Why Learn Sign Language

The Many Varied Reasons

"I decided to learn sign language after I worked as a relay operator in Arizona. I loved being able to facilitate a conversation between people who would not otherwise get to communicate with each other. I signed up for the Interpreter Training Program at my local community college. However, I was so beat down by the instructor, and told over and over again that, as a hearing person, I could never even hope to sign as well as a deaf person, and no matter what I did or was, the Deaf would always consider me inferior to them. I don't know if this is true or not for all Deaf people, because after one year of stomachache after stomachache and being told I looked "ugly and sloppy" on camera, I decided there was no way I was going to live my life trying to help those who didn't want my help in my community. I'm going to be a philosophy professor instead. Too bad."
—About Visitor
"When I started college I was in the Deaf/HOH program. I was the only one in it who could not sing. I was always a lip reader because I started losing my hearing when I was 12. My teachers inn high school always treated me like I was stupid because I was HOH. I finally enrolled in MENSA to shut them up. I learned ASL because in college all the people I took classes with used it. I picked most of it up by reading lips and watching signing at the same time. I still need to take a class but I really like sign language. The biggest fight is getting my husband to learn it. I keep warning him my hearing loss is progressive. One day when he can't get me to understand what he is saying he may just give in and learn! Ha! Anyway sign is great and it helps a lot getting around. I have a lot of deaf patients nowadays and that helps me as a nurse to be able to understand them. I guess the reasons are endless."
—About Visitor
"I decided to learn sign language because I want to be a Sign Language Interpreter. When I was in 5th grade they offered a sign language class after school and ever since then I've loved it and wanted to be an Interpreter."
—About Visitor
"Why I learned sign language. When I was lose hearing age 2. The Air Force Doctor told my parents that not to teach me how to sign language. My father was rejected my brothers/sisters and mother sign language, wanted me to talk like hearing world. When I came to Junior High School; find that some of deaf and hard of hearing students were sign language that I have never knew what it is about. My former teacher Mr. M took me to his class and let me learn his sign language. I was 13 years old. I would Thanks to Mr. M for letting me learn sign language. My mother allowed me sign language. My parents were divorced that time I was 7 years old. I taught my two grown sons with sign language. Also I taught some of friends. It is better communication for deaf/hard of hearing, which you make mistaken words of oral like fifteen/fifty. You can look at your mirror and see how confuse deaf/hard of hearing misunderstanding words of mouth. I have new doctor who know sign language that I have never had doctor who not sign language. I was very glad to have doctor sign language instead of interpreter."
—About Visitor
"I have always wanted to learn sign language. I used to watch Sesame Street, when I was a kid. And, There is a deaf woman, named Linda, on the show. I used to tell my mom that I wanted to learn "Linda's language". Years later, the community college was offering non-credit classes in sign language. That was 3 years ago, and I've been signing ever since. Now, I want to interpret for the deaf, and deaf children in my school district."
—About Visitor
"I learned to sign because my daughter is deaf. It's amazing how many parents do not feel this is a valid reason. I now am an interpreter in the educational setting and love the fact that I can make the world a better place for another person."
—About Visitor
"I decided to learn sign language because I was interested from a very young age. In girl scouts, we were taught to sign a song. I still remembered it in high school, and decided to learn. I found it hard to teach myself, so in college I took classes, and LOVED it. Now I interpret in church every Sunday night. It's a joy to serve God with the talents He's given me. I hope that many more people will teach ASL and learn ASL so that our deaf friends can better know God."
—About Visitor
"I was taught sign language from the day I was born.My parents are both deaf and signlanguage was our home based language.I am hearing and now have my own family. My first child has a severe hearing loss. I knew when she was two days old and so we signed to her from the beginning.Sign language should be something that every one is taught because it is a way of communication without having to speak and in lots of situations my partner and I use sign because it is convenient. Like for example when we are at a night club and it is hard to hear over the loud music, or instead of yelling across the road we can