JOIN THE ASL CLUB AT UTRGV!

Bonnie Garcia
Apr 17
3 min read

By Greyz Gonzalez

Why Join A Club?

For the most part, many of us can remember coming in as freshmen and being thrown into the college experience without being mentally prepared. This can be accompanied with an overbearing feeling of loneliness and anxiety, which can cause doubts of continuing the journey for higher education. As a result, some UTRGV students decide to drop out of college altogether.

As of recently, UTRGV has found a great way to combat this prevalent issue by supporting students to join a club. Recently, there has emerged a great variety of college clubs to promote inclusion and close bonds in the community. The American Sign Language (ASL) Club is among the thriving UTRGV clubs.

Why To Join The ASL Club At UTRGV

The ASL Club creates a welcoming, inclusive environment for students, regardless of any prior knowledge of ASL or degree major. They focus on teaching the basics of American Sign Language to interact together in an encouraging environment. The club consists of a President, Vice-President, an Event Coordinator, the Treasurer, and the Historian, who all collectively work together to host weekly meetings to discuss ASL lessons or upcoming events. The ASL Club shares the newest events and updates on their social media pages @aslclubatutrgv on Instagram and on their WhatsApp chat.

WHY IS LEARNING ASL IMPORTANT?

Learning ASL can be incredibly beneficial for connecting with the Deaf community by helping bridge language gaps. Being able to communicate effectively with a Deaf coworker or classmate not only creates more interactions but also plays a vital role in promoting accessibility and breaking down barriers to ensure a more inclusive environment. Dr. Bill Vicars, a deaf professor, commented that, “Signing is a useful skill that can open up for you a new world of relationships and understanding.” (Vicars, Lifeprint)

HOW DOES THE ASL CLUB WORK?

The ASL Club meets every Thursday between 12:30-1:30 PM at UTRGV Edinburg Campus in the Health Affairs West (EHABW) building, Room W2.110.* The weekly meetings focus on learning new vocabulary and topics. Working together in a group setting ensures that students learn from each other and develop their ASL conversation skills.

There are regular Deaf events hosted by the ASL Club to bring the Deaf and hearing community together. These events range from Deaf Lotería Night to Starbucks Deaf Chat or Deaf Bowling Night. These are open to everyone and provide the opportunity to meet more Deaf people from the community!

While the transition to college can be overwhelming for many, especially during your first year, joining a community like the ASL Club at UTRGV can help you feel more connected. The Deaf culture focuses on having face-to-face communication to feel more united with one another. By learning ASL and engaging with others in an inclusive and supportive environment, you will not only gain valuable skills but also create lasting friendships and contribute to your local Deaf community. Embrace this opportunity to grow both academically and personally, and remember that your college journey is about discovering new experiences, forming bonds, and creating a positive impact. The ASL Club is here to help you do just that!