Sign Language

I am an elementary education major and currently taking sign 1 here at FGCU. I have a great teacher. I am very interested in continuing my sign knowledge after this semester. I have always thought that to myself that I would like to maybe one day be an interpreter. The other day I had experience at work that made my passion to learn sign even greater. I work at target and over the walkies as I was leaving they asked, "does anyone know sign language?" I couldn't believe it, I only know a little bit but I thought that I would give it a try and see if I could help out this customer. I work in the clothing area and the customer needed help in electronics. The guest was full deaf and was having a hard time, you could tell that he was very frustrated. Well this is my first semester of sign language and I was able to help him out. At the beginning of the semester my teacher informed me that after a month or so we should know enough to be able to have a conversation with another deaf person. She was right, she was able to teach my enough signs to were I was able to solve his problems. Also once we were done with his problem, he and I had an approximately 45 minute conversation. I was already late leaving work but I just could tell him I had to go. When a deaf person walks into a store they don't expect to be able to have a conversation with anyone. With me helping him and talking to him I could tell that I made his day. With this experience my passion to learn sign language and help more people in these kind of situations has grown a tremendous amount.