Thinking of taking an American Sign Language (ASL) class?

Are you willing to learn to do these things?

1) Are you willing to learn to keep your voice off for an entire class period while interacting
with others around you?
Keeping your voice off also includes not whispering. This is because, like using your voice,
whispering is auditory. Voicing and whispering are auditory communication, which is understood
through your ears. ASL is not understood through your ears, it’s understood through your eyes. ASL
teachers’ notice when voicing and whispering is happening because people’s heads turn in the
direction of the sound. ASL teachers also notice when voicing and whispering is happening because
it’s inaccessible to and inconsiderate of the language and culture that’s being taught.

2) Are you willing to learn to use only visual communication with your classmates and teacher
for an entire class period?
Visual communication includes ASL, writing, drawing and natural body language / gestures. If
you don’t understand what’s being signed, you indicate this by using visual communication.
Explanations and clarifications, whether from classmates or your teacher will be given visually. This
can mean a lot of writing, which requires patience as writing takes longer than voicing or whispering
but is an authentic experience that is respectful of the language and culture you are learning.

3) Are you willing to learn to maintain eye contact with people who are signing for an entire
class period?
Eye contact is an important component of ASL. Without eye contact, ASL communication isn’t
happening. Looking away means the communication has been interrupted or broken and must be re-
established and repaired.

4) Are you willing to learn to refrain from using your phone or from drawing for an entire class
period?
Doing these and other things that break eye contact with the person who’s signing means that
everybody in the room must wait for eye contact to be re-established. In addition, what was missed
must be repeated and clarified. For the same reason that we notice voicing and whispering, (see # 1
above) ASL teachers quickly notice who’s using their phone or who’s doodling because eye contact
has been broken.

5) Are you willing to learn to respect that during an ASL class, even if you’re done with a
dialogue, exercise or activity, you are still expected to keep your voice off and avoid
whispering?
(See #1 above.) In many if not most of your other classes, being done with something means
that you can go on to other things. For example, if you’re done with a Science lab, perhaps you can
get to your Math homework during Science class. This doesn’t usually happen during ASL class.
During ASL class, you are expected to be having an authentic cultural immersion experience during
the entire time you are in the room.

6) Are you willing to study and practice outside of class as needed to do well on quizzes and
presentations?
Unlike other World Language classes, ASL doesn’t have a written component. This doesn’t
mean there’s less work, however. What it means is that you must be independent enough to put in
the time and energy to be prepared for quizzes and presentations. Because you need your hands
for ASL and your eyes for eye contact, many presentations will be memorized. (You won’t be holding
a piece of paper.)
7) Are you willing to learn to immerse yourself in a language and culture that is different from
your own for an entire class period?
This means engaging in Deaf cultural practices (see # 1, 2 & 3 on the other side of this paper)
for an entire class period. Contrary to what some people think, ASL is not signing in English word
order. ASL has its own grammar and syntax and is quite different from English. For example, in
English, Wh- words such as who, what, where & which, when used to ask a question appear at the
beginning of a sentence. In ASL, Wh- words appear at the end of a sentence when they’re used to
ask a question.

8) Are you willing to learn to become comfortable using your face and body (not just your
hands) to communicate?
Facial expressions and body language are very important in ASL. ASL uses facial expression
and body language to communicate what spoken languages do via vocal inflection. In ASL, what’s on
your face can change the meaning of what’s on your hands.

9) Are you willing to have a good attitude about all of this and enjoy your class while following
its expectations?
In ASL class, your eyes do double duty. They may feel tired at the beginning. Over time, you
will get used to the visual demands of ASL, and you will enjoy interacting with others without using
your ears. Yes, ASL classes are fun and are more so when everybody is on board with the
expectations and demands of an ASL class.

10) Still want to take an American Sign Language (ASL) class?

Welcome! We look forward to interacting with you in the third most studied language at the
secondary level.