1. Silent Lunch :: Have a silent lunch
with a colleague. This can work in the faculty lunch room, but
you might appear rude. Consider meeting on the downtown at a
fun café. Make it a treat.
2. Game Night :: Host a cueing game night.
You can make it for cueing families and have games for all ages
(like the Play &
Cue events hosted by CSAM) or make it a transliterators
only event. You can work on expressive skills, receptive skills,
or both. Almost any game can be adapted for cueing practice
with a little creativity.
3. Movie Night :: Preparing for a state-level
Quality Assurance Screening or the National Certification Examination
for transliterators? Try a new kind of study group. Invite transliterators
to bring over a VHS or DVD with a scene from their favorite
movie. Enjoy a movie night. Practice transliterating the scenes,
give supportive criticism, eat popcorn.
4. Cues on Tap :: People
love to meet up for a happy hour after work. Why not have a
Cued Speech Happy Hour? People from all levels can meet at a
local pub. Local deaf adults can be invited to attend. The evening
is casual and everyone is encouraged to cue as their abilities
allow. (Cues on Tap
has been very successful in Boston, where there is an extensive
public transportation system, so that drinking and driving is
not an issue.) You can further encourage responsible behavior
by collecting a small fee from those attending to cover free
soft drinks for designated drivers. Some pubs will even provide
free appetizers for large groups.
5. Book Club ::
This is ideal for groups of people that share common goals (e.g.
parents of deaf children, parents with children who have Down
Syndrome, transliterators preparing for testing). The group
assembles and works out the details. How often will you meet?
Will you have potluck dinners? Desserts? Will you change locations
and the host provides coffee and treats? When you meet you come
up with a list of issues, concerns, or topics and make a calendar.
You can meet as a discussion/ support group with people bringing
ideas, materials, and suggestions. Or you can read parts of
or whole books relating to these issues and meet to discuss.
6. Community Service ::
If you are working on your cueing skills, consider volunteering
with a cue
camp or with a local or national Cued Speech organization.
You can choose projects that tie to your other interests (e.g.
event planning, materials development, teaching, etc). Put yourself
in interesting, fun situations that promote your need to cue.
7. Think Outside the Box ::
Come up with your own unique way to practice. When you do, look
for ways to connect what you love to do (running, sewing, computers)
with some of the activities you might have to do (building fluency).
How can you marry two totally different activities into something
that makes practice enjoyable and something you are more likely
to want to do?
