<p>Being a homeschooled student, I've only had one year of Spanish. I know all of the grammatical rules, etc., but as far as speaking it, I barely know enough to get by. I was going to put down just my 1 year of Spanish on my application and hope for the best (even though most schools "strongly prefer" 2-4 years), but then I was thinking -- does ASL (American Sign Language) count as a foreign language? No, it's not "foreign" in the typical sense, but it sure is VERY, VERY different than spoken English.... and if I'm fluent in it, would that count for something?</p>
<p>Thanks for any help!</p>
<p>P.S. I'm applying to some top colleges if that's relevant.</p>
<p>You need to ask the admissions officers at colleges that interest you. They probably would give some consideration to ASL, but may still have you fulfill a foreign language requirement once you're in college.</p>
<p>Yeah, I've got three years of it and that's what i'm doing to fulfill my foreign language requirement. </p>
<p>And just to note, it takes a lot to be truly fluent in sign language, and few non-native speakers really reach the point where you can't tell if they're native or not. It's extremely different from learning a spoken language.</p>
<p>our high school offered sign language at one point, but was a victim of budget cuts; and yes, it was part of the foreign language department. The guidance counselors always warned people that very few colleges will accept ASL as a foreign language.</p>
<p>It should -- many high schools offer it along with a bunch of other languages. By the "foreign language" requirement, it's more a "non-English language" requirement.</p>
<p>The best advise, I'd say, was what Northstarmom said - ask the admissions counselors. There are way too many colleges for there to be a single, easy answer to such a question.</p>
<p>I'm kind of in the same boat- I wanted to take French my sophomore year, but my schedule didn't work out and Spanish didn't really interest me, so I signed up for ASL. I love it. My teacher's Deaf and the insight into Deaf culture and all is amazing. I'm planning on taking ASL three next year, but I'm scared that it's going to hurt my chances for college admission. I'm looking at applying at Emory next year and they don't accept it, so I emailed them and they sent me back a reply saying that they understood that sometimes things don't work out, exc, exc. I don't know if they're just saying that.....I could start taking French classes at the community college to make sure I get the credit, but that's a ton of extra work....any thoughts?</p>
<p>I'm really surprised to hear that some colleges don't consider ASL a foreign language! Sorry this post is non-helpful, but I just wanted to share that I feel bad for anyone who has extensive ASL ability and is considered lacking in foreign language...that just seems silly.</p>
<p>You first need a state that accepts ASL as a language. I think the number is now 37 that do, which means 13 don’t. That means their state colleges must accept it, but private colleges still might balk.</p>
<p>Additionally, you might want to avoid the expression “foreign language” since AMERICAN Sign Language is an American language. English is actually imported! It can be called a “world language” or “modern language”. This would also apply to Navajo, Houdenoshaunee, and any other native languages.</p>
<p>More and more are accepting it. ASL is the fourth or even the third most used language in the US - depending on which statistics you want to believe.</p>
<p>I’m a freshman at the University of Delaware and UD does not accept ASL as a foreign language for the undergrad foreign language requirement. From this standpoint alone, I would recommend taking a spoken language because not having one will set you back at least two semesters of language courses once you do get to college.</p>
<p>Should they accept it? What are some arguments pro and con?</p>
<p>I think an important reason to study a foreign language in HS or college is that it opens a window on thinking and communication among people living in different times and places than our own. In college, the emphasis often is on the written language. The goal is not just to give you a tool to help you function as a tourist or business person in a foreign country. Though in some fields, a reading knowledge of certain languages may be an important research tool. </p>
<p>Does ASL study meet these objectives? Is there a “deaf culture” completely distinct from mainstream American culture and full accessible only through the medium of ASL? In the course of ASL study, what would be analogous to reading Virgil in Latin or scientific research papers in Russian?</p>
<p>I think of sign language as derivative, much as text is derivative. There is an English language; it can be expressed in speech, in text, or in signs. So when you study ASL, you are not really studying a foreign language.</p>