{"id":24997,"date":"2013-10-16T18:12:40","date_gmt":"2013-10-16T23:12:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/?p=24997"},"modified":"2013-10-16T18:12:40","modified_gmt":"2013-10-16T23:12:40","slug":"sign-language-instructor-eager-to-share-her-passion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/2013\/10\/16\/sign-language-instructor-eager-to-share-her-passion\/","title":{"rendered":"Sign language instructor eager to share her passion"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n\tSign language instructor eager to share her passion<\/strong>
\n<\/h2>\n

\n\tBy Flori Meeks\n<\/p>\n

\n\tOctober 8, 2013\n<\/p>\n

\n\tThe first time Sheila Johnstone saw people communicate in American Sign Language, she was mesmerized.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t"I'm a dancer, and it looked like dancing to me," the Tanglewood-area resident said. "It was exquisite to me, and I wanted to learn it."\n<\/p>\n

\n\tJohnstone, who has no deaf relatives, learned the language, obtaining the highest proficiency level.\n<\/p>\n

\n\tDecades later, she teaches the language as a volunteer.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t"I do all of this in the spirit of giving back," Johnstone said. "I love doing this, and I love seeing the smiles on faces when they're able to get their hands in gear."\n<\/p>\n

\n\tOn Monday, Oct. 14, Johnstone will begin teaching a 10-week ASL class offered by Be An Angel, a north Houston-based nonprofit organization that serves children with multiple disabilities or profound deafness.\n<\/p>\n

\n\tParticipants will meet 6-7 p.m. Mondays at T.H. Rogers Elementary School, 5840 San Felipe.\n<\/p>\n

\n\tThe free class is designed for beginners.\n<\/p>\n

\n\tUptown resident Richard Tyler, former board chairman of Be An Angel and current advisory board member, spoke to Johnstone about teaching a class in the area.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t"I've known Sheila for a number of years now," he said. "Sheila is superb in her background for American Sign Language. She's passionate about it."\n<\/p>\n

\n\tIt made sense to offer a program at T.H. Rogers, home to the Program for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing for Houston Independent School District, Tyler said.\n<\/p>\n

\n\tAnd the class could prove valuable to the community as a whole, he said.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t"There are a lot of businesses that would like to hire hearing-impaired people, but they don't know how to communicate effectively with them," Tyler said.\n<\/p>\n

\n\tJohnstone still finds ASL as beautiful as she did the first time she saw it.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t"It's a language of concepts," she said. "You're essentially drawing pictures."\n<\/p>\n

\n\tWhile people can communicate in sign language by spelling out words, the language generally does not correspond word for word with other language.\n<\/p>\n

\n\tSo, American Sign Language has interpreters but no translators.\n<\/p>\n

\n\tThe language requires the user to employ a certain amount of emotion in the motions.\n<\/p>\n

\n\tBecause voice cannot be used to convey urgency or the nuances of a message, the signer communicates them with facial expression and posturing.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t"It's not for someone who's very reserved," Johnstone said.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t"Most teachers who do what I do spend a few months doing mime in order to get the idea of communicating that way."\n<\/p>\n

\n\tJohnstone also teaches English as a second language to the deaf.\n<\/p>\n

\n\tBecause ASL is so different from other languages – for example, it has no verb tenses – people who communicate with it exclusively miss some intricacies of English language and grammar, Johnstone said, and their reading and writing proficiency can be impacted.\n<\/p>\n

\n\tShe expects a wide range of students in the class.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t"It will be all the way from parents and other relatives of the deaf to people who were fascinated with it like me," she said. "I hope more parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and siblings (of the deaf) will devote time to learning it, because communication is everything."\n<\/p>\n

\n\tASL is one of many interests and passions in Johnstone's life.\n<\/p>\n

\n\tIn addition to her degree in ASL, the St. Louis native has a bachelor's degree in English and a master's degree in molecular biology. She worked in a laboratory in medical schools at Washington University in St. Louis and the University of Miami in Miami, Fla., before creating her own business as a medical\/legal research consultant. Her company advised law firms nationwide and offered a records-organizing service named "Order in the Court."\n<\/p>\n

\n\tAfter moving to Houston, Johnstone lectured at the University of Houston Law School and served on the Health\/Law Policy Institute Board.\n<\/p>\n

\n\tJohnstone also is a dancer and a duo pianist, which is a musician who performs with another pianists. She has played piano on National Public Radio and Houston Public Radio (88.7, KUHF-FM). One of her recordings includes a narration by former First Lady Barbara Bush.\n<\/p>\n

\n\tIn addition, Johnstone has served on boards and committees for Shepherd School of Music, Houston Symphony League, Leadership Houston, Neighborhood Center, Pan American Round Table, Career and Recovery Resources and the Mayor's Council for Trade and Development.\n<\/p>\n

\n\tTo register or obtain more information about the American Sign Language class, visit http:\/\/www.beanangel.org<\/a>, or contact Marti Boone at Marti@BeAnAngel.org or 281-219-3313.\n<\/p>\n

