“The Importance of Learning Sign Language.”

Sign Language is important to learn for many reasons. I am very surprised that public schools do not include Sign Language as a foreign language. After all, over half of all Americans are born deaf or become deaf from old age and other causes. (gri.gallaudet.edu) I personally have taken four years of American Sign Language in addition to my homeschool classes. I feel that not only should public schools include Sign Language as a foreign language, but also that more of us should learn to sign so that we can communicate with our deaf and hard of hearing friends and neighbors.

I will never forget the time that I met a woman who was deaf, and needed my help. I was fourteen at the time, and in my second year of sign Language classes. I was waiting for a customer at my local grocery store to move her cart so that I could get to some item. After a moment of confusion, the woman looked around and started moving her arms up in down in a frantic motion. I had no idea what she was doing. She ran from one side of the isle to the next with her cheeks blazing red. She looked at me and started signing. At first I could not understand her, she was going too fast. But then I signed to her the words I know sign language. She then explained to me in signs that she lost her son, who was also deaf, and needed my help. I was nervous thinking that I was the only one who could help her. However, we both looked in a few isles until we found her son. I will never forget how glad I was that I knew sign language and that she asked me for help. I don’t know who she knew that I could sign, however, I am glad that I was in the right place at the right time.

Even though many people are deaf, Sign Language is usually restricted to just a few people per community. I hope that one day sign language can be taught at more community colleges, schools, and other organizations so that we can learn to communicate in an additional way with our friends and neighbors.