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http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2005/12/10/news/community/22_37_4712_9_05.txt
A lesson unfolded Friday morning inside a classroom packed with students at Bella Vista Middle School, each one of whom asked and answered questions through moving their hands in graceful, yet pointed strokes ---- barely a word was spoken.
The sign language class is part of the school's new Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program, launched at the campus this year to allow three local hearing-impaired students a chance to continue their education in the area, said Principal Pam Keller.
But the program is offering added benefits for the entire campus.
A class of nearly 40 students taking the sign language class has acquired a new language, and the campus as a whole has learned to respect and understand those with disabilities by getting to know the school's three deaf or hard-of-hearing students, school officials said.
It's the only program of its kind in Southwest County for middle-schoolers, Keller said.
"I think it has definitely created an awareness on the campus," said Tracy L'Angelle, an interpreter who attends classes with the three students and signs their teachers' lectures.
She said that without the program, hearing students may have felt uncomfortable when coming across someone who uses sign language to communicate. Now, having either seen L'Angelle interpret for students in class or enrolled in the sign language elective, hearing students are more comfortable and understanding about those who use sign language, she said.
As for the schools' deaf or hard-of-hearing students, the program has been a boon for them, too, L'Angelle said. Perhaps one of the most difficult aspects of interpreting for the students is quickly translating lectures with unusual vocabularies, such as science, she said. Other than that, the students appear to be taking to middle school quite well, she said.
"From my perspective as an interpreter, I feel that the (deaf or hard-of-hearing students) feel comfortable socially," she said. "They have friends. They ask questions. They answer questions."
Jade Johnson, 11, a hard-of-hearing student, said through L'Angelle that she felt a bit nervous when she first started school at Bella Vista, but no longer, she said, adding that she enjoys her classes.
"I feel fine and comfortable," she signed.
On the flip side, hearing students appear to be taking to sign language splendidly. Students in the sign language class Friday welcomed a guest "speaker," the second in two weeks.
David Michel, who was born deaf, signed to the students for nearly an hour, answering a barrage of questions about where he grew up, what he does for a living, his favorite food, pets, family and more. Many students in the class seemed to thrive on the silent lesson, some of them practically jumping out of their chairs to ask and answer questions with Michel.
At the end of the class lesson, Michel surprised the students by showing them that even though he is deaf, he had learned to speak.
"It was my pleasure to come here," he said to a room full of dropped jaws.
The students in the class have also learned to sign the song "Happy Birthday" and the Pledge of Allegiance, the latter of which is broadcast across the campus about once a week.
Next month, the students will be videotaped signing children's books. Those recordings will be donated to French Valley Elementary School, which also has some deaf students.
"It gives the deaf students books they can follow along with, and gives the hearing students something to learn from," Keller said.
A lesson unfolded Friday morning inside a classroom packed with students at Bella Vista Middle School, each one of whom asked and answered questions through moving their hands in graceful, yet pointed strokes ---- barely a word was spoken.
The sign language class is part of the school's new Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program, launched at the campus this year to allow three local hearing-impaired students a chance to continue their education in the area, said Principal Pam Keller.
But the program is offering added benefits for the entire campus.
A class of nearly 40 students taking the sign language class has acquired a new language, and the campus as a whole has learned to respect and understand those with disabilities by getting to know the school's three deaf or hard-of-hearing students, school officials said.
It's the only program of its kind in Southwest County for middle-schoolers, Keller said.
"I think it has definitely created an awareness on the campus," said Tracy L'Angelle, an interpreter who attends classes with the three students and signs their teachers' lectures.
She said that without the program, hearing students may have felt uncomfortable when coming across someone who uses sign language to communicate. Now, having either seen L'Angelle interpret for students in class or enrolled in the sign language elective, hearing students are more comfortable and understanding about those who use sign language, she said.
As for the schools' deaf or hard-of-hearing students, the program has been a boon for them, too, L'Angelle said. Perhaps one of the most difficult aspects of interpreting for the students is quickly translating lectures with unusual vocabularies, such as science, she said. Other than that, the students appear to be taking to middle school quite well, she said.
"From my perspective as an interpreter, I feel that the (deaf or hard-of-hearing students) feel comfortable socially," she said. "They have friends. They ask questions. They answer questions."
Jade Johnson, 11, a hard-of-hearing student, said through L'Angelle that she felt a bit nervous when she first started school at Bella Vista, but no longer, she said, adding that she enjoys her classes.
"I feel fine and comfortable," she signed.
On the flip side, hearing students appear to be taking to sign language splendidly. Students in the sign language class Friday welcomed a guest "speaker," the second in two weeks.
David Michel, who was born deaf, signed to the students for nearly an hour, answering a barrage of questions about where he grew up, what he does for a living, his favorite food, pets, family and more. Many students in the class seemed to thrive on the silent lesson, some of them practically jumping out of their chairs to ask and answer questions with Michel.
At the end of the class lesson, Michel surprised the students by showing them that even though he is deaf, he had learned to speak.
"It was my pleasure to come here," he said to a room full of dropped jaws.
The students in the class have also learned to sign the song "Happy Birthday" and the Pledge of Allegiance, the latter of which is broadcast across the campus about once a week.
Next month, the students will be videotaped signing children's books. Those recordings will be donated to French Valley Elementary School, which also has some deaf students.
"It gives the deaf students books they can follow along with, and gives the hearing students something to learn from," Keller said.
