Why should you consider learning American Sign Language (ASL) in 2020?

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]American Sign Language is a unique way of communication. You may get confused about how this is a unique language! Okay, look around and see how many of your friends able to interact in sign language? Not many of them, right? 

This language is not representative of English, nor is it some sort of imitation of spoken English that we use on a day-to-day basis. It will come as a great surprise to you that American Sign Language has more similarities to spoken Japanese and Navajo than to English. Isn’t it surprising? 

[su_note note_color=”#EFEFEF”]Do you know today, approximately 1 million people, use American Sign Language as their primary way of communication?[/su_note]

ASL is the third most commonly used language in the United States, after English and Spanish. It was first used 200 years ago according to the National Institute for Deafness and other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), so, stand out and know your deaf friends better by understanding sign alphabet so that you can understand their feelings, maybe they even love you!

When People are doing a great job by using sign language, blending in the deaf community, so why don’t you consider doing American Sign language, online classes. In 2018, an interpreter gone viral by translating for deaf audience members at an Eminem concert, isn’t it a nice job?

You are not an altruist, not looking for applying this language just to help others, okay it’s fine! You know a language is an ultimate power, and it is multi-dimensional. Language is not only a way of communication; also, it is a perpetual knowledge of an individual. You can use it for many purposes. Take a look at the statistics, the demand for this language increasing dramatically;

[su_heading size=”22″ margin=”0″]Understanding American Sign Language [/su_heading]

American Sign Language is a language for the American Deaf community. This is a practical yet straightforward definition. If someone asked you what French is, you would likely respond that it is the way most people in France speak. This method might appear unusual given the trend in most ASL textbooks to define ASL by clarifying misconceptions about it. But why learn about misconceptions? Learn this language with a clean conscience and a clear goal.

For many of you, ASL is a new language that drives you to confront your prejudices about communicating with your hands. You might question what you can talk about in signs. Would you wonder about this if you were learning to speak French? Probably not. But American Sign Language is not just a different language, it is another medium for talking, and this fact may make you hesitant and perhaps even suspicious about what you can and cannot say in ASL.

You are in great company because Deaf people wonder how it is possible to talk in a speech about such things as the destructive force of twisters and the tender seconds of a child playing alone. To Deaf people the picture of communication designed by vowels and consonants, pitch and loudness faint in comparison to the vibrant images that jump off the fingers and hands, face, and body of a person signing. So sign language is a visual-gestural style. It is visual because we see it and gestural because the hands form the signs. Signing alone, however, is not an actual picture of ASL. How signs are formed in space is essential to understand what they mean.

[su_quote]“Sign language is the equal of speech, lending itself equally to the rigorous and the poetic, to philosophical analysis or to making love”- Oliver Sacks[/su_quote]

[su_heading size=”22″ margin=”0″]When and how ASL began[/su_heading]

Most of the people believe that ASL was mainly influenced by the work of Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet and Laurent Clerc in the early 1800s. Another influence of ASL’s source goes back long before the arrival of Gallaudet and Clerc. In the 17th century, Deaf communities were living in the United States. They lived in their own communities on Martha’s Vineyard and made their livings as farmers and fishers. Most of these settlers were descendants of people who’d moved to America from England. Two centuries later, their descendants were still living there and attending the American School for the Deaf under Clerc and Gallaudet. Many people firmly believe that the signs brought to by these educators and the signs used by Martha’s Vineyard population are chiefly responsible for today’s American Sign Language. 

[su_heading size=”22″ margin=”0″]When and how ASL began[/su_heading]

Learning ASL is not only for the deaf people, as I mentioned earlier, but language is also multi-dimensional. You can also use it for many purposes; here, I give you some points that would help you to understand the potent of the target language;

[su_list icon=”icon: check-square” icon_color=”#49ae05″]

  • Meeting new friends and people is always amazing; by using this language, you can easily interact with people.
  • Knowing a different language is fantastic! Just like being bilingual in any two languages, becoming fluent in ASL also counts as being bilingual.
  • Have a private conversation with your friend, isn’t it interesting? 
  • Stand out for the deaf people and make them feel that you can understand them. 
  • Enhance your cognitive functioning.
  • Enrol to the next level of your career. 

[/su_list]

[su_quote]“The symbolic view of things is a consequence of long absorption in images. Is sign language the real language of Paradise”-Hugo Ball[/su_quote]

[su_heading size=”22″ margin=”0″] Career path in American Sign Language [/su_heading]

The first step to choosing a career is to make sure you are actually willing to commit to pursuing the career. You don’t want to waste your time doing something you really don’t want to do. As more hearing and deaf people learn sign language, the range of careers to create skill has expanded, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says a career as an interpreter is increasing much faster than ever, with 19% growth predicted through 2028.

“There are currently an estimated 68,200 sign language interpreters in the United States. The sign language interpreter job market is expected to grow by 17.7% between 2016 and 2026”.

In addition to traditional careers like interpreting, new career opportunities open up as technology develops. Fluency in ASL is also needed for specialized jobs in education, health, therapy, and recreational services.

[su_heading size=”22″ margin=”0″] Educational and training requirements [/su_heading]

You need a  bachelor’s degree. It is typically needed to become an interpreter or translator along with proficiency in at least two languages, one of which is usually English.

Interpreters are generally do not need any formal training, as they are supposed to be able to interpret before they are approved. However, those working in the community are more expected to complete job-specific training programs or certificates. Fluency in ASL is also needed for specialized jobs in education, health, therapy, and recreational services.

[su_heading size=”22″ margin=”0″]Job overview [/su_heading]

This sector is growing notably if you want to enrol in this, you will have a good number of opportunities, take a look and see how rich this field is; 

[su_list icon=”icon: arrow-right” icon_color=”#49ae05″]

  • Community interpreters
  • Conference interpreters
  • Coordinating interpreters
  • Educational interpreters
  • Federal court interpreters
  • Foreign language interpreters and translators
  • Health or medical interpreters and translators
  • Healthcare interpreters and translators
  • Judiciary interpreters and translators
  • Legal or judicial interpreters and translators
  • Liaison interpreters
  • Liaison or escort interpreters
  • Literary translators
  • Localization translators
  • Medical interpreters and translators
  • Mental health interpreters
  • Simultaneous interpreters
  • State court interpreters
  • Trilingual interpreters

[/su_list]

[su_heading size=”22″]How can you step your foot in the door?[/su_heading]

You need to believe in yourself, just be enthusiastic toward your dream. An interpreter tends to be an artistic individual so that he can play different roles. The Employers are much more interested in your skills, personal qualities and experience in this sector. Seek opportunities to beef up your resume and make yourself stand out. Get the jump on the competition passionately. You just need to recall the point that Steve Jobs once said; “The only way to do great work is to love what you do.” 

This is your sector, this is what you meant to do, get certified with this effective course and stand out in this dynamic sector. What are you waiting for?

[su_button url=”https://prime.adamsacademy.com/course/american-sign-language-online/” background=”#2db2ef” size=”5″ icon=”icon: arrow-right”]Check out the American Sign Language course and enrol today.[/su_button]

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_wp_posts number=”10″][/vc_column][/vc_row]