Ep 4. How Are You?

In Signing Time, Season 2 Season 2 Episode 4, titled "How Are You?", Rachel Coleman and her animated friend, Hopkins, explore emotions and teach basic ASL signs for feelings and emotions. The episode begins with Rachel and Hopkins singing and signing the catchy "Hello Song" to greet each other and the viewers. Later, Rachel introduces a new song called "How Are You?" which teaches how to ask and answer questions about feelings using ASL signs.

To demonstrate different emotions, Rachel shows various facial expressions and body language while signing related signs such as happy, sad, angry, scared, and surprised. She also teaches some advanced signs such as frustrated, embarrassed, jealous, and nervous, and explains their meanings and contexts. Hopkins joins in by mimicking Rachel's expressions and signs.

Rachel then introduces a group of children who share their own experiences and emotions, and how they express them using ASL signs. One girl, Emily, talks about feeling lonely when her brother is at school, while another girl, Samantha, explains how she gets excited when her grandma visits. A boy named Jesse shares how he feels frustrated when he can't open a jar, and another boy, Kai, shows how he expresses his love for his mom.

Rachel and Hopkins also demonstrate various scenarios and problem-solving strategies related to emotions. For instance, they act out a situation where Hopkins is scared of a spider, and Rachel helps him overcome his fear by showing him the spider is harmless. Another scenario involves Rachel being frustrated with a jammed printer, and she takes a break and does some deep breathing to calm down before trying again.

Throughout the episode, Rachel emphasizes the importance of understanding and respecting other people's emotions, and how ASL can help bridge communication gaps for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. For example, she explains how some people may use different signs or expressions for the same emotion based on their cultural background or personal experience.

As always, Signing Time incorporates music, animation, and real-life examples to make learning ASL fun and engaging for children and adults alike. The "How Are You?" episode is both informative and entertaining, offering practical skills and insights for emotional literacy and communication while promoting diversity and inclusivity. Whether you are a beginner or an advanced signer, this episode will deepen your understanding of ASL and emotions and inspire you to use them in your daily life.