American Sign Language or ASL is one of the languages that the deaf community employs to communicate with each other.
Over the years, it has evolved to include many other modes of signing like tactile signing, fingerspelling, hand-over-hand, and tracking.
ASL has now become a widely used language among people with disabilities and those without disabilities who use it to converse with their disabled friends, colleagues, or family member(s).
To promote the use of sign language among students and people in general, many schools have created American Sign Language clubs.
This is where students learn how to use sign language to promote effective communication when they interact with the deaf, hard of hearing, or any other disabled person who utilizes ASL.
If you’re a high school or college student who is passionate about sign language and would want to establish an ASL club in your school, or if you’re looking for amazing ASL club ideas that can be incorporated into your ASL club activities, then this article is a must-read for you.
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9 Awesome ASL Club Activity Ideas
Here are some unique and interesting ideas that will make ASL fun and enjoyable for every member of the club.
1. ASL Discussion(s)
This is a fun activity that you can incorporate into the club’s programs. Have a segment dedicated to teaching members how to effectively communicate with sign language.
You can even take things to the next level by inviting an ASL professional or interpreter to teach and discuss sign language with the club members.
Another segment that can be added to your ASL discussion is the introduction of different topics on ASL that you can all discuss to enable everyone to get better with ASL.
Related: How to Work With a Person Who Is Deaf or Hearing Impaired
2. Fingerspelling
If you’re looking for one of the most popular and unique ASL club ideas that you can introduce to the ASL club, then this is the right one to choose.
Fingerspelling is particularly important because it enables newbies to learn ASL faster.
You can do this by writing different words on a board and telling each member to spell the words one after the other through fingerspelling.
The hearing members can take dictations and be told to spell certain words with their fingers. The member who spells every word correctly wins the competition.
3. Arts & Crafts
Drawing, painting, and creating beautiful objects with materials are some of the unique ideas you can introduce to the club.
Teach the members DIY projects and allow them to show their talents in different arts and crafts activities they choose to undertake.
Doing this will help to boost the members’ confidence and self-esteem, especially the deaf and hard of hearing members.
4. Deaf Bingo
This game is similar to the popular Bingo game. It’s a great way newbies learn numbers and alphabets in ASL.
However, the aspect this deaf Bingo game differs from the traditional Bingo has to do with where letters or numbers will be said aloud. In this case, they will be pronounced through ASL.
It is also a useful game for ASL vocabulary development, where you sign a vocabulary to the members or participants. And they will in turn match the signed word to the words that were printed on their cards before they can emerge victoriously.
5. Silent Games
Since ASL deals more with gestures and hands movement than speaking, silent games are some unique ideas that you can add to the club’s activities.
One example of such a game is “Silent Supper”. This game has to do with organizing a dinner where everyone eats together without saying a word. Anyone who wants to say something must speak with ASL or risk being fined.
Silent games can equally be done during the day, where every member of the club must communicate in sign language or get fined for failing to do so as they perform the club’s activities.
This game helps people to take ASL more seriously, especially those who are not disabled but just learning sign language to become an interpreter or know how to communicate with it.
Related: Can You Be Fired for Being Hearing Impaired? (Answered)
6. ASL Cinema
Here is another fun idea that can be done in an ASL club.
This activity can be done weekly or bi-weekly; it all depends on what’s convenient for the club and its organizers.
There are many interesting ASL movies you can watch with the members. You all will do a review of the movie after watching it using sign language to communicate.
This will go a long way in helping everyone to enjoy sign language and be able to communicate with it effectively.
7. ASL Field Trips and Outdoor Activities
An ASL club activity should not just be indoors.
Bring a different and unique touch to things by going camping, field trips, and doing other outdoor recreational activities.
Also, organize outdoor picnics for both deaf and hearing members to interact with sign language while having fun.
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8. ASL Slam/Poetry Event
Organize a poetry slam or competition where members recite a poem with the use of ASL.
An interpreter will, however, be on standby to interpret the poem to the audience who don’t know what ASL is all about.
A poetry slam is often a big event.
Therefore, you must ensure that you plan things appropriately and invite parents, teachers, and non-members of the club. This will help to create more awareness and inclusivity for ASL and the deaf community in general.
It will also go a long way in promoting and publicizing your club positively.
If the special guest(s) invited for the event don’t understand ASL, they can be allowed to speak while the interpreter interprets what’s being said to other members using ASL.
9. Cooking Show
Cooking is an interesting art that anyone can become prolific with, regardless of their disabilities.
And it’s a unique idea that can be an integral part of the club’s program since it doesn’t require talking or verbal communication.
Pick a specific date of the week or month to organize cooking shows for the club members. Invite cooking professionals or chefs as special guests for the show.
Teach your club members new recipes while explaining the cooking procedures to them using ASL and physical demonstration.
