By MaCayla Jablonski, Editor-in-Chief.
Not only is Trent Wade the one full-time American Sign Language professor Delta has to offer, he is also the first Deaf professor to teach at Delta. Wade, along with his interpreters, Julie Poletti and Angela Horne, have been spreading ASL knowledge through our college for five years (six this fall). “I can’t believe how time has just gone by so quickly. It’s amazing,” says Wade.
Wade’s teaching career is more than just impressive, it’s extensive. Aside from teaching at Delta, he has taught at more than six community colleges including Lansing Community College, Columbia College in Chicago, and Georgia Perimeter College in Atlanta.
Delta offers various ASL classes including ASL1- ASL4, advanced fingerspelling, and a deaf culture class. “The deaf culture class focuses on learning the vocabulary, learning about syntax and grammar, which is different than English, and non-manual markers,” says Wade.
Delta does not offer the certification to becoming an interpreter for ASL, but there is an Associate of Arts degree available where ASL can be accepted as a foreign language or as humanities credit.
“Those interested in becoming interpreters can transfer to an ITP program (Interpreter training program),” says Wade. These programs are available at Mott Community College, Baker College, Oakland Community College, etc. This could be useful for those that are looking to go into the broad application that is ASL, such as interpreting, social work, criminal justice, teachers of the deaf, nursing, the list goes on.
Wade believes that learning sign language can help teach proper ways to communicate without using sign language, “Even those that are not planning to apply the ASL, they can always pick up important skills, for example, non-verbal skills, to become better communicators and listeners.” Wade has also received strong, positive feedback on how learning ASL has changed their outlook on life.” Many students have come up and say that they have become more aware of diversity. They’ve become more sensitive. They feel more comfortable to approach individuals that might seem different from them.”
Wade says ASL can be difficult to learn, depending on the person, “I think for people who are very open, they tend to do well. Where people who are more traditional tend to struggle with it. You just have to be open to experiences, and to be more in touch with yourself.”
If you are interested in taking ASL courses, feel free to email Wade at trentwade@delta.edu for more information, or check delta.edu for class summaries.