Sign language classes planned

From: The Tennessean, TN - 01 Jan 2003

Learn a new language and discover a different culture. Not in a foreign language class, but through courses offered this winter and spring by the League for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing. The league offers classes in basic American Sign Language & Deaf Culture or Beginning Speech Reading & Survival Skills.

Registration is 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Jan. 6-10. The class fee is $100 for sign language and $85 for speech reading. No refunds will be made.

The 15-week ASL & Deaf Culture class is for anyone with an interest in or need to learn sign language. It includes basic sign language instruction using individual and group activities, plus an introduction to deaf culture and details such as resources available to people with hearing loss.

The sign language classes are 5:30-7:30 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays. A class for ages 8-13 is on Mondays. Monday classes will be Jan. 27-May 5, and Thursday classes will be Jan. 30-May 8.

Speech reading is a communication technique used by many hard-of-hearing people. The course teaches speech-reading techniques, basic coping techniques for dealing with hearing loss and information about hearing loss and resources.

The 12-week speech reading class will meet 5:30-7 p.m. Thursdays Jan. 28 -April 15.

Registration and classes will be at the League, 415 Fourth Ave. S., Nashville. For more information call 248-8828 (voice and TTY).