Western Oregon Journal

Issue date: 10/26/07 Section: Headlines

Deborah Daren is an adjunct assistant professor in the special education department. [Click to enlarge]

On any given day you might see students talking on campus, yet they aren't making a sound. Western Oregon University has been successfully training people in American Sign Language (ASL) since 1976, and the area of study has been growing ever since.

Western's ASL Studies program prepares students for non-interpreting, interactive roles within their communities. This year's addition of a new bachelor degree program in ASL Studies has helped meet the increasing need for skilled professionals.The American Sign Language/English Interpreting program produces experts who are ready to enter interpreting positions. Interpreters must have a clear understanding of ASL and English. They assist both deaf and hearing people in making connections that might otherwise be difficult.

Video relay services, educational fields and mainstream programs for the deaf and hard-of-hearing are only a few of the opportunities that are available to ASL graduates, according to Deborah Duren, ASL Studies Coordinator and Adjunct Assistant Professor in Special Education. Graduates of these programs secure employment in retirement centers, assisted living facilities and other businesses and organizations.

Video relay services are an exciting new technology that link the deaf and hard-of-hearing communities to qualified interpreters. They enable people to stay in communication with families, friends and businesses through the internet and video relay. Now a simple phone call, placed through an online service provider, can accomplish what once had to be done in person.

The Western ASL and Interpreting clubs provide valuable opportunities for students to hone their sign language skills by interacting with the deaf community. As they prepare for their futures, they gain experience through activities such as event planning or volunteer work at the Oregon School for the Deaf in Salem.

Dr. Elisa Maroney, Assistant Professor in Special Education, said one of the advantages of being an interpreter is that, "The demand for interpreters always seems to outweigh the supply." She added that Western has the only ASL/English Interpreting bachelor program in the Northwest and that the program is well-known throughout the United States. "Many of our students have jobs in the field while they are in the program and those who seek interpreting jobs are quickly hired upon graduation," explained Dr. Cheryl Davis, Director of the Regional Resource Center on Deafness. Western's ASL programs help students achieve their goals by preparing them to go into their chosen communities as knowledgeable contributors to society. Simply put, they enhance lives.

Courses are taught by deaf and hearing instructors and class offerings include American Sign Language levels I - IX, Comparative Linguistics, Interpreting in Community Settings, Current Issues in Interpreting and approved internships. The ASL/English Interpreting major has federally supported scholarships that are available to students who are accepted into the program.

Students generally come into the program in their junior year after being admitted to both the university and the interpreting major. They move through the program in a cohort study format, building strong bonds with fellow colleagues. Oftentimes, students transfer to Western's programs from other colleges around the country.

American Sign Language is not just a beautiful coordination of signs and expressions, it is a culmination of the study of word structure, speech sounds and syntax. It is a flowing language that only the eyes can hear.•

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