher?)
YOUR TEACHER, WHO? (Who is your teacher?)
YOUR TEACHER HAVE DAUGHTER? (Does your teacher have a daughter?)
IF-[suppose] TEACHER SPELL SLOW, YOU UNDERSTAND IX-[them-singular]? (If the teacher spells slow can you understand them?)
YOU THINK TEACHER NEED STAND? (Do you think teachers should stand?)
TEACHER THEIR-singular HUSBAND / WIFE / PARTNER, YOU KNOW NAME? (Do you know the teacher's wife's/husband's name?)
TELL-me ABOUT YOUR TEACHER (Tell me about your teacher.)
YOU CAN'T UNDERSTAND IX TEACHER, WHY? (Why can't you understand the teacher?)
TEACHER LIGHTS-FLASH, WHY? (Why does the teacher flash the lights?)
... and 10 more practice sentences use this sign.