Anyone here learn American Sign Language?? degree-related question (bachelors, skills, Associates degree)

[fierce_flawless]

I am just curious as to how long it took you to become really proficient.

I had this suggested to me before here on CD... the idea of taking courses to become an ASL interpreter. I have recently been researching the career of Speech Language Pathology which requires a Master's degree..

So I have been trying to figure out if I want to do this, should I do my undergrad in SLP/ communication disorders, or something else like Psychology... and how all of this ties in (if it does at all) with what I'm doing now in community college.

I was trying to figure out what I could take now at the CC level that would transfer and apply to the future degree and sure enough, what my school recommends for people wanting to transfer and major in SLP/Communication disorders, or Special Education, and some others, is an AA in American Sign Language. Hmmm.

I am at a point right now where I need to figure out what degree I want for my Associate's. I have covered most of the gen. ed. requirements (minus math) for a variety of degree plans so I need to narrow it down at this point.

Ideally it would be something that applies to my transfer/undergrad but ALSO is something that would help me get a job, freelance, part time, etc while I am finishing school, even if it was just summer work. So I was thinking that learning ASL might be a good idea. That's my long roundabout way of asking if anyone here has chosen this career path, or learned ASL because of a loved one that is hearing impaired, or just learned it "just because", and how long it took you.

[butterflyinthesky]

Majoring in ASL is a difficult and minoring in Interpreting is not an easy course but it is a rewarding career. It requires lots of outside workshops and meeting plus all assigned work from professors. With the No Child Left Behind, many states lack qualified instructors in a school setting, hospitals and court systems. You need to choose a college that offers a B.A or B.S degree. University of Tennessee, Gardner-Webb University in North Carolina and colleges in Texas would be a great place to start. All ASL students must take a proficency test and are encouraged to take the R.I.D. exam. What ever you do--get a bachelors degree and a masters degree. Some colleges offer certificate degrees. In my opinion-you would be wasteing your time and money.
Read more: [URL]http://www.city-data.com/forum/education/736840-anyone-here-learn-american-sign-language.html#ixzz0Qfmat7Os[/URL]

[Mattie]

I looked into the course several months ago. I had read an article confirming what the previous poster wrote, which is that people trained in ASL are in short supply. Unfortunately, I couldn't find a program near me that fit my schedule.

[toobusytoday]

My daughter has a good friend that graduated with a degree in American sign language. She works and supports herself as a free-lance speech interpreter. She works in public schools and is on-call for the police and courts. She got her degree from Admissions - Bloomsburg University (http://www.bloomu.edu/admissions/programs/asl.php - broken link) Sounds like a very interesting and rewarding career.

[mm_mary73]

Originally Posted by fierce_flawless

I am just curious as to how long it took you to become really proficient.

I had this suggested to me before here on CD... the idea of taking courses to become an ASL interpreter. I have recently been researching the career of Speech Language Pathology which requires a Master's degree..

So I have been trying to figure out if I want to do this, should I do my undergrad in SLP/ communication disorders, or something else like Psychology... and how all of this ties in (if it does at all) with what I'm doing now in community college.

I was trying to figure out what I could take now at the CC level that would transfer and apply to the future degree and sure enough, what my school recommends for people wanting to transfer and major in SLP/Communication disorders, or Special Education, and some others, is an AA in American Sign Language. Hmmm.

I am at a point right now where I need to figure out what degree I want for my Associate's. I have covered most of the gen. ed. requirements (minus math) for a variety of degree plans so I need to narrow it down at this point.

Ideally it would be something that applies to my transfer/undergrad but ALSO is something that would help me get a job, freelance, part time, etc while I am finishing school, even if it was just summer work. So I was thinking that learning ASL might be a good idea. That's my long roundabout way of asking if anyone here has chosen this career path, or learned ASL because of a loved one that is hearing impaired, or just learned it "just because", and how long it took you.

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association | ASHA (http://www.asha.org./default.htm - broken link)

[futureofpossibilities]

I've been looking into getting my B.A. in ASL and moving into aninterpreting job while workin on a double major.
I have a friend who has been deaf his whole life. i would like to state first that, unknown to many, it is quite disrespectful to refer to a deaf person as "hearing impared" deaf people do not see themselves, nor should others, as impared. african people might not speek our language but this does not make them impared, it makes them african, likewise, deaf people are not impared, but are deaf.Try and remember this when speaking in regards to a deaf person.
second, my friend has been encouraging my study of ASL and mentions often that there is quite a shortage in the ring of skilled interpreters. with the newer technology in phone comunication, a good interpreter is imparitive. there are endless possibilities and avenues to work in the field of ASL, its quite rewarding.

[rbayron]

My wife grew up learning ASL and has always had many Deaf friends. She has an Associates Degree in ASL. But instead of teaching ASL in an institutionalized setting or working as an interpreter, she started teaching on her own, and is coupling ASL with Deaf Culture.

Her students not only learn how to sign (as far as vocabulary, grammar, facial expression, context, etc.), but also how the Deaf Community works at a social unit.

After all, no matter why you choose to learn ASL, part of that reason is going to involve communicating with the Deaf on some level. Being that their culture is so different from our hearing culture, it's important to know who you're speaking to, and not just what you're saying.

[jasper12]

You can get an AA degree from a community college in ASL to do interpreting. You need to learn both ASL and Signed English. Interpreting can be hard, and easy to get muscle fatigue. I know both ASL and SE, but can't do interpreting, I don't have the fine motor skills any longer, too much arthritis in my fingers.

You need to have good boundaries for this job. Many deaf people will want to be your friend, and then use you in social situations to do interpreting. So it becomes a problem, listen to me now, don't do it. It starts out innocently enough, just a lunch here, drink there, next thing you know, everyone expects interpreting all the time, for everything.

Also, you find out many things about people, and you need to maintain strict professionalism, and high confidentiality. If you tend to like to gossip, you will lose your job.

Deaf culture is very different, and evolving with less residential schools, cochlear implants, and emphasis on LRE.

[Megadell]

A woman in one of my classes was deaf and had an interpreter. He told me he made 6 figures. But you need to be good. Really good.

[MustangEater82]

My mom teaches deaf ed.... I would focus primarily on an SLP, Masters and getting your C's, and Sign language, is a definite plus, but I think going SLP, leaves you open to many more things down the line.