Sign Language popularity increases

With 51 foreign languages offered on the IU-Bloomington campus, it is not a problem to fulfill the foreign language requirements needed for many majors. \nEuropean languages, Slavic languages, East Asian languages, African languages and so many more offer a spectrum of opportunities to study a language from any part of the world. \nMany students learn foreign languages to experience a different culture, become more marketable or just fulfill a requirement. But the most waitlisted department at IU is actually an American language.\nWith more than 400 students taking American Sign Language this semester, and many more wishing they could be so lucky, the four ASL professors have their hands full. Only 19 classes are offered each semester, but hundreds of students are still on the waitlist. \nAmy Cornwell, the only hearing professor in the department, said the "word is out" that ASL faculty is fun. Students said they love their teachers. \nIn a 200-level class, one student confidently said, "The teachers are great!" \nRebecca Appelman, the undergraduate academic advisor for the Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences, said ASL students learn more than some people might think.\n"I think that students often don't realize the tremendous amount they are learning in the way of sentence structure, grammar, etc., because they love it so much," Appelman said. "In addition, they learn a great amount about deaf culture. (ASL is special because) it actively involves the students."\nStudents said they love the interactive learning ASL provides. For example, 300-level students went on an overnight trip to University-owned camp Bradford Woods last month. They participated in camp-like activities such as group projects and skits but were not allowed to speak with their mouths at any point during the trip.\n"(The trip was a chance) to bond and practice and use the language outside of the classroom: at dinner, breakfast (and) as they are walking along," Cornwell said. "In everything that they do, they are expected to be signing."\nThe ASL department also sponsors the ASL Symposium once a semester. Last year, a hearing-impaired dance and theater group called Rathskellar performed. A magician and a drummer who are both deaf also appeared. This year, the Symposium is scheduled for 7 p.m. Nov. 13 at Bloomington High School South. \nHowever, the activities offered are not the only reason students are continually drawn to ASL. Appelman said sign language is a very useful skill to have because it is so practical. Those considering taking ASL know it can be used in the United States because it has a strong presence in American society, Cornwell said.\n"(The language) truly has a culture of its own that deaf people are very proud of," Cornwell said. "It has a usefulness ... it is something that is different from the typical foreign languages offered on campus, but it is very practical."\nASL is different from the typical foreign language. Conversational ASL (signing) has a different structure than conventional spoken English. When one signs the sentence "I went to visit my friend," for example, it is signed, "Friend I go--there visit."\nProfessor Joseph Murray, who is hearing impaired and communicated for this story through written words, said "You sign in ASL and you write in English."\nSo, how can students be a part of all the fun? It isn't easy. ASL is the most waitlisted class on campus.\n"We do not give priority to anyone for ASL classes, not even to our own majors in speech and hearing sciences," Appelman said. "This simply would be unfair to students."\nPreviously, registration included a rain-check list, which allowed students to waitlist classes in later semesters. But the rain-check is no longer an option due to new software, and this complicates the process of ensuring that a student can take ASL courses in the future.\nMurray said that in past years, the waitlist had almost 700 names on it. Now, the process is different and there has been a decrease in the usual numbers this semester. \n"(Some students) didn't know that they could waitlist more than one section," Appelman said.\nCornwell said there are very few freshmen who get into the courses because juniors and seniors register sooner in IU's system. This might be bad news for a freshman looking to learn ASL, but there is hope. All 19 courses offered by the department are offered during the summer. Cornwell said summer classes can close, but there are usually openings.\nBoth summer sessions hold options for students who cannot get into classes during the fall and spring semesters. Cornwell said the second summer session had fewer students in it than the first summer session in 2004, so waiting a little longer might be the ticket into the high demand classes.\n-- Contact staff writer Dana Shapiro at dlshapir@indiana.edu.