ASL caroling shows spirit

The American Sign Language (ASL) classes, led by Amy Ryken, marched to various elementary schools to carol Christmas songs to the classes on Dec. 2. 

ASL is a language used by the deaf or hard of hearing in the US and most of Canada, allowing them to communicate in a diverse and complete language with their hands and facial expressions. ASL is not “English on the hands,” with its own grammar rules and unique signs (words), and has no written form. For example, if you ever see government officials speaking news reports on TV, you will often find an ASL interpreter nearby interpreting English into ASL.

Each period went to a different elementary school within walking distance, except for fifth and sixth period due to the elementary schools getting out earlier. They went to Proctor, Castro Valley Elementary, Chabot, and Marshall. There, they went around and brought the holiday spirit to multiple classrooms by signing Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.

Along with ASL were other world language classes, organized by Barbara Andersen, who teaches German. This year, world language classes German, Spanish, Mandarin, and Japanese also participated, all going to the same elementary school at once with ASL for caroling in their respective languages.

This yearly world language caroling event is to share the joy of different languages and their cultures to the elementary schoolers, a fun and engaging few minutes of song per class or to kids on their lunch breaks.

Ryken, when asked about the event, said, “It’s one of my favorite events we do as an apartment.” Other world language department events include in-school caroling to other language classes.

In the CVHS ASL program, there is only one ASL teacher, so you’re guaranteed to get the great Ryken. As with all language classes, you will learn much about ASL’s rich history and Deaf culture, along with the ability to communicate with the around one million deaf ASL-signing people in the US alone.