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Sign language classes expose hearing community to unfamiliar deaf culture - Features
City College's Sign Language program has seen some of its classes cut because of the budget crisis, including the elimination of high-level sign language courses, said the college's only deaf full-time faculty member.
Ignacio Ponce, an instructor in the college's School of Modern Language department who has been teaching Sign Language since 2007, said that though higher-level Sign Language courses used to be offered at the school, budget woes have lead to the cancellation of such classes.
"There just isn't enough funding for advanced classes right now," Ponce said. "The school is cutting in almost every department and ASL [American Sign Language] is no exception."
Ponce, who is the only deaf person to receive a full-time job at City College, graduated from Cal State University Northridge and San Diego State University, receiving degrees in Deaf Studies and Rehabilitation Administration.
"On a scale of one through 10… I give Santa Barbara City College a 10, because the deaf community is provided full communication access," he said. "Whether it is the need for an interpreter or the need for captioned tutorials, we are taken care of."
Ponce also said the deaf have their own culture and community, and are treated fairly and equally at City College through DSPS, though he added that deaf life and culture remain unfamiliar to most people on campus.
He said the deaf community in Santa Barbara is "extremely small," meaning the hearing community has less exposure to deaf people, and that an increasing awareness of deaf culture is best obtained through Sign Language classes.
But Ponce said a lack of classes because of financial woes is preventing students on campus from signing up for sign language classes, as students want access to the higher level courses.
He added that the collaboration of students and teachers in the Sign Language program results in many outside activities such as pizza night, Starbucks get-togethers and ASL club, Ponce said. This gives students the chance to practice their signing skills outside of the classroom and educate the hearing community about deaf culture.
"It is a safe environment where everyone can be themselves," Ponce said. "Everyone is welcome at a deaf event - a Sign Language student or even if someone is just curious."
Despite an ever-shrinking budget, Ponce said he wants to encourage more people to take a sign language class. He said he sees such outlets as a way for hearing people to become more accustomed to deaf culture.
"Many students need to take a language, and all students that take Sign Language love it," he said. "They want more, more, more!"
City College's Sign Language program has seen some of its classes cut because of the budget crisis, including the elimination of high-level sign language courses, said the college's only deaf full-time faculty member.
Ignacio Ponce, an instructor in the college's School of Modern Language department who has been teaching Sign Language since 2007, said that though higher-level Sign Language courses used to be offered at the school, budget woes have lead to the cancellation of such classes.
"There just isn't enough funding for advanced classes right now," Ponce said. "The school is cutting in almost every department and ASL [American Sign Language] is no exception."
Ponce, who is the only deaf person to receive a full-time job at City College, graduated from Cal State University Northridge and San Diego State University, receiving degrees in Deaf Studies and Rehabilitation Administration.
"On a scale of one through 10… I give Santa Barbara City College a 10, because the deaf community is provided full communication access," he said. "Whether it is the need for an interpreter or the need for captioned tutorials, we are taken care of."
Ponce also said the deaf have their own culture and community, and are treated fairly and equally at City College through DSPS, though he added that deaf life and culture remain unfamiliar to most people on campus.
He said the deaf community in Santa Barbara is "extremely small," meaning the hearing community has less exposure to deaf people, and that an increasing awareness of deaf culture is best obtained through Sign Language classes.
But Ponce said a lack of classes because of financial woes is preventing students on campus from signing up for sign language classes, as students want access to the higher level courses.
He added that the collaboration of students and teachers in the Sign Language program results in many outside activities such as pizza night, Starbucks get-togethers and ASL club, Ponce said. This gives students the chance to practice their signing skills outside of the classroom and educate the hearing community about deaf culture.
"It is a safe environment where everyone can be themselves," Ponce said. "Everyone is welcome at a deaf event - a Sign Language student or even if someone is just curious."
Despite an ever-shrinking budget, Ponce said he wants to encourage more people to take a sign language class. He said he sees such outlets as a way for hearing people to become more accustomed to deaf culture.
"Many students need to take a language, and all students that take Sign Language love it," he said. "They want more, more, more!"