Our pair project was developed to share deaf culture- sign, ideas, and happenings since this would benefit both our students.

My students have learned a little bit of Japanese sign language. Unfortunately, the technology of the internet still doesn't allow for smooth video so sharing sign language during our conferences wasn't possible.

I thought we would be able to email short video clips back and forth to help facilitate that. During our ISD homecoming- a huge deaf event in IL- my students made a video explaining homecoming. However- it was too big of a file to send to Miyagi. I think their email system only accepts small files. I tried to find a way to post it but wasn't able to.

In December I had the students make 1 second clips of the signs for the sports we presented. Again- when I tried to send them I was not successful.

In February we visited a Japanese restaurant and we tried to use Japanese culture and sign language. We did a little bit! We also had 6 Japanese college students who are visiting Illinois College (they come every year from a university in Kyoto) visit our classroom.

In March those students will host a Matsuri at the college and we hope to attend that.

Our conferences taught us a lot about Japan. Our interactions with the deaf students helped us to learn about deaf people in Japan. I only wish technology would have been a bit better to share sign language and have more conversations betweent the groups.