VAN NUYS : Sign Language Helps Class Learn English

Oscar Flores spent Tuesday expressing himself in sign language and dance as part of a new English as a Second Language program at Van Nuys High School.

The unusual and experimental program is designed to stimulate interest in learning English for students like Flores, who immigrated from Mexico last year.

“Before, I didn’t want to learn (English),” said Oscar, 17. “With the sign language, I learn so much. I want to come to school.”

Coached by teacher Linda Coleman, Oscar and about 60 other intermediate students mouthed and signed the words to 10 songs before about 100 enthusiastic students, many recent immigrants from countries like Mexico, Guatemala and El Salvador.

The students learn by writing down the English lyrics to the songs like “Stand By Me” and “Seasons In The Sun,” translating the words to sign language and then performing them.

Using sign language to teach English is a natural for Coleman. A former teacher for the hearing-impaired who was unable to find work in California, Coleman took a job teaching English and found a place for her signing skills.

“I realized that coming to a new country and learning a new language is like being deaf or mute, because you don’t understand what people are saying and you can’t speak back to them,” said Coleman, who created the idea for the performances a month ago.

Coleman credits her program with improving self-esteem and classroom attendance. In the future, she hopes to document the program’s effectiveness for use by other instructors.

Gloria Cox, administrator of secondary bilingual education for the Los Angeles Unified School District, said Coleman’s program is unique in the district and warrants further study. “We definitely will go take a look at it,” Cox said.

For now, Coleman is content with the praise of other teachers like Darlene Solorio, a beginning English as a Second Language teacher who watched Flores struggle in her class a year ago.

“It’s great,” Solorio said. “When you have a student who is lackadaisical about learning and you see him performing, it’s really positive.”