Rama

What language did you study and why?
American Sign Language (ASL) – I chose to specifically study ASL because proficiency in this language is essential to my ultimate goal of becoming a hearing healthcare professional qualified to visit underserved countries to serve Deaf refugees and individuals with hearing loss around the world. Not to mention — ASL is a really cool and unique language!

What program did you attend and why did you choose it?
I had the opportunity to study ASL in an 8-week intensive course at the University of Chicago’s Summer Language Institute, providing me with a year’s worth of ASL instruction. I specifically chose it as my language program primarily because it is only one of two programs I have found that satisfy the requirements of the ULG grant for American Sign Language, as agreed upon by an advisor: the 220 hours of instruction, in which I studied ASL for five hours a day, five days a week for two months, proved to be the longest and most immersive, affordable course I could find available. Also, one of my favorite aspects was that the course was taught entirely by an individual who is Deaf, making the experience more authentic and rewarding.

Describe your experience doing summer language study. Was it tricky? How do you think your language skills improved?
It definitely wasn’t as easy as I thought it would be! It required constant review and repetition, but this ultimately helped improve my language proficiency. Also, since communication in ASL is based on visual signs mainly done through hands, facial expression, and body language, I had made this my reality even outside of class. Sometimes, when I speak with my family — even today, I still sign what I say to make sure I don’t forget my vocabulary. I ultimately realized that language is all about practice, if you don’t retain it through consistency and repetition, you will lose it just as easily as you learned it.

Did intensive summer language study change or solidify any of your future goals? If so, how?
It definitely solidified my future career goal of becoming a hearing healthcare professional qualified to serve individuals who may utilize ASL. Before my program, I was inspired by ASL, and now, I’ve immersed myself in it! I’ve learned more about deaf culture, language acquisition and experienced being part of an amazing community that I don’t want to let go of. When school gets overwhelmingly difficult, I think of my experience learning ASL over the summer and it motivates me to work harder towards the career goals I yearn to achieve in the future.

Do you have any tips or advice for students similar to you that are interested in pursing intensive language study?
Just go for it!! Even if you think it’ll be difficult because the language you want to study is not very well-known or there aren’t many programs for it, don’t let that stop you from trying. I hope my journey of being the first recipient to successfully be funded the ULG to study ASL can be of motivation and proof that is IS in fact possible.

What is your go-to phrase to yell during the finals “Primal Scream”?
I haven’t done it yet, but I plan on doing so this quarter though because it’s been my worse one yet haha!

Favorite bathroom on campus?
SHEPARD Hall!