Upon entering high school, students are tasked with deciding what language they would like to study for the next three to four years. Options include the “basics”: German, French, Spanish, Mandarin, and Italian, but this year a fresh, exciting course will be offered. And in this language class you don’t even have to speak, and it’s called American Sign Language.

Cori Goldberg has joined the HHS community as a first year American Sign Language (or ASL) teacher. She initially was introduced to ASL when she was a freshman in high school where she immediately fell in love with the language. Goldberg continued to study sign language, and she instinctively knew her love for the language would evolve into a career path.

“After researching different colleges and programs that involved using the language, I chose ASL/English interpreting as my major and attended Bloomsburg University in Pa.,” Goldberg said. “Bloomsburg preferred their candidates come “fresh,” without any prior knowledge of the language. In order to comply, this meant I was required to take all of the introductory courses in ASL, even though I had taken 2.5 years of the language in high school. So, I guess you could say I learned all over again in college as well.”

While ASL may not be the most “traditional” language class to take during high school, this course offers many benefits that open students up to a whole new world. People all over the world exclusively communicate in sign language. Through taking ASL, students are able to enrich their lives in a new culture through understanding and communicating with deaf counterparts.

“Being fluent in American Sign Language is deeply fulfilling,” Goldberg said. “There is a rich culture and community of people who use ASL– by knowing the language and understanding the culture, one can spread awareness and become involved in community events.”

Students are also reacting enthusiastically with regards to the new opportunity they’ve been given. Senior Jordan Kang spent three years of high school studying Spanish. In his final year of high school, he adventurously decided to branch out and study something he had no prior knowledge of.

“I decided to take sign language because I wanted to learn something different than the basic languages offered,” Kang said. “It’s cool to learn something that I have never been introduced to before.”

Hillsborough High School’s inclusion of the sign language course allows students a unique outlook into a refreshing, yet difficult class, and if their schedule permits, everyone should give it a try.