{"id":22506,"date":"2013-04-07T01:20:41","date_gmt":"2013-04-07T06:20:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/?p=22506"},"modified":"2013-04-07T01:20:41","modified_gmt":"2013-04-07T06:20:41","slug":"sign-language-professor-transcends-the-spectrum-of-sound","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/2013\/04\/07\/sign-language-professor-transcends-the-spectrum-of-sound\/","title":{"rendered":"Sign language professor transcends the spectrum of sound"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/span>Sign language professor transcends the spectrum of sound<\/strong><\/p>\n

By Aisha Bouderdaben<\/p>\n

April 3, 2013<\/p>\n

UH is the only university in Texas to offer a four-year degree plan for American Sign Language Interpreting.<\/p>\n

\u201cLamar University in Beaumont offers a degree in ASL but not interpreting,\u201d said Sharon Hill, the coordinator of ASL Interpreting Program.<\/p>\n

All the professors who teach ASLI 1 through 4 and Deaf Culture classes are Deaf, including Terrell Brittain, who has been teaching at the University since 2010. The term \u201cDeaf\u201d is capitalized to indicate an individual grew up exposed to Deaf Culture, whereas \u201cdeaf\u201d indicates an individual is deaf, but did not grow up in the culture.<\/p>\n

Brittain was interviewed about his experience with an interpreter present.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have that passion to teach the language,\u201d Brittain said. \u201cI love passing on the tradition, and I try to incorporate humor (into my teaching). This language is one we can\u2019t afford to let become extinct.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brittain grew up using a system called Signing Exact English and used gestures to communicate with his hearing parents. It was not until he was 17 years old that he met another d\/Deaf person.<\/p>\n

\u201cLater on, I married her,\u201d Brittain said. \u201cShe was the one who really introduced me to ASL and influenced my use of ASL.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brittain\u2019s wife, Robyn, started teaching ASLI at the University last fall.<\/p>\n

He started as an adjunct professor in 2010 and became a full-time assistant professor in 2011. Now, he averages about four to five classes each semester, teaching any of the four levels of the language, Deaf Culture and advanced ASLI, which is only open to interpreting majors to increase their fluency and syntax.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe d\/Deaf community is small, compared to the hearing one,\u201d Brittain said. \u201cThe number of years this community has suffered oppression \u2014 the list goes on and on. (The d\/Deaf community has) constantly been told they can\u2019t. Hearing people should learn that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hill said the ASLI program was endorsed in Fall 2009 and explained how an interview works when hiring a d\/Deaf applicant.<\/p>\n

By law, d\/Deaf individuals are not allowed to be discriminated against and have rights to an interpreter.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s very easy to hire somebody who can speak and hear,\u201d Hill said. \u201cWe wanted a master instructor, a natural user of ASL, and (Brittain) was an easy pick.\u201d<\/p>\n

A certified interpreter is hired to conduct the interview because not everyone on the hiring committee speaks ASL.<\/p>\n

\u201cNotes and lip reading are insufficient forms of communication,\u201d Hill said. \u201cThere is an urgent need for interpreters. There are roughly 1,500 interpreters in the whole state.\u201d<\/p>\n

Compared to the statistic of the d\/Deaf population, which is about 12 to 15 percent, that number is far too low.<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause it is \u2018silent,\u2019 this language is often overlooked and devalued,\u201d Hill said. \u201cI think students are starting to appreciate the instructors.\u201d<\/p>\n

The style of each ASL professor is different, and Brittain said it is important for students to not stick with one professor because style varies \u2014 learning signs one way and one way only does not help a student grow in their knowledge and application of the language.<\/p>\n

\u201cEach individual style is different. I try to provide as much information as possible. The most important thing I want students to know is that I am responsible for teaching, but students are responsible for putting in the effort,\u201d Brittain said. \u201cMy expectations are high. ASL is not an easy-A class, and it is always a reward at the end of ASL 4 to see how my students have progressed.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hill said she sees the ASLI Program going far in the years to come.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs a famous quote from I. King Jordan states, \u2018Deaf people can do anything except hear,\u2019\u201d Brittain said.<\/p>\n

SOURCE:<\/p>\n

http:\/\/thedailycougar.com\/2013\/04\/03\/sign-language-professor-transcends-the-spectrum-of-sound\/<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Sign language professor transcends the spectrum of sound By Aisha Bouderdaben April 3, 2013 UH is the only university in Texas to offer a four-year degree plan for American Sign Language Interpreting. \u201cLamar University in Beaumont offers a degree in…<\/p>\n

Read more →<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_crdt_document":"","advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[2],"tags":[1629,18023,23,13611,3831,35,169,18022,20,4270,40,3816,12487,9936,10634,3866],"class_list":["post-22506","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-deaf-news","tag-american-sign-language","tag-american-sign-language-interpreting","tag-asl","tag-asli","tag-beaumont","tag-community","tag-deaf-culture","tag-four-year-degree-plan","tag-houston","tag-i-king-jordan","tag-interpreter","tag-lamar-university","tag-sharon-hill","tag-signing-exact-english","tag-terrell-brittain","tag-university-of-houston"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p752R-5R0","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":15637,"url":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/2011\/08\/30\/welcome-to-new-faculty-at-university-of-houston\/","url_meta":{"origin":22506,"position":0},"title":"Welcome to New Faculty at University of Houston","author":"Grant Laird Jr","date":"August 30, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"Welcome to New Faculty at University of Houston DATE: September 1, 2011 ADDRESS: 4505 Cullen Houston, Texas WEBSITE: http:\/\/comd.uh.edu\/news_welcomenewfaculty.html The University of Houston - ASL Interpreting Program (BA Degree) would like to announce the following new full-time Professors effective Fall 2011: 1. Sharon G. Hill, MBA, DARS-BEI IV & Master\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General"","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/category\/deaf-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":18431,"url":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/2012\/04\/25\/uh-asli-info-session\/","url_meta":{"origin":22506,"position":1},"title":"UH ASLI – Info Session","author":"Grant Laird Jr","date":"April 25, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"UH ASLI - Info Session ADDRESS: Clinical Research Services Building 4505 Cullen Houston, Texas WEBSITE: http:\/\/uhinfo.eventbrite.com\/ IT'S OFFICIAL! The University of Houston's ASL Interpreting (ASLI) Program has updated its curriculum, effective Fall 2012. If you have questions about the BA Degree in Interpreting or would like to meet the ASLI\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General"","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/category\/deaf-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":24422,"url":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/2013\/08\/27\/university-of-houston-new-faculty\/","url_meta":{"origin":22506,"position":2},"title":"University of Houston – New Faculty","author":"Grant Laird Jr","date":"August 27, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"University of Houston - New Faculty Fall 2013 Houston, Texas http:\/\/www.uh.edu\/class\/comd\/asli\/index.php The University of Houston \u2013 ASL Interpreting Program (BA Degree) would like to announce the hiring of the following Clincial Assistant Professor effective Fall 2013: Mr. Scot Pott, MPH The UH ASLI Department also proudly welcomes Mr. James Virgilio,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General"","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/category\/deaf-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":20088,"url":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/2012\/09\/21\/faculty-opening-uh-asli-program\/","url_meta":{"origin":22506,"position":3},"title":"Faculty Opening – UH ASLI Program","author":"Grant Laird Jr","date":"September 21, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Faculty Opening - UH ASLI Program TIME: Fall 2013 ADDRESS: 100 Clinical Research Services Center Houston, Texas WEBSITE: http:\/\/www.uh.edu\/provost\/fac\/faculty-openings\/comd11\/index.php The American Sign Language Interpreting Program in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Houston seeks applicants for a nine-month, non-tenure track, full-time instructor position beginning September,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General"","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/category\/deaf-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":33216,"url":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/2016\/03\/31\/interpreter-game-on-first-quarter-volleyball-and-baseball-4216-houston\/","url_meta":{"origin":22506,"position":4},"title":"Interpreter: Game On! 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First Quarter: Volleyball and Baseball (3 BEI and RID CEUs available) Date: April 2, 2016 from 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General"","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/category\/deaf-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":29952,"url":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/2015\/01\/31\/deaf-awareness-night-at-houston-rockets-22715\/","url_meta":{"origin":22506,"position":5},"title":"Deaf Awareness Night at Houston Rockets 2\/27\/15","author":"Grant Laird Jr","date":"January 31, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Deaf Awareness Night at Houston Rockets The Houston Rockets welcome the Deaf community to the Toyota Center. In honor of the Deaf community, the National Anthem will be performed in ASL. Robyn Brittain will lead UH ASL & Interpreting Club students in an ASL performance of the anthem. 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