Driven by her faith and for every person, regardless of language or abilities, to know God’s love and salvation, Mrs. Aimee Hsia approaches her teaching with that same passion. What initially started as curiosity as she enrolled in her first American Sign Language (ASL) class in college has led her to pioneering the ASL program at KCS last fall. ASL is offered as a one-credit elective during senior year, and adding an ASL course to the high school curriculum provides KCS with an exciting and meaningful opportunity. Principal Mrs. Ahn not only sees learning ASL as a way to equip students with practical skills they can use across the country and in various professions but also as another way to build relationships and reach a different population in the community.

As communication is the foundation of relationships, Mrs. Hsia integrates fellowship events with the Deaf community into her class. Last school year, she coordinated several potlucks for conversation practice, and in September, she invited a deaf friend to join the seniors on their excursion to Sea Life Park. For the eight students currently enrolled in ASL, this was their first opportunity to interact with a deaf person as well as catch a glimpse of accessibility challenges. When encountering a deaf or hard-of-hearing person, Mrs. Hsia simply encourages a willing attitude to have a conversation, whether it be through signing, texting, writing, or gesturing. This is often the first step in bridging the gap between these two worlds. Two students have already shared how they successfully utilized this new mode of expression at their respective jobs, opening doors to impactful exchanges with deaf customers.

Last Friday, the class introduced middle and high school students to the world of ASL during upper chapel, presenting an ASL poem on the familiar Bible story of the Israelites entering the Promised Land. Originally composed in ASL, their presentation of “The Fall of Jericho” showcased the unique features of ASL poetry, which differs from spoken language poetry. Facial expressions, speed, and roughness of gestures convey meaning in addition to the signs. As students grow in their understanding of ASL and deaf culture, Mrs. Hsia hopes they continue their journey of building bridges, “not only... bridges of languages, but of cultures, and of heart."