Op/Ed

GHS NEEDS Sign LANGUAGE Class

Reporter Kendall Billings

In Gloucester High School’s advanced diploma, it states that one must have three years of a language, or two years of two different languages. However, it only offers two classes of forgein language. While some may find use in spanish or french, one big language that should be taught in every school is ASL, or american sign language. In 2011, a legislation passed officially saying that Virginia colleges and universities had to accept credit in ASL as a foreign language entrance requirement. All the pieces are there, so why aren’t we learning this important language?

According to the Education Policy Counsel at the National Association of the deaf, all fifty states recognize ASL as a language, and under Virginia it states thus; “ House Joint Resolution No. 228 was agreed to by the 1996 Virginia General Assembly. The resolution requests public schools and public and private institutions of higher education in Virginia to recognize American Sign Language course work for foreign language credit. A curriculum framework for American Sign Language was developed in 1998 and is available from the department's Web page. New legislation was passed in 2011 requiring Virginia colleges and universities to accept high school credit in American Sign Language to fulfill foreign language entrance requirements”.

The document also talks about the benefits of learning the language, saying “Learning a language other than English is a valuable learning experience for students. Learning American Sign Language will provide students with the opportunities to communicate with another community, to develop an appreciation of the diversity of our pluralistic society, and to develop a deeper understanding of English” along with another article called The Benefits of American Sign Language, which said, “ The learning of American Sign Language develops awareness and sensitivity to cultural and linguistic diversity in addition to preserving the cultural identity of one. It also provides cultural enrichment and is the best means of fostering understanding between people who are hard of hearing and those who are not.”

There are many other benefits to learning ASL as well, besides the cultural aspect of it. In an article written by Gemma Matheson, she said that “sign language can be used when the spoken word is physically impossible, such as talking underwater, through glass, from a distance, at a loud music concert, and when your mouth is full.” She also said that, “sign language can also let you talk to someone without interrupting others with noise,” such as being “in the cinema without disturbing anyone with noise.”

For those who worry that ASL might be too tricky to learn, don’t worry. According to Juan Koss, a professional writer, sign language is one of the easiest languages to learn, as so many of the signs are commonplace gestures. Learning sign language can also enhance your reaction times and peripheral vision, according to a study at Sheffield. They found that deaf adults have the best peripheral vision and reaction times, compared to hearing adults.

Finally, speaking in sign language can help you be a better listener and friend. It requires you to put your full focus and concentration on the person signing to you. Eye contact is very important, and once must not only focus on the hand gestures, but also the facial expressions and body movement, as it is as important as speaking with your hands. Sign language makes you a better listener in total. Learning the language also helps you connect to deaf students, or people in the community. There are nearly 28 million Americans suffering from hearing loss, and learning the language will help you talk to those people and make them feel at home. So, Gloucester High School, make ASL a foreign language class, and open the eyes of the students to this amazing culture.