ST. JOHNSBURY - You don't need words to have a conversation, which was seen Tuesday night in St. Johnsbury where a sign language class was held at the Kingdom Recovery Center. The course teaches everyone not only the language itself, but also how to have a love and dedication to learning a new language.
Shane Greene created the program free of charge because he knows how expensive American Sign Language, or ASL, courses can get and he doesn't believe it should be that way. "When you look a computers or when you look at advertising, you look at the price and it's crazy. People, their desire and their economy, it's horrible how they can't afford to pay for class," said Greene. Prices for classes can range from $75 to $95 for beginners classes online and in person.
Greene grew up deaf with a family who did not know or believe in sign language. Shane has been sober for 11 years now and plays a big role in the Kingdom Recover Center. That is why he welcomes everyone to take this course. "That's what my goal... to make the deaf and hearing world go easier."
Greene isn't the only one with a story. Cynthia Irene Ihinck thinks the course is a great opportunity to learn for anybody whether they are deaf or not. She believes it's like learning any other language. "So I'm telling everyone else, if I can do it, don't be afraid to do it," said Ihinck. She has nerve damage and is slowly going deaf, so she has decided sign language class is what's best for her. "I am deaf in one ear and gong to be eventually in my right ear and the reason I am here is so I can learn sign language and can sign with people," she states.
Each country has a different way of signing words, and learning the language is not easy. Ihinck is not ending her journey of learning ASL when he course ends. She plans on continuing her path of sign language, as well as classmate Diane Gouchie.
Gouchie says "Radiation to my brain and I couldn't speak for almost three years. I love sign language and I've done it for many many years and when I'm not talking I forget." She is learning sign language along with her 3 year-old great niece. Gouchie is learning sign language to be more comfortable, and enjoys meeting new people in the class. "I love sign language. It's so cool," she said.
Shane Greene welcomes everyone to take this class on Tuesdays at the Kingdom Recovery Center. Although, he is leaving in May to go to college to become a counselor, he says when he returns, he plans on continuing teaching this course.
If there are any questions, contact Cindy Boyd at
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or (802) 751-8520.