Have you ever seen a group of people in public communicating with sign language and thought, ‘I wish I knew what they were saying?’ Well, you are in luck. Western Institute offers a sign language course that can open your eyes to a new form of communication.

Western Institute is the continuing education and outreach arm of Missouri Western. It offers a sign language course that helps students communicate with the hearing impaired community. Teresa Ballard instructs the Sign Language Course. It is worth one continuing education credit and is also offered to the community for non-credit. The class takes place one night a week for three hours and runs for six weeks. “Sign Language II” is also offered.

“I would encourage anyone that’s interested to come try it,” Ballard said. “For me it took one class and I was hooked.”

The course follows a program called “ Signing Naturally.” The program takes a functional approach and explains deaf awareness. The course starts out teaching basic signs such as letters, numbers, personal information and introductions. The course is taught with hands-on and visual methods.

“I like to bring enthusiasm into the course,” Ballard said.

That enthusiasm makes the class a fun learning experience according to Cameron Corbet, a Missouri Western student. The class includes interactive activities like “Bingo” and “finger spelling” challenges.

“I am really enjoying the course,” Corbet said. “Our teacher seems to really enjoy teaching and interpreting.”

Ballard has an extensive background in sign language instruction.

“Sign language is a great way to bridge the communication gap,” Ballard said. She received her certification at Maple Woods Community College and has been interpreting since 1997. She has interpreted for Kansas City, Blue Springs and St. Joseph school districts. She co-taught the sign language course on campus and then became the head instructor in the spring semester of 2008.

Peggy Ellis, director of non-credit programs/business and industry training, expressed that there are three main reasons people take the Sign Language course. The first reason is if someone is majoring in Education and is potentially going to have a deaf student. In this case, sign is one more thing that they can use. The second reason is if someone has a family member that is now hearing impaired and they want to be able to communicate with them better. The final reason people learn sign language is for potential employment purposes, whether they have a client or co-worker that is hearing impaired or want to become an interpreter themselves. Five hundred people have enrolled in this course since 2005.

“[When] American Sign Language is used it is significant that we have someone in place that knows what the nuances of the signs are,” Ellis said.
Students Madison Benton and Jessica Richardson both recommend the class to fellow students.

“[The Class] gives you an appreciation of people who can do it (sign),” Richardson said.

“I liked it a lot because she made it really fun and interesting,” Benton said. “In the class you start to notice things you never noticed before. You learn so much and it is so helpful.”