A New Way of Communicating
Sign Language in the World Today
Article by: Kylee Gerth
I have always been interested in sign language ever since I was little. My parents began teaching me sign-language when I was 2, and by the time I was 5 years old, I had already learned over 100 words and phrases. I was the only one in Elementary school that knew how to communicate using sign-language at that time. Since then, sign-language has become a second language to me.
When I was in 6th grade, I started learning how to perform songs using sign-language. My teacher, Beverly Moss, who still works at Wake Village Elementary, was my teacher at my church and also one of my biggest inspirations to learn sign-language. She taught me several songs, for example, the Revelation Song by Phillips, Craig, and Dean, and God's Not Dead by the Newsboys. I remember in 7th grade, she also taught me Winter Wonderland in sign-language for a Christmas concert at my church. In the spring of 2016, I entered the talent show at school and performed the Revelation song and won 3rd place. At the time, that was my biggest accomplishment.
In 10th grade, I attended my first Fine Arts competition in Waxahachie, Texas for sign-language. I was in a group with two other students from First Assembly of God/Lighthouse Ministries church and I performed a solo with the Revelation Song by Phillips, Craig, and Dean. Our teacher Neyna, taught us the song, What A Beautiful Name by Hillsong United in sign-language and even though we didn't win a shot at national's, the experience was still fun.
This year, I went back to Fine Arts for sign-language and I was put with four other students from my youth group at Northside Church. Our teacher, Kristy Sheek, taught us, Together by For King and Country, and I performed God's not Dead by The Newsboys. Both our group and my solo for American Sign Language received superior invitations to national's. The competition for national's is held in Orlando, Florida this year, and I am so excited. Since I received a superior invitation, I had the choice to keep the song I performed district with or change it for national's, so I decided to pick another song. I already know which song I want to learn for National'-- it's called Boasting by Lecrae.
After I graduate high school, I plan on completing my associates degree at Texarkana College and then move to Little Rock, Arkansas for my bachelors degree in American Sign-Language at the University of Arkansas. Upon completing my college education, I would like to work at Arkansas School for the Deaf, which serves preschool through high school grade levels. I've always wanted to teach sign-language and help kids who need it because everyone deserves a chance at living a normal life. More people should learn sign-language because it is a very good skill to have. In the United States, sign-language interpreters can make up to $100k annually.
Sign-language has always been my passion. I knew, even at such a young age, that I wanted to become a sign-language interpreter. I just never knew how far it would get me in life. I don't know a lot of people who already have a plan for their life, but I have mine.
When I was in 6th grade, I started learning how to perform songs using sign-language. My teacher, Beverly Moss, who still works at Wake Village Elementary, was my teacher at my church and also one of my biggest inspirations to learn sign-language. She taught me several songs, for example, the Revelation Song by Phillips, Craig, and Dean, and God's Not Dead by the Newsboys. I remember in 7th grade, she also taught me Winter Wonderland in sign-language for a Christmas concert at my church. In the spring of 2016, I entered the talent show at school and performed the Revelation song and won 3rd place. At the time, that was my biggest accomplishment.
In 10th grade, I attended my first Fine Arts competition in Waxahachie, Texas for sign-language. I was in a group with two other students from First Assembly of God/Lighthouse Ministries church and I performed a solo with the Revelation Song by Phillips, Craig, and Dean. Our teacher Neyna, taught us the song, What A Beautiful Name by Hillsong United in sign-language and even though we didn't win a shot at national's, the experience was still fun.
This year, I went back to Fine Arts for sign-language and I was put with four other students from my youth group at Northside Church. Our teacher, Kristy Sheek, taught us, Together by For King and Country, and I performed God's not Dead by The Newsboys. Both our group and my solo for American Sign Language received superior invitations to national's. The competition for national's is held in Orlando, Florida this year, and I am so excited. Since I received a superior invitation, I had the choice to keep the song I performed district with or change it for national's, so I decided to pick another song. I already know which song I want to learn for National'-- it's called Boasting by Lecrae.
After I graduate high school, I plan on completing my associates degree at Texarkana College and then move to Little Rock, Arkansas for my bachelors degree in American Sign-Language at the University of Arkansas. Upon completing my college education, I would like to work at Arkansas School for the Deaf, which serves preschool through high school grade levels. I've always wanted to teach sign-language and help kids who need it because everyone deserves a chance at living a normal life. More people should learn sign-language because it is a very good skill to have. In the United States, sign-language interpreters can make up to $100k annually.
Sign-language has always been my passion. I knew, even at such a young age, that I wanted to become a sign-language interpreter. I just never knew how far it would get me in life. I don't know a lot of people who already have a plan for their life, but I have mine.