ASL for Teen?
Hi,
My 14 yo daughter (8th grade) has been teaching herself ASL for a while now. She would like to take a class. I just bought her an online one on groupon and found a school in SF that offers a four Saturday class (ABC language school), but it's rather expensive and we live in Oakland. I also know that Berkeley Community College offers it but that wouldn't work until next summer probably. Anyone know of anything else in the East Bay that meets once a week or so? Or perhaps a private teacher? Thanks very much.
Oct 9, 2016
Parent Replies
Berkeley city college is great. I earned my AA degree there in ASL many years ago. They used a program called "signing naturally" that was books and videos but not sure if they still use it or if you can order it... If she can't take classes there now, perhaps DCARA in San Leandro has some info. Just make sure that wherever it is they are teaching ASL and not c-sign or some other distorted version of the language. Good for your daughter, its a fun language. As she gets older, she can take 2 week summer intensive classes at Gallaudet University in Washington DC. I went there a few times and it is great -like full immersion. Good luck!
My 15 year old is going to probably take her high school foreign language credits at Berkeley city college with ASL. Maybe starting in spring semester. Contact me via my user name, and we could possibly coordinate?
My 14-year-old daughter is in the same situation! We looked into Berkeley City College, but the woman who runs the program let me know quite honestly that the commitment is really something for an older teen or college age. Maybe we can get a group together and find a teacher to meet one day after school?
Lisa
You could always contact DCARA. DCARA - Deaf Counseling Advocacy and Referral Agency. They'd probably know.