The typical expectation of a club at Tallwood High School tends to be that of a raucous affair, with enthusiastic students chattering away about their shared interest in the club’s subject. However, one club is bucking that trend and simultaneously introducing students to a highly unique language.

The American Sign Language Club, sponsored by Mrs. Daniel in B125, is conducted in nearly complete silence. Attendees are taught how to use ASL, a non-verbal language completely distinct from English, by signing their names and learning basic phrases.

“They put up a video of conversations [in ASL]. So it’s silent,” said Daniel, describing exactly how club meetings function. “They’re signing the entire time, and they type on [the screen] to show you what that sign means.”

“I wanted to learn ASL myself, and I knew a lot of people who also wanted to learn ASL,'” said Simona Tomova, a co-founder and co-president of the club, describing her initial interest in forming a club. Tomova also commented on the lack of an ASL class in school, something previously noted by Roaring Gazette contributor Leilani Williams.

Indeed, the only school within the Virginia Beach City Public Schools that offers ASL as a class is Ocean Lakes High School.

Working alongside Daniel to alleviate this apparent lack of ASL education, Tomova soon discovered the existence of an older ASL Club, founded by Eva Offet. Tomova and Offet came to an agreement to work together to bring the club out of the shadows.

“The goal of the club is finding other people to practice with, because it’s hard to learn a language without being able to put it into practice,” Tomova said of the reasoning for the founding of the club.

The ASL Club’s first meeting took place on March 19th in room B125, and the club intends to meet every other Thursday in the same room. The club is on Instagram at tallwoodaslclub, and is frequently updated to reflect the scheduling of meetings.