American Sign Language as a High School Foreign Language for Homeschoolers
There is no doubt foreign language is a more challenging class to teach in your homeschool. Unless one parent is bilingual, it is likely a class you will look to outsource locally or online. Another big question to consider is what language is worth learning for your student. My student is choosing to learn American Sign Language online with Mr D Math this year.
As we begin homeschooling High School this year, we have a new set of choices to consider for their homeschool curriculum. Math and Science are easy since they liked what we used last year, and are planning to just move on to the next level. However, we also have to think about adding new classes like foreign languages to meet future college admission requirements.
We are a few weeks into the class now and they are even more excited than when we first picked it out. Learning another verbal language can be extra challenging for students with certain learning disabilities, so we were unsure about which one to choose and how it would go.
What they have learned is that it is about muscle memory and that, just like learning fingering for their guitar, it just takes practice to form the signs quickly.
Advantage of Homeschool ASL classes
As we learn the details of a new language it also helps us think differently about the languages we already know. Learning the syntax of a different language can help us think more critically about the English we speak everyday. We are building flexibility in our brains and problem solving skills.
Learning a new verbal/written language can be challenging for a student who struggles to learn to read and write in English. Signed and Spoken languages use different parts of the brain to process the information taken in by the ears and eyes. Because they take in the information differently, a student who struggles with auditory processing could do very well taking American Sign Language as a high school foreign language.
Learn More about Mr D Math Self-Paced Classes
Enhanced Communication Skills
While many foreign languages may help you when you travel abroad or to communicate with an immigrant, American Sign Language is one that can be useful in your own home in a variety of situations.
When one of my children was a late talker, we were encouraged to learn a few signs together to help them communicate their needs. It made everyone’s lives easier to have a way to communicate instead of being frustrated. My friend recently shared how her child started signing after an accident left her with a broken jaw that was wired shut. When I’m counting kids on the playground I find myself signing the first letter of a child’s name to my husband on the other side of the park to see if they have seen them. Sometimes it’s just easier to sign than speaking.
The visual nature of ASL, relying on facial expressions, gestures, and body movements, helps our students communicate better verbally too. Students are improving their nonverbal communication cues and active listening without even knowing it. These skills are invaluable in a world where effective communication goes beyond spoken words.
Learn More about Mr D Math Self-Paced Classes
Gain Cultural Awareness and Sensitivity for the Deaf Community
When your highschooler chooses ASL for their high school foreign language, they are also getting the opportunity to learn about a new culture that is likely hiding in plain sight in your local community, no matter where you live! American Sign Language introduces students to Deaf culture and fosters an understanding and appreciation for diversity.
Taking the time to learn about the Deaf community’s history, values, and traditions teaches your students cultural awareness, and breaks down stereotypes. By embracing ASL, students gain insight into a vibrant community and develop the skills necessary to communicate and connect past these cultural boundaries.
Learning American Sign Language with Mr. D Math Online
My high schooler is learning to ASL and all about Deaf culture with their Mr. D Math ASL class. It is a self paced 32 week class, which fits nicely with our family schedule and our other classes. What I am most impressed with about the class is the amount of interaction the students have with the teacher. Each assignment is turned in via video of the students signing related to the lesson and the teacher gives the grade and any comments. It’s not autograded or multiple choice.
The students also have regular opportunities to join help sessions during the year. These sessions are a Zoom call across all the ASL levels and they do activities and have a chance to ask questions and get immediate feedback where they may be struggling. These help sessions are also for learning fun pop culture songs in sign language. At the next one my student will be learning “How Far I’ll Go” from Disney’s Moana.
