Each week approximately 40 eager students and one very dedicated volunteer meet to learn how to communicate with deaf and hearing-impaired persons. Even extra homework does not deter these students.

All eyes are on speech therapist Jen Parker's hands as she reinforces vocabulary lessons and demonstrates new signs. Students first learned finger spelling, using signs to form individual letters and numbers. They have since progressed to signs relating to people, home items, school and manners.

Knowledge of each letter is particularly important as “words” often consist of a letter sign coupled with an action. For example, tapping on one's wrist with the “D” sign (like taking a pulse) represents “doctor.” The same gesture with the “N” sign signifies “nurse.”

Where the sign is made also carries special significance. Masculine words such as “boy” and “father” are made at the forehead while feminine words like “girl” or “mother” are formed along the jaw-line and chin. These markers originated from the image of a man tipping his hat and a woman tying her bonnet.

During a recent lesson, students lined up row by row in front of the stage. Each child had to decipher a sign from a flashcard and then finger spell the word to the audience. Hands shot up immediately as students were ready to volunteer answers. This practice drill demonstrated an effective way to reinforce signing and “reading” skills.

Developing empathy and understanding is also an important goal of the club. Following the drill, students gathered around Parker as she read a story about a deaf child. Several students already have a special sensitivity to the needs of the deaf community and explained their motivation to participate in the club.

“My great-grandma is a little deaf so now we can teach her a few words,” Leslie Kiser said.

“I want to talk with my grandpa,” Jessica Richardson said. “He can't hear well and can't go outside anymore. I don't want him to feel so alone.”

When asked about their favorite signs, students were quick to answer. Emma Blodgett and Katie Parker like the sign for “family,” two rotating “F” signs, because knowing it enables them to sing “We Are Family” in sign language. Cheyenne Wiggins prefers “pretty” for a special reason:

“My new teddy bear's name is Pretty. Now I can sign it.”

Watching in amazement as the students easily and confidently communicated in their new language, my three favorite signs quickly came to mind: “please slow down; I don't understand,” because there are three distinct signs to indicate this entire phrase. No doubt they will come in very handy during future visits to the Sign Language Club.

Leslie Leary is a foundation consultant for the Auburn Education Foundation

By Leslie Leary
http://www.auburnpub.com/articles/2006/03/03/news/lake_life/feat04.txt