The Seymour Joseph Institute Asl

I took classes at a satellite site about four years ago. I have been calling incessantly after mailing a check and transcript request. No one answers the phone, I've left mutiple voicemail messages to no avail. I still have not received my transcript, three months after mailing the request. I think it may be a scam.

I would tell everyone to choose a different school if they are serious about becoming fluent in ASL and especially if they wish to be an interpreter. In the ASL courses there are a lot of side conversations (voice), classes are taught by non-Deaf individuals who don't even have a certification to teach, class often gets off topic and little teaching is accomplished. In the beginning courses (1&2) there isn't much signing going on...the class is taught by voice. I've been taught wrong signs by these hearing teachers or they won't know the sign for something because they are not Deaf individuals. I've asked about this school and Deaf individuals in the area have nothing positive to say about it.

If you want to do the interpreter program at SJI they want one payment of about 8,000 and no part of it is refundable if you drop out. They say it's "to make sure you are serious about the program" but I think it's more to just get your money just in case you decide to transfer to a better interpreter program. If you want to learn conversational ASL I suggest the Sign Language Center but if you wish to become an interpreter try LaGuardia. The only plus with SJI is once you pay that 8,000 dollars...an interpreter class will never be canceled due to low enrollment.