My name gesture goes like this [hand away from head]. This gesture was given to me by other people because my hair sticks out at the front.

That depends entirely on the person. Some people are super motivated, learn quickly and make great progress. Other people take longer, even if they make an effort. It's the same as in English lessons: some learn faster, others slower

German Sign Language (DGS) and German spoken language are extremely different. Just as spoken language follows a fixed sentence structure, DGS has its own grammar and is structured differently. In German you say "Wie geht's?" - in DGS, on the other hand, it is "GEHT GUT?". Facial expressions are also an important part of sign language.

A written text would be followed in spoken language exactly as it is written. In DGS, on the other hand, the same text can often be reproduced more quickly, as a lot of information is connected in parallel and can be conveyed at the same time. This appears more compact at first glance, but of course no details are lost!

When I meet another deaf person, for example from France, we can't just use our own language. Deaf French people use LSF (Langue des signes française), whereas I use DGS (German Sign Language) and these languages are very different.

In this case, we use simpler means of communication instead: we build up images and use many iconic gestures - such as the gesture for 'drink', which is universally understandable.

If we want to have more in-depth conversations, we use International Sign - a highly visual form of communication that is ideal for communicating with people who speak a different language.

Yes, we do. It's great if the teacher is proficient in ASL and can use it to teach English. Unfortunately, if the teacher does not have ASL skills, they sign in DGS and teach English in writing. So it runs in parallel with German and English.

Yes, I dream in pictures and when people appear in my dreams, they sign. I can't remember my dreams exactly, it's a bit vague, but there are definitely signs!

My whole family is hearing, so I'm very used to there being very little communication between us. For example, family celebrations are super boring for me, I'm only asked simple questions like "How are you?" at most, people don't talk to me about other topics and conversations between other people pass me by completely.
Not everything was rosy at the school for the deaf either, because not all the teachers had good sign language skills. They tried to communicate with a mixture of half speaking and half signing. In everyday life, when I want to go to the bakery, for example, I also come up against communication barriers and have to communicate using gestures or pen and paper.

It would be desirable if more hearing people learned sign language. Perhaps they would also attend events, get to know each other, exchange ideas and practise signing. There are many sports clubs or social clubs for deaf people in Dresden. Maybe just drop by and say hello.

So my goal is for everyone to master sign language. If hearing children were to learn German Sign Language at school at an early age, they could then become aware that it is another language that can be used alongside their own mother tongue and that they can benefit from it. That would be great!

And also the idea that there are robots that can speak sign language. Of course, they would have to be well programmed and learn how to use facial expressions and hand movements. But that would be great too

So there are big obstacles at the station, for example. Depending on the station, you don't always find modern, digital display boards. When I'm standing on the platform, I can't always be sure whether the train is coming or not, as this information is communicated via loudspeaker announcements, which of course I can't hear. I have a similar experience on the train if it doesn't leave at the actual departure time. On the train, the latest information about changes to journeys is announced over the loudspeaker and I don't hear it.
That's a big barrier. And if I then go to the information desk to ask, communication is very difficult and hardly possible. That is difficult.

So if I could dream of one suggestion for improvement, it would be that everyone could simply sign. No matter where I go or where I have an appointment, I can easily communicate in sign language. Or if I went to a lecture and everything was simply done in sign language. That would of course make me feel very comfortable and at ease.

I can recommend the movie "Coda". If you want to find out more about the movie plot and are interested in this topic, you should definitely watch it. A book that I can also recommend is called "Handbuch Deutsche Gebärdensprache". You can also find a lot of information on the Internet, for example on the website "Taubenschlag".

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Have you become interested in the pigeon community? We have a lot of jokes in store! If you learn German Sign Language and keep improving, I might be able to tell you jokes one day and you'll have a great time!