Sign language is a form of communication using hand motions and signals. It is primarily used by the deaf community, although the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders reports that there are around 7.5 million people in the United States who have trouble using their voices. Below are a list of reasons you may want to consider taking sign language lessons. 

Improve Your Chances of Getting Hired

Having sign language as a skill will set you apart from other job applicants, just as knowing a second language like Spanish or French would. Your boss would be able to call on you if a deaf customer came into the store instead of having to wait for an interpreter to arrive.  

To Teach Babies How to Express Their Needs and Wants

Babies are capable of learning how to communicate through sign language before their verbal skills kick in. When your baby is able to ask for a drink or something to eat, it eliminates the frustration that can cause a little one to act out. Not only will this skill come in handy at home but in a daycare setting as well. You may even wish to continue the sign language training for several years, as younger children are like sponges. It is much easier for them to master a second language when they are young. 

To Fulfill a Language Requirement

High schoolers who are college bound will find that most universities look for two years of a foreign language. Students can opt to take two years of American Sign Language instead of the traditional foreign languages to fulfill this requirement. Teens who excel at the course may even end up wanting to head to college to become an interpreter. 

To Improve Acting Skills

Sign language is beautiful and very expressive in facial cues as well as hand movements. Whether you enjoy acting in plays and local theater productions, or you have plans to make it on the big screen, sign language can help. You'll learn how to show your feelings by the looks on your face and the gestures of your hands, rather than just talk about them. 

When you learn sign language with a friend or family member, you'll also find that it comes in handy when you need to talk in a place that requires complete silence, such as the library or church. Of course, you'll also be able to communicate in public without many people knowing what you're saying. If you do find yourself needing an interpreter, you can contact Professional Sign Language Interpreting Inc.