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