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About The Clackamas print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1989-2019 | View Entire Issue (June 1, 2005)
ature ^^2 L A CK A MA Sprint June 1, 2005 • 7 anguage instructor’s calling a ‘sign’ I Katie Wilson | The Clackamas Print Brie Daykin Clackamas Print jean Sign Language Instructor Deb Jaussi has taught through- ie USA and guided groups of students all over the world. “I would definitely say that I found my niche here at the college level,” said Deb Jaussi, American Sign Language instructor at Clackamas. Jaussi has taught nearly every age range possible, from pre-school to high school, and now at Clackamas Community College, where she has been teaching part-time for two years. “I enjoy teaching adults,” she said. “I enjoy having the higher college level ... the stu dents are here because they want to be here, and I have a lot more interaction with them.” Jaussi first became inter ested in sign language when she was growing up in Idaho. “I thought it was cool. I used to watch it on TV,” she said. At Idaho State University, she took a sign language class and found her calling. “When I was in college,” said Jaussi, “the 'people that they were letting into the sign language classes were the ones that were going to major in that. I hadn’t really decided what I wanted to be, but I wanted to take a sign language class, so I kind of fell into being a sign language major ... “I take groups of students all I took all the classes and just over the world,” she explained. stuck with it.” Majoring specifically in “It’s an educational tour. [The education for the deaf, Jaussi students] go and they learn has since taught all oVer the about the cultures. We stay United States, in high schools, with families at one point in schools for the deaf, middle the trip so [the students] really get what it’s like to be in that schools—everywhere. Now living in Oregon, she culture. It’s very educational teaches first- and second-year and they get high school and American Sign Language at college credit for it.” With sum Clackamas. She mer coming up, also teaches in Jaussi is look Wilsonville, has ing forward to added a high love to more traveling. school class, ’ t She has been and is planning want to all over the a summer class. world; Venice But she learning.” is her favorite doesn’t just city. Last year teach; she’s Deb Jaussi she went to a student, too. American Sign Australia; this “I love being Language ¡Instructor year it’s China. here on campus “It’s an because I can incredible expe experience and take advantage of also being rience,” she said. “The only a student ... I love to learn. I places I haven’t ever been that don’t ever want to stop learn I still want to go to are South ing and I love just sitting in the America and Africa:” Even,with all her summer classes. I don’t like the tests, plans, Jaussi is already think though,” said Jau'ssi, laughing. In addition to teaching and ing about the next school year. “It’s been a great year,” she studying for tests, Jaussi enjoys traveling. For six years she said. “I really hope to expand has been a delegation leader the Sign Language program—it in Portland for an organiza was kind of falling apart. Now tion called People to People, we have a second-year class which was set up by President and I really want to build the program.” Eisenhower in 1956. “Z learn. I don ever stop leresting classes to check out on fall term schedule Ciaramella Ltatamas Print I upcoming fall quarter will [students the opportunity to Ee in many new and exciting |s in subjects such as lit re, anthropology and foreign |ge. be new class being offered [fall quarter is English 215: [tare of the Beat Generation, lass is being offered online, [ill survey the writings of the I influential “beat” genera- pf the 1950s, often referred Ibeatniks.” The course will F ■the more famous authors as Jack Kerouac and Allen [erg, but it will also delve L U into lesser known—but still highly American soul.” influential—members of the beat in Also being offered movement, such as Diane Di the upcoming fall quarter is Prima, Gregory Corso, Michael Anthropology 231: Indians Mclure, and Gary Snyder. of the Pacific Northwest. The English Instructor Jim Grabill, course is being taught by resident who is teaching the class, is Anthropology Instructor Robert excited about the opportunity to Keeler, who is looking forward to explore the passionate writings the prospects. of the beat movement with stu “It’s a class we’ve done a dents. couple of times before, but this is “It was a movement that still the first time in a couple of years has ah affect on writers today. it’s been available,” Keeler said. They were so honest, musical, “I’m happy to have it back on the took a lot of risks,” Grabill said. books.” “They erupted with poetry and One of the most interesting fiction that addressed the essen aspects of the course is that it will tial questions of our time, and intertwine to form an unofficial extended the experiment of , sequence with other classes that Walt Whitman, among others, will be available in the following in expressing the irrepressible terms. In the winter term, Native American Literature is planned, followed by Native American Mythology in the spring term. "We’re pretty excited about having the three classes dovetail together,” he said. The course will be an over view of tribes from the coast of Alaska all the way down to Oregon, but it will focus mainly on tribes from the region. “They’re pretty exciting,” said Keeler, speaking of the Pacific Northwest tribes, ‘‘[They had] complicated social organizations, art, etc.” Keeler says the Class will look at archeology, history and ethnog raphy, but it will also look at some art. A trip to the Portland Art' Museum might also be included. The foreign language depart ment will also be offering some new courses; an American Sign Language sequence is scheduled for next fall quarter. American Sign Language is the predomi nant sign language in English- speaking North America. It is not, however, a direct transfer of English to sign language, but a free-standing and complete lan guage of its own. These are only a few of the new classes being offered next fall, however. There are many more. Students may find a list ing of fall classes in the new fall preview guide, available through out the campus or online at the college’s website, http://www. clackamas.edu. ER WORK GREAT PAY & FLEXIBLE SCHEDULES Can start after finals, Customer sales & service No experience necessary, we train, all majors welcome All ages 17 & older, conditions apply Clackamas 503-353-7507 Beaverton 503-203-1103
