Miss-Delectable
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Signing is a link to others for the deaf 080907 - The Augusta Chronicle
Some nonverbal conversations can be quite animated.
"Signing is almost like miming," Jacqueline Graham said. "You have a lot of movements to represent something else, and other times, you use expressions to help get a point across."
Outside of those who are deaf, American Sign Language is unknown to many, said Ms. Graham. That is something the Augusta American Sign Language Group plans to change.
"We created this group to teach others to have an awareness and appreciation of deaf culture," she said. "Being deaf is a culture. You know how you have a culture specific to a particular group? Well, they (deaf people) have their own culture, their own dos and don'ts, too."
The group meets weekly with people of all ages to teach them sign language and about the culture through guides, books, games, guest speakers and one another's knowledge of the language.
Ms. Graham learned American Sign Language for volunteer efforts and to teach it to her sons in their home-school curriculum, she said.
Two years later, she volunteers as an interpreter and is teaching the language to others, but doesn't she consider herself to be an expert.
"I'm to the point where I can communicate with a deaf person but I still consider myself a new kid on the block because there is so much to learn," she said.
Many tend to think of sign language classes as being for adults, but the classes are beneficial for children, too, said Nasia Murray, a mother of three who teaches signing at the meetings.
"I've taught my children how to sign, and I think it is a good thing for them. They never have any tantrums because they can express themselves without the yelling and screaming," she said. "It also helps them to read. I'll sign out the letters and move my hands to help them learn the words. Personally, I believe that it's because of signing."
Thirteen-year-old Justin Graham agreed.
"Signing allows us to be expressive," he said. "Sometimes, I just sign when I get mad instead of yelling and stuff."
For those interested in learning sign language, Ms. Murray suggests starting with the basics:
"The first thing I would tell people to learn is the alphabet. That way, even if you don't know the sign, you can spell out the words. If you want to learn, it's not going to be tough at all."
SIGNING UP
What: American Sign Language classes
When: 6 p.m. Wednesdays
Where: Diamond Lakes Branch Library, 401 Diamond Lakes Way, Hephzibah
Cost: Free
Some nonverbal conversations can be quite animated.
"Signing is almost like miming," Jacqueline Graham said. "You have a lot of movements to represent something else, and other times, you use expressions to help get a point across."
Outside of those who are deaf, American Sign Language is unknown to many, said Ms. Graham. That is something the Augusta American Sign Language Group plans to change.
"We created this group to teach others to have an awareness and appreciation of deaf culture," she said. "Being deaf is a culture. You know how you have a culture specific to a particular group? Well, they (deaf people) have their own culture, their own dos and don'ts, too."
The group meets weekly with people of all ages to teach them sign language and about the culture through guides, books, games, guest speakers and one another's knowledge of the language.
Ms. Graham learned American Sign Language for volunteer efforts and to teach it to her sons in their home-school curriculum, she said.
Two years later, she volunteers as an interpreter and is teaching the language to others, but doesn't she consider herself to be an expert.
"I'm to the point where I can communicate with a deaf person but I still consider myself a new kid on the block because there is so much to learn," she said.
Many tend to think of sign language classes as being for adults, but the classes are beneficial for children, too, said Nasia Murray, a mother of three who teaches signing at the meetings.
"I've taught my children how to sign, and I think it is a good thing for them. They never have any tantrums because they can express themselves without the yelling and screaming," she said. "It also helps them to read. I'll sign out the letters and move my hands to help them learn the words. Personally, I believe that it's because of signing."
Thirteen-year-old Justin Graham agreed.
"Signing allows us to be expressive," he said. "Sometimes, I just sign when I get mad instead of yelling and stuff."
For those interested in learning sign language, Ms. Murray suggests starting with the basics:
"The first thing I would tell people to learn is the alphabet. That way, even if you don't know the sign, you can spell out the words. If you want to learn, it's not going to be tough at all."
SIGNING UP
What: American Sign Language classes
When: 6 p.m. Wednesdays
Where: Diamond Lakes Branch Library, 401 Diamond Lakes Way, Hephzibah
Cost: Free
