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Adult Sign Language Classes

Learning opportunities

Adult sign language classes at Perkins are offered twice a year, during the fall and spring. All classes are taught in Signed English and meet once a week for two hours. Twelve-week sessions begin mid-September and are repeated again beginning late January. Classes are open to the community and anyone age 16 or over may register for a class. Tuition is $50. All classes are taught in Signed English and meet once a week for twelve sessions.
There are no classes during the Perkins school vacation weeks in February and April.

Spring 2012 Adult Sign Language Classes

Download flyer and registration form.

Adult Sign Language classes will begin January 30, 2012. Classes are offered for adults, age 16 and over. Registration is open until Jan. 27, 2012. Tuition is $50.00 for community members and may be brought to the first class. All classes are taught in Signed English and meet once a week for twelve sessions. There are no classes during the Perkins school vacation weeks in February and April.

Level One: Includes approximately 500 word vocabulary, introduction to fingerspelling and development of basic sign language skills.

Wednesdays, 3:30 – 5:30 PM, Instructor Derm Keohane, begins Feb. 1

Level Two: Includes approximately 500 word vocabulary, expansion of fingerspelling and sign language skills. (Prerequisite: successful completion of a level one course)

Mondays, 3:30 - 5:30 PM, Instructor Derm Keohane, begins Jan. 30
Mondays, 6:30 – 8:30 PM, Instructor Derm Keohane, begins Jan. 30
Wednesdays, 10:00 – 12:00 PM, Instructor Derm Keohane, begins Feb. 1

Level Three: Ongoing acquisition of vocabulary, increased fluency with numbers and fingerspelling, focus on building conversational language skill. (Prerequisite: successful completion of level one and level two courses)

Tuesdays, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 PM, Instructor Derm Keohane, begins Jan. 31

Call 617-924-3444, ext. 8317 for more information.

We typically offer two levels of sign language courses:

Level One

Signed English: large group class conducted in voice and sign language with a strong emphasis on expressive skills.

Approximately 500 word basic vocabulary
The manual alphabet
Numbers 1-20
Ability to read and fingerspell words up to 5 letters at a slow pace
Ability to expressively communicate in sign language and fingerspelling a short story up to 5 sentences.
Ability to obtain the main idea from a signed sequence of 3-4 sentences.

Level Two

Signed English: large group class conducted in voice and sign language with a strong emphasis on receptive skills.

Approximately (additional) 500 word vocabulary
Fluency with the manual alphabet
Numbers 1-100
Ability to fingerspell words comfortably
Ability to expressively communicate a paragraph in sign language and fingerspelling
Ability to obtain the main idea from a signed story and answer specific questions about the story

Prerequisites: Successful completion of Level One or equivalent