ASL students put communication skills to the test in tower-building challenge
If you entered a space where American Sign Language was the primary means of communication, would you be able to adapt and thrive? Students in Dr. Sisia’s ASL classes recently took on a two-part challenge designed to explore exactly that experience. Using only limited materials, students were tasked with constructing the tallest and strongest tower possible while communicating exclusively in American Sign Language. No writing, no whispering, and no spoken language were permitted; students relied entirely on the ASL skills and cultural awareness they had developed throughout their ASL studies.
The activity was designed to simulate the experience of linguistic and cultural immersion often encountered in Deaf spaces and study-abroad environments, where adaptation, visual communication and collaboration are essential. Rooted in the values of Deaf Culture, which include shared attention, mutual respect, cooperation and visual accessibility, the challenge encouraged students to think beyond vocabulary and grammar, engaging instead with ASL as a living language and cultural experience.
Working in teams, students divided responsibilities, navigated problem-solving through visual communication and practiced maintaining respect for one another’s ideas and perspectives throughout the project. The result was not only an exercise in engineering and teamwork, but also a deeper appreciation for the richness of ASL and the collaborative spirit central to Deaf Culture.
