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I have
had the opportunity to have taken an ASL class a few years ago at SJC. The material and different signs that Vicki taught
us was a nice refresher for me. I still do not remember as much as I would like but hopefully I will take another ASL class
one day. Prior to Vicki visiting our class I had thought about looking into classes that I would need to take to become
an ASL interpreter. I had the wonderful opportunity to have a friend whose parents are both deaf. This really sparked my attention
and desire to learn sign language. My friends’ father is a preacher for a deaf church and I joined them for Thanksgiving
dinner. I was the only person in the entire church who did not speak sign language. What an experience and an eye opener that
was for me! I felt as if I was in another country, with everyone around me speaking a completely foreign
language. I witnessed families and friends all bound together in this culture that I had little to absolutely zero knowledge
about. It was crazy for me to think about a culture, an American culture, being so foreign in America to so
many people. I opened my eyes to an entirely new group of people whom I probably would
have never been around if it was not for that Thanksgiving dinner. Perhaps because I have lived in Farmington for the majority of my life and its deaf community is very small, I had honestly
never thought of deaf people having a culture of their own. Sign Language has a culture of its own just as any other foreign
language does. I think that learning sign Language, and any other foreign language, is very valuable to my future as a teacher
and as member of society. I can't wait to take my next ASL class!
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