For Weinberg sophomore Elia Silbey, enrolling at Northwestern meant the end of their American Sign Language journey. After two years of studying it in high school, they said the University’s limited ASL resources have made it difficult for them to continue exploring the language.
“It was actually one of my goals to continue with it, and then I came to Northwestern,” Silbey said. “Not only is there no official curriculum, ASL doesn’t even count as a language proficiency.”
Now, the language is available only through paid, non-credit classes with Norris Mini Courses.
Mini Courses offers American Sign Language I and American Sign Language II, classes consisting of eight online lessons with instructor Peter Wujcik.
Wujcik, who was born deaf, said the program has remained popular among students hoping to gain an introductory understanding of the language.
“(ASL I) is more of a beginning, very surface: colors, how to introduce, how to meet, practice, receptive skills,” Wujcik said through an interpreter to The Daily. “(ASL II) is more expanded on that — more classifiers, more language that deaf people use: handshakes, symptoms, grammar structure.”
While they acknowledged the classes with Mini Courses are options for students less familiar with the language, Silbey said they wished there were opportunities for students wanting a deeper dive into the language, adding that it would contribute a new medium of learning to NU’s current language avenues.
Silbey is not alone in their opinion. In the University’s recent history, multiple student groups have previously spearheaded efforts to create greater access to ASL learning.
In 2010, student-led efforts implemented ASL as a for-credit, temporary seminar. The class, titled “Introduction to American Sign Language and Deaf Culture,” created a for-credit learning opportunity for students but did not fulfill participants’ foreign language requirement.
This is due to the NU Council on Language Instruction’s 1996 decision to bar ASL from fulfilling the requirement, on the basis that proficiency could not be demonstrated in written or read form.
In 2018, students spearheaded non-credit evening courses at Kresge Centennial Hall with grant funding from the Ruderman Family Foundation.
Psychology Prof. Sid Horton said ASL exemplifies the importance of language diversity on campus.
“ASL is a great example of just showing that the role that language plays is not restricted to any particular medium,” Horton said. “You learn there are different ways to express ideas across languages, and it gets you out of the way of thinking that your own language is the ‘right way’ to do it.”
Looking to the future, Wujcik said it would be entirely possible to create a 15-week curriculum for standardized ASL learning at the University.
He added that it would also give students the time to learn the nuances and questions concerning Deaf culture.
“Often, there’s misunderstandings about the Deaf community and some questions like, ‘Can you lip read?’” Wujcik said. “It’d be very helpful for hearing people to be more involved in understanding Deaf culture.”
While they still hopes for ASL’s integration into a permanent program adjacent to those of French and Italian, Silbey noted some of her friends have found other ways to involve themselves in the language through activities like NU’s Seesaw Theatre.
The student-led group creates “original, multi-sensory theatre for disabled audiences,” according to the company’s website. Silbey said her friends in the group have begun learning ASL as a part of their performances.
Yet, they said the Seesaw Theatre remains the only ASL-affiliated group they have heard of on campus.
As for the status of ASL learning at NU, Silbey said they are doubtful the University will take the steps necessary for the extent of implementation they are looking for.
“Northwestern wouldn’t just have to consider their language curricula,” Silbey said. “They would have to consider the accessibility of the institution, (and) many institutions of higher learning are very not accessible to all disabled people, including deaf people. It’s something I’d love to see happen.”
Email: [email protected]
Bluesky: @lucaskubovchik.bsky.social
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— Student brings non-credit ASL classes to campus
—Students fight to include ASL in curriculum
—American Sign Language Club starts weekly workshops for beginners
