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Georgia Center helps meet demand for American Sign Language instruction

May 08, 2015

Description: The students form groups to practice in the American Sign Language class in Gwinnett. l-r: sign language instructor Ashia James; Christopher Gomis lives in Duluth, GA and is a computer software tech; Tanya Wise lives in Atlanta and is an interpreter; Kelly Koogler is a "mom" who lives in Braselton, GA; Kyley Koogler is a student and lives in Braselton, GA (Kyley is Kelly's daughter) Date of Photo: 4/7/2015 Credit: Peter Frey, University of Georgia Photographic Services File: 32642-353The University of Georgia owns the rights to this image or has permission to redistribute this image. Permission to use this image is granted for internal UGA publications and promotions and for a one-time use for news purposes. Separate permission and payment of a fee is required to use any image for any other purpose, including but not limited to, commercial, advertising or illustrative purposes. Unauthorized use of any of these copyrighted photographs is unlawful and may subject the user to civil and criminal penalties. Possession of this image signifies agreement to all the terms described above.

Writer: Angela Seal

As demand for American Sign Language (ASL) courses increase, the University of Georgia is offering more classes in and outside Athens and is considering adding ASL courses geared to people in specific careers, such as medicine and education.

The Georgia Center for Continuing Education now offers four levels of ASL classes in Athens and at the UGA campus in Gwinnett County. Students have been asking for an additional level of study to further increase their proficiency.

“Students are as far advanced as they are because they do a lot of practice at home, They’re a very dedicated group of folks.” said Venus Stone, a program coordinator for the Georgia Center.

Some of the students who enroll in the ASL continuing education courses want to be able to communicate better with friends or family who are deaf, Stone said. Georgia Center.

“There are some people who come in who are looking to use it in their jobs,” Stone said. “We have people who are in healthcare or particularly in education (who are) looking at it from a more professional standpoint.”

Improved marketing helped increase enrollment after a slow start in 2011.

“We didn’t do so well that first year,” Stone said. “We ended up canceling a lot of classes.”Students earn certificates of program completion for basic and advanced levels and course hours can be counted as continuing education units (CEUs) for Georgia teachers and as a foreign language credit for some high school students.

“We focus on language acquisition and trying to develop that vocabulary to be able to communicate,” said Aisha James, an ASL course instructor. Students are expected to be conversant in sign language after completing the fourth level course.

Alphonso McKibbins, 36, is taking sign language classes offered through UGA at the Gwinnett Campus. He hopes to pursue a career in the field.

“I’m using the class to prepare me to interview for the interpreter program at Georgia Perimeter (College),” said McKibbins, who lives in Riverdale, Ga., and is a substance abuse counselor. “I know some people who are deaf and I also want to be able to communicate with them. I really have developed a really fond interest in ASL.”

Learn more about courses offered by the Georgia Center for Continuing Education at http://www.georgiacenter.uga.edu.