West Valley College offers Sign Language course on campus

It’s seventh period on a Tuesday afternoon, and many students are working away at half-life graphs in Chemistry and correcting math homework. Junior Alex Yagobi, on the other hand, is greeting his classmates and teacher with a salute-like motion.

Each Tuesday and Thursday, around 20 upperclassmen are part of the school’s first American Sign Language class, taught by Evette Ybarra, an instructor brought to campus from West Valley College.

Assistant principal Brian Safine said that the course is a convenient alternative to Spanish, French or Chinese, especially since it’s taught during seventh period.

“Every year we have students who choose to take sign language as a means to learn about the subject, and as a means to fulfill a college requirement,” Safine said. “It’s nice that they can now do it on a campus they’re familiar with during a time that works for them.”

Yagobi decided to take ASL to fulfill his language credit and learn a new skill.

“I heard people get paid for interpreting sign language and I also just wanted to try something new,” Yagobi said. “Sign language engages you with the class.”

Yagobi has learned there is more to ASL than he first thought.

“It not only involves hands, but facial expressions and body movement as well,” he said.

The course is open to juniors and seniors but also to anyone in the community who would like to learn ASL, since the course is not actually offered by the school, just taught on campus.

Another difference with the class is that due to a difference in schedules between the school and West Valley College, there is no class on Mondays.