ASL classes on campus offer insight and interaction with Deaf community

American Sign Language classes on campus offer insight and interaction with Deaf community

If you walk into Ann Knudsvig’s American Sign Language class, you would notice that the room would be completely silent. The chairs would be in a circle formation with students signing to one another or watching Knudsvig sign.

This is an average day of class for an American Sign Language student at East Tennessee State University. According to the Director of Student Success Megan Roberts, 46 students have declared an ASL minor since its creation Spring 2018.

This minor has opened up the door for students to explore the culture and communication of a large population of people in the area and across the country.

“Depending on whose statistic you read, some people say ASL is the third most commonly used language in this country, others say it’s the fourth.  So, if ASL is above all these other languages, why shouldn’t it be offered if it’s used more often in this country?” said Knudsvig on the importance of having American Sign Language classes.

After two semesters, the opportunity to learn this language gave way to students interacting with the Deaf community more. Deaf chats are hosted monthly at the Sherrod Library, events are interpreted on campus, and Knudsvig makes it mandatory for her students to attend at least four events that involve the Deaf community or sign language throughout the semester.

“Learning sign language lets us better include all of our community members and better serve the community. It helps them better access services and engage with their regional community,” said Mallakai Bass, a junior taking ASL classes at ETSU. “As more students learn ASL, it becomes easier to find cashiers and servers who can sign and be respectful of deaf culture.”

As more students expressed excitement and interest in the minor or the classes, the Deaf community began to feel more engaged and accepted on campus.

“I hear that [it has made them feel more welcomed] all the time,” said Knudsvig. “They are just thrilled to bits that we are here and we’re growing a signing community. This is just going to expand all their potential persons that they’ll run into. There’s just more people they will be able to communicate with.”

The experience of signing does come with its differences to other learned languages.

“It’s very emotive, almost like a dance. It requires the use of your face, hands, arms, and general attitude in order to get your point across.” said another ASL student, Jordan Wiley.

Adjunct professor Joshua Dowling, a new addition to ETSU’s American Sign Language department, speaks on this difference and how his role in the Deaf community allows him to be an ASL professor.

“In order to know and understand ASL and how it functions within both Deaf and Hearing communities, you need a person that is an epitome of that. It's like French or German. In order to appreciate it, you need to expose yourself to the cultural nuances. You want a culturally Deaf person teaching ASL; you want someone who is fluent and competent in this area, at least for the cultural aspect along with the academic aspect.”

Dowling also added that in the short time he has served at ETSU, he has already experienced “a warm welcome here”, and he has enjoyed very much his “first semester teaching hearing students at a regular university as opposed to the deaf institutions in the big cities.”

Knudsvig hopes that students will try ASL as a chance to better understand the world around them.

“Research shows that students who study at least another language grow interest in learning other languages. And by learning more languages, you are also learning about more and more cultures. I think you become a more worldly person in the end.”

ETSU’s Sign Language department continues to experience growth; in the fall, they are expected to have another full-time professor and an additional Graduate Assistant. Students interested in enrolling in American Sign Language classes should email Ann Knudsvig at knudsvig@etsu.edu. If you want to be a part of a campus group that advocates for and discusses Deaf and Hard of Hearing issues, email Libby Tipton at tiptone@etsu.edu to become a member of the Silent Bucs.