Home page
ع
Resources for Current Students, Faculty and Staff
Webmail Directory Catalog Banner Canvas Moodle
Primary Navigation Background
Quick Links / AUC Directory, Faculty Directory
Participants at the sign language workshop offered by