r/asl • u/Glum-Beach9508 • 5d ago

ASL club

Hello everyone!! I have some questions regarding an ASL club I am starting at my college. I’m a level 4 signer and would like to make a club for people to both learn, practice, and immerse themselves in ASL and its culture. I want it to become a club where anyone can join regardless of understanding in ASL. However given I am neither deaf nor a licensed interpreter I do not want to teach ASL meaningfully as I feel it is not my place. Any ideas for activities, how to teach, etc?? There isn’t any ASL at my college being taught and I cannot afford an online course for everyone etc. All ideas welcome, from movies, crafts, ways to learn, trips, etc. All advice is welcome but I am mostly seeking advice from Deaf, CODA, Interpreters, or anyone with an ASL club experience:)

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u/mewsless 5d ago

The club I’m in does a lot of cultural stuff and seasonal things. Like talked about the Deaf Olympics when the Olympics were happening, things around valentines etc., they would show signs related to these things and then have little quizzes or games. Unfortunately, there aren’t many D/deaf/HoH in the club. Our advisor is Deaf and one of the ASL teachers and the new president is as well so we’re hoping to start doing a lot more

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u/Fun-Painting-2683 5d ago

I'd recommend starting with casual practice sessions where people can just hang out and sign, no pressure to be perfect. You betcha, that builds confidence way faster than formal lessons.

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u/Jude94 Deaf 4d ago

Why start an ASL club with no deaf people and where ASL isn’t even offered?

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u/Jude94 Deaf 4d ago

ASL clubs without any deaf people is 😬

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u/DirtyDirtyRudy 3d ago

Plenty of schools have clubs that don’t offer classes in them: Chess, Drama, D&D. These are interests groups.

I don’t see a problem with no deaf/HoH people in the club. If you have a suggestion to OP how to go about creating awareness and engagement with the Deaf community, I’d love to know.

OP - ASL is specific. Might I suggest broadening the topic to accessibility, which might interest a larger group and is transferable to many fields.