\n\tMore Information<\/strong>
\n\tHow to talk with hands
\n\tWhat: Free 10-week American Sign Language 10-week course.
\n\tWhen: 6-7 p.m. Mondays starting October 14, 2013
\n\tWhere: T.H. Rogers Elementary School, 5840 San Felipe
\n\tDetails: Visit www.beanangel.org, or contact Marti Boone at Marti@BeAnAngel.org or 281-219-3313\n<\/p>\n

\n\tSOURCE:\n<\/p>\n

\n\thttp:\/\/www.chron.com\/neighborhood\/memorial\/news\/article\/Sign-language-instructor-eager-to-share-her-4879377.php<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Sign language instructor eager to share her passion By Flori Meeks October 8, 2013 The first time Sheila Johnstone saw people communicate in American Sign Language, she was mesmerized. "I'm a dancer, and it looked like dancing to me," the…<\/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":[1629,4621,23,20007,1089,35,24,62,20018,11883,380,1412,20009,20,20008,20010,20013,338,40,20014,20017,20016,20011,7426,20015,20006,20004,20012,191,20005],"class_list":["post-24997","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-deaf-news","tag-american-sign-language","tag-article","tag-asl","tag-be-an-angel","tag-career-and-recovery-resources","tag-community","tag-deaf","tag-english","tag-first-lady-barbara-bush","tag-flori-meeks","tag-grammar","tag-hard-of-hearing","tag-healthlaw-policy-institute-board","tag-houston","tag-houston-independent-school-distric","tag-houston-public-radio","tag-houston-symphony-league","tag-instructor","tag-interpreter","tag-leadership-houston","tag-marti-boone","tag-mayors-council-for-trade-and-development","tag-national-public-radio","tag-neighborhood-center","tag-pan-american-round-table","tag-richard-tyler","tag-sheila-johnstone","tag-shepherd-school-of-music","tag-sign-language","tag-t-h-rogers-elementary-school"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p752R-6vb","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":26780,"url":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/2014\/03\/22\/interest-high-in-communicating-with-the-deaf\/","url_meta":{"origin":24997,"position":0},"title":"Interest high in communicating with the deaf","author":"Grant Laird Jr","date":"March 22, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Interest high in communicating with the deaf By Flori Meeks March 11, 2014 When the nonprofit Houston organization, Be An Angel, offered a free course in American Sign Language last fall, teacher Sheila Johnstone expected 15 to 20 people to register. More than 200 responded, and the class at T.H.\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":17019,"url":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/2011\/12\/20\/deaf-center-stages-food-drive\/","url_meta":{"origin":24997,"position":1},"title":"Deaf center stages food drive","author":"Grant Laird Jr","date":"December 20, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"Deaf center stages food drive CHRONICLE CORRESPONDENT By FLORI MEEKS Tuesday, December 20, 2011 Although she never met the late Lillian Beard, Ashly Martinez thinks of her as a role model. \"From what I've been told, her smile was contagious,\" said Martinez, volunteer coordinator for the Lillian Beard Deaf Connection\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":19024,"url":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/2012\/06\/12\/exercising-advocacy-skills-asl-workshop-houston\/","url_meta":{"origin":24997,"position":2},"title":"Exercising Advocacy Skills & ASL workshop – Houston","author":"Grant Laird Jr","date":"June 12, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"ASL 3 - Houston WHEN: JUNE 21, 2012 TO AUGUST 9, 2012 EVERY THURSDAY TIME: 6:30 PM TO 8:30 PM Instructor: Sophie Kiskinis Warmack, MA, Gallaudet University This course, you will learn how to carry conversation in American Sign Language. Also will use facial expression and visual gesture. Must know\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":15386,"url":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/2011\/08\/11\/full-time-itp-faculty-job-at-lone-star-college-system-houston\/","url_meta":{"origin":24997,"position":3},"title":"Full-time ITP faculty job at Lone Star College System – Houston","author":"Grant Laird Jr","date":"August 11, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"Full-time ITP faculty job Lone Star College System - Houston Full Time ASL\/ITP Instructor at Lone Star College System in Houston, Texas Faculty, American Sign Language\/Interpreter Training (#1851) NH Lone Star College System LSC-North Harris You can view and apply for this job at: https:\/\/hcm.lonestar.edu\/psc\/hcmtam\/EMPLOYEE\/HRMS\/c\/HRS_HRAM.HRS_CE.GBL?Page=HRS_CE_HM_PRE&Action=A Or go to http:\/\/lonestar.edu\/lsc-jobs.htm and\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":24997,"position":4},"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":5828,"url":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/2009\/03\/24\/instructorassistant-professor-of-asl-huntsville\/","url_meta":{"origin":24997,"position":5},"title":"Instructor\/Assistant Professor of ASL – Huntsville","author":"Grant Laird Jr","date":"March 24, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"Instructor\/Assistant Professor of ASL Instructor\/Assistant Professor of American Sign Language (ASL), Fall 2009. Graduate degree in American Sign Language, Deaf Education, Special Education, Linguistics or related field required. In-depth knowledge of deaf culture, comparative linguistics, deafness, and communication issues. Native or near-native ASL speaker. ASLTA or Texas teaching in ASL\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":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24997","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=24997"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24997\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24999,"href":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24997\/revisions\/24999"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24997"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=24997"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=24997"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}