William.Hubbs@f9.n393.z1.fidonet.org (William Hubbs) (10/09/90)
Index Number: 10949
[This is from the Silent Talk Conference]
The following is an article that I thought everyone here would find
interesting. It is taken from the NT Daily, the school newspaper for the
University of North Texas, which I attend. Does anyone have any comments on
this?
SIGN LANGUAGE QUALIFIES AS CREDIT
by Joanna K. Guajardo, NT daily reporter
The NT College of Arts and Sciences' foreign language
requirement can now be fulfilled by taking sign language
courses.
Jeanie Isfeld of the dean's office staff said freshman and
sophomore courses are available this semester, but the junior
and senior courses will not be offered until fall 1991.
The Arts and Sciences Curriculum Committee approved the
courses, which are three credit hours each.
"A number of universities nationwide have accepted the sign
language option," said Mike Henry, former sign language
instructor. "Upon investigating, the arts and sciences committee
said sign language did qualify as foreign language credit
because sign language proved to have a distinct syntax and
grammar all its own."
He said sign language is the fourth most widely used language
nationwide. "English is first, Spanish second and Italian
third," Henry said.
Isfeld said the courses will be as difficult as any other
foreign language, but they will be useful for students entering
service and medical professions.
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