By Eli Chin
UW News Lab
Cascadia Community College offers a course devoid of words, spoken words that is. In American Sign Language 121, Jodene Anicello teaches students to communicate without using their voice.
The class is normally offered during fall quarter, but demand from students prompted Cascadia to add it to the schedule for this upcoming winter quarter.
The introductory course offers students a unique experience. Anicello is deaf and has the ability to speak, but chooses to use her hands and facial expressions to communicate with her students.
“I think its great because it puts you in a perspective of being deaf,” said Albee Abigania, a current student in ASL 121. “It helps to understand, not just the language, but the culture.”
ASL 121 is the first of a three course series all instructed by Anicello. She describes it as an immersion into the world of sign language. Students learn more than 500 signs, and get an understanding of the facial expressions and body movements that accompany each sign.
“We do a lot of interacting in class, so they can have hands-on training with their own classmates,” Anicello said. “Also, you learn about deaf culture, deaf history; you learn about me, as a deaf person growing up.”
Jennifer Sciarrino, a former student who currently serves as Anicello’s teaching assistant, describes her teaching style as welcoming and warm. She is open with her students, willing to answer any question about her past, deaf culture or sign language in general. Anicello also goes past instruction by sharing a personal story or giving the origin to every sign she introduces to the class.
“It is an insight into a different culture,” Sciarrino said. “Learning American Sign Language isn’t just about learning a new language, it’s like any other foreign language; you learn about a new culture.”
Students also learn the skills necessary to interpret and change American Sign Language back into English sentences.
Anicello views her class as family. They are learning together and connecting those who can hear and those who cannot.
“I want to bridge communication so badly; I don’t want anybody to be left out,” she explained.
Anicello has been teaching American Sign Language for the past 12 years at Cascadia, with previous experience at other local community colleges. Teaching this subject matter is the “candle that never burned out” for her. She looks forward to the first “ah-ha” moment in her students.
Why does she think students enroll in the class? “Why not?” Anicello said. “It looks good on your resume. It looks good in your profession, whatever you want to be.”
Students interested in registering in ASL 121 must be enrolled in Cascadia College and have completed English 090 or higher. The course will meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:45 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. starting Jan. 6. Registration begins Nov. 12. The class is limited to 30 students. Visit http://www.cascadia.edu for more information.
Eli Chin is a student with UW News Lab.
