American Sign Language now being offered as foreign language in classrooms | MSN
Students across the state of Mississippi are offered foreign language classes like Spanish and French, but a new language is now being offered.
On July 1, Senate Bill 2339, allowing American Sign Language as a foreign language, was passed unanimously. Miranda Loveless, a teacher at Pearl River Central High School, was a part of the committee to help create the bill and get it on the legislative docket. This now makes Mississippi a part of the 45 states that offer ASL as a foreign language. Loveless said ASL is considered a foreign language because it has its own method of communication like other world languages.
“ASL is important for all communities,” Loveless said. “A lot of families to have deaf students/ children they move to Jackson or to Baton Rouge so their children can learn in their least restrictive environment.”
Loveless has been teaching ASL as an elective at Pearl River Central High School for the last seven years. The interest in her course is what started the idea of bringing ASL to all Mississippi classrooms.
“I have three classes with 30-plus kids in each class every single school year since I started this. I knew there was a large need and a want for this,” Loveless said.
Loveless said she starts students off by learning the basics like their ABCs and 123s. She then goes on to teach basic words that would be used regularly in everyday life.
“My goal is to teach foods, money, things that you would be surrounded with in the community…jobs, fun things…we do a lesson on animals just because enjoy that,” Loveless said.
