CHELSEA – Classes on American Sign Language are set to begin at the Chelsea Community Center on Monday, Nov. 13. According to Instructor Belinda Walker, the classes will be held once a week for six weeks.

Walker said the classes are for beginners and cover things like correct hand motions, appropriate facial expressions and vocabulary.

“I assist people with learning sign language, and a lot of people have been interested in learning because they have a family member or a coworker or a schoolmate who is deaf and they want to communicate with them,” Walker said.

People seemed to enjoy learning about ASL when Walker taught similar classes at the Chelsea Community Center in the past.

“It can be a lot of fun,” Walker said.

The class can also serve as a way to educate people on deaf culture and dispel misconceptions and stereotypes about deaf people, according to Walker.

“I’m deaf, myself, and I know that some people might be apprehensive or uncertain about communicating with me, but there’s nothing to be afraid of,” Walker said.

The cost is $30 for six weeks’ worth of classes. Seating is limited to 20 people, and classes are open to anyone, however children under the age of 11 must be accompanied by an adult. Anyone interested in signing up can contact Walker by sending her an email to walkerbelinda93@yahoo.com or call Jeff Jones at 677-2052.