Choosing ASL as high school foreign language

[Anonymous]

Is this considered less challenging by colleges? My 8th grader will complete Spanish 2 this year, and is doing well, but wants to switch to ASL in HS. The kids I know that are taking ASL seem to all be kids that struggled with a traditional foreign language but I don’t want to say no if he’s genuinely interested.

[Anonymous]

Some discussion of this here:

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1104201.page

[Anonymous]

Who will teach that course in HS?
Which HS offer it? Does MCollege at MC campus? How would a student get to MC from HS if offered during day? Or can they have MC instructors teach at the HS which have more than 5 students interested in taking the course?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Who will teach that course in HS?
Which HS offer it? Does MCollege at MC campus? How would a student get to MC from HS if offered during day? Or can they have MC instructors teach at the HS which have more than 5 students interested in taking the course?

It is already taught at Blair, which is presumably where OP's child will be going to HS (or another HS where ASL is already offered, if there is one).

[Anonymous]

RM offers it.

[Anonymous]

Churchill offers ASL.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is this considered less challenging by colleges? My 8th grader will complete Spanish 2 this year, and is doing well, but wants to switch to ASL in HS. The kids I know that are taking ASL seem to all be kids that struggled with a traditional foreign language but I don’t want to say no if he’s genuinely interested.

You may get a more helpful response on the College forum.

I think it is considered less challenging(*), but 2 years (which is the most offered at our HS to my knowledge) shows more interest. I would recommend at least 1 other year of Spanish in HS. And then 2 years of ASL.

* ASL was recommended for my child, who has dyslexia.

[Anonymous]

ASL is fantastic language to learn, but it's hard to use it for anything if you aren't in a Deaf community.

Not a lot of ASL movies (and no audio/songs to listen to or texts to read, and not a big ASL visual novel industry)

[Anonymous]

ASL is a fantastic language to learn. And if a STEM student can talk about the benefit to Accessibility work.

[Anonymous]

I am from a Deaf family so I am all for people learning ASL. But it is true that some colleges will not treat it the same when comparing to a foreign language so something to consider. Most colleges offer ASL so its also a good elective to take once you are in college.

[Anonymous]

My son is in ASL 2 this year and will take ASL 3 text year. It's probably one of his more difficult classes. It certainly seems to have more work than his other classes. And essays....lots and lots of essays. I'm not sure how the signing aspect is going, but he's learning to write in that class.

They do watch a lot of videos and have to interpret what is said.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son is in ASL 2 this year and will take ASL 3 text year. It's probably one of his more difficult classes. It certainly seems to have more work than his other classes. And essays....lots and lots of essays. I'm not sure how the signing aspect is going, but he's learning to write in that class.

They do watch a lot of videos and have to interpret what is said.

What exactly are they writing about?

[Anonymous]

2 of my kids chose ASL. Both had LDs that affected their ability to learn a spoken language. Neither found it easy but I know colleges/non-ASL parents view it that way. I’m glad they learned it as I’m severely hearing impaired and worried that eventually I will be dependent on ASL myself. I think it’s a very useful language to learn. It will be frowned on by certain schools but there are plenty of others. My older child is at UMD now so it didn’t hurt him

[Anonymous]

There are plenty of selective colleges that accept ASL in lieu of a foreign language. My DD was accepted to 10 excellent schools with 3 years of ASL including UMD.