Bilingual Advantage

Freedom, Confidence and Opportunities.

Gallaudet University is a fully accessible environment with the bilingual use of American Sign Language and English. Imagine yourself walking the campus having access to everything and everyone at Gallaudet.

Bilingualism at Gallaudet opens up doors of opportunities for you.

Bilingual Advantage

Freedom, Confidence and Opportunities.

Bilingualism at Gallaudet opens up doors of opportunities for you.

Everything and everyone is fully accessible.

Instruction at Gallaudet takes advantage of cutting-edge technology, which allows for a language-rich learning environment. Students and faculty strive to communicate as directly as possible, modeling and building habits of academic discourse in ASL and English.

Four key principles to the experience of our bilingual learning environment.

Access

The cornerstone of all educational design at Gallaudet is direct, visually accessible communication among all participants in academic settings. The use of two languages–ASL and written English–provides the most universally effective means of direct communication for all students.

Inclusion

We welcome academically qualified students from diverse linguistic and educational backgrounds and abilities. Learning opportunities inside and outside of the classroom guide students toward developing their full linguistic and academic potential.

Academic Discourse

The bilingual environment at Gallaudet ensures that students have more opportunities to learn and use ASL. Through an intentional and integrated use of ASL and English in the classroom, students are provided with multiple approaches to develop academic discourse, an essential component of lifelong learning and success in the workforce.

Social and Cultural Discourse

Bilingualism supports personal development by enhancing students’ social and cultural experiences and allowing them to form lasting social bonds with their peers. Bilingualism also extends the reach of students’ life experiences, especially as the use of sign language facilitates participation in deaf communities throughout the world, opening access to a greater global network.

Experience the Bilingual Advantage

8:1

Student-faculty ratio

Our advantages for Gallaudet students, faculty, and staff include extensive student-faculty of 8:1 ratio collaboration, a campus designed for deaf and hard of hearing people, a community of linguistically diverse signers, and direct communication access.

Utilize our university resources such as participating in research projects, obtaining internships and careers.

Sit with anyone and start up a conversation.

Foster connections that will expand your horizons after graduation

Be involved with multicultural student development and mentoring services as an active member in our diverse and multicultural community

Join a study group, meet up with a tutor, and get advice from professors

Travel abroad and connect with international deaf and signing communities

Participate in a sports or intramurals team

Join clubs or campus activities and be part of vibrant campus life

Get ready to join the Gallaudet community

Gallaudet University is committed to creating a climate of respect with regards to communication on campus.

We welcome and support new and emerging signers

New and emerging signers are welcomed as full members of the Gallaudet community, and will be supported in their efforts toward improving their ASL skills.

Always improving and growing

All members of the community commit to improve communication skills in ASL in order to create a barrier-free, visually accessible environment throughout campus.

Why Gallaudet

A full college experience is much more than just classes. There’s always something happening on campus—international and national speakers and performers, movie nights, multicultural celebrations, and social activities in the residence halls.

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Student Support

Become connected, included, and inspired on day one—making acclimation and social connection easier. Connect with motivated students from across the United States and more than 40 countries.

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New and Emerging Signers

Jumpstart: ASL Program is a free, four-week (and ongoing) immersion program for incoming deaf and hard of hearing undergraduates who are new to ASL and Deaf culture. Gallaudet meets you where you are on your bilingual journey and supports you all the way.

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Life in Washington, D.C

A world of opportunities awaits in Washington, D.C. You won’t believe the opportunities open to you as a Gallaudet student in the capital of the United States.

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Clubs and Organizations

There’s always something fun to do at Gallaudet. One of the most valuable gifts offered by the college experience is connecting with others through a shared cause or interest. You’ll have that chance here.

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Life at Gallaudet

All students are welcome here. Expand your horizons on and off-campus, in the vibrancy of our nation’s capital! Gallaudet is where you will make lasting memories and grow in ways you never thought possible.

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Athletics

What Moves You? It doesn't matter where you come from or how you stay active. There's always a way to get involved in athletics and recreation at Gallaudet University. Whether you are a student-athlete or a fitness fanatic, you’ll thrive in our bilingual environment on and off the field, around our state-of-the-art gyms, fitness rooms, locker rooms, and pool.

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Art, Culture, and Competitions

The essential need to create, innovate, and compete is the heartbeat of a liberal arts education. Our university is rich in history and inspiration and supports movers and shakers, such as playwrights, dancers, artists, actors, entrepreneurs, debaters, and others including you, to bring the future of the arts to Gallaudet and beyond.

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Entrepreneurship

Do you always flock to the next best idea? Meet other students with entrepreneurial mindsets on campus and attend workshops, events, and courses that foster your creative thinking and professional skill set. Got a business idea to pitch us? Bring it on!

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The Bilingual Benefit

Our research shows that a bilingual approach enhances learning compared to learning in only one language.

Gallaudet University is home to the state-of-the-art Petitto Brain and Language Laboratory for Neuroimaging, which has published research on the effects of learning bilingualism from a young age and their research continues to this day on bilingual language acquisition.

ASL Myths Busted

Learn about common myths of acquiring bilingual language skills in American Sign Language and English. You may be surprised at what you learn!

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Freedom, Confidence and Opportunities.

Freedom, Confidence and Opportunities.

Everything and everyone is fully accessible.

Four key principles to the experience of our bilingual learning environment.

Inclusion

Experience the Bilingual Advantage

8:1

Student-faculty ratio

Get ready to join the Gallaudet community

Gallaudet University is committed to creating a climate of respect with regards to communication on campus.

We welcome and support new and emerging signers

Always improving and growing

Why Gallaudet

Student Support

New and Emerging Signers

Life in Washington, D.C

Clubs and Organizations

Life at Gallaudet

Athletics

Art, Culture, and Competitions

Entrepreneurship

The Bilingual Benefit

Our research shows that a bilingual approach enhances learning compared to learning in only one language.

ASL Myths Busted

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