Free sign language class available for Edwards members

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Stacy Sanchez
  • 95th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
The 95th Mission Support Squadron is offering a sign language program to
Team Edwards. 

Sponsored by the civilian personnel flight, the American Sign Language program is designed to open one's mind to deaf culture and to promote deaf awareness. 

"The American Sign Language class is about bringing people together who want to open their minds and expand their learning," said Jana Harnish, 95th Mission Support Squadron sign language interpreter. "Aside from having fun, we learn basic signs that will allow us to converse with the deaf and hard of hearing population not only at Edwards but anywhere we go." 

Ms. Harnish, who is the only interpreter and sign language instructor on base, teaches a 12-week course consisting of two beginning and one advanced course. 

"I try to teach the second class of the year at an advanced level for those students who want to learn a bit more," Ms. Harnish said. 

Her class consists of sign language videos, handouts and educational games. Ms. Harnish's students also work on receptive and expressive skills, which she quizzes them on to see how they progress throughout the course. 

"In my class I infuse both teaching sign language and deaf culture," Ms. Harnish said. "It's important when learning any language to know all the factors that go along with it." 

Ashley Sharma, a 412th Test Wing engineer is currently taking the sign language class on base. He said he had been wanting to learn sign language. 

"I have always had a keen interest for friends who were hard of hearing," Mr. Sharma said. 

Mr. Sharma has a sister who is handicapped. Her social group sometimes consists of people who are hard of hearing, so he wanted to learn the language to help his family and community. 

"I have had many different ranks of the military from officers and enlisted to military spouses and civilians attend the class," Ms. Harnish said. "It's really a wide range of people. We even have small children attend the class with their parents." 

Depending on the need of the students, Ms. Harnish does an incredible job of keeping the pace with her students, Mr. Sharma said. 

She tries to assess each individual's skill level in the class so she can set a certain pace for each one, he said. 

Sign language class is only one of the services the Civilian Personnel Office provides. They also interpret for deaf employees at Edwards as well as give training sessions on deaf awareness. 

The American Sign Language class is every Tuesday and Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at the Oasis Community Center. There is no enrollment fee and all study materials are provided. 

"Being able to communicate with the deaf population at Edwards is huge," Ms. Harnish said. "Without people's interest to communicate with people who have a hearing disability, those people with a hearing disability tend to feel isolated. They truly appreciate when people make the effort to learn their language and to live in their world."