"We've seen tremendous growth in the number of students taking ASL," he says. "It's a language that cuts across many different fields of interest."

In fall 2000, Kent State offered eight sections of ASL. The classes were so popular the department had to establish a waiting list for spring along with more sections of ASL.

This year, all 15 sections offered through modern and classical languages and special education were filled.

"The dean had to tell freshman orientation instructors to not announce the ASL foreign language option because the classes were being flooded with freshmen," Luft says.