American Sign Language Students Share Skills in Community

Learning American Sign Language (ASL) at The University of Scranton is so much more than classroom instruction. This year, students studying American Sign Language through the World Language Department collaborated with the Scranton School for Deaf and Hard of Hearing, the Abington Community Library and the Choices for Children Early Intervention program to put their classroom skills to use in the community.

As with all of the language courses at the University, classroom instruction is done in the native language, in this case without the use of voice. Students have the opportunity to develop their skills so that they are able to communicate with native speakers. This year students have had the opportunity to take their classroom learning into the community and participate in storytelling at the library, Christmas on the Green and Family Learning Day sponsored by partners in the community.

For the first time this spring, students partnered with Campus Missions and Ministry to offer a Mass that included sign language and was accessible to members of the community.

A family attending Mass had this to share, "This is so important for our family. To be able to attend a Mass where we can all participate, together, is truly a blessing!"

As its students graduate and go into the world, the faculty of the World Languages Department noted that it is "amazing to know that students will be ready and able to use their language skills to make our community a more inclusive place for everyone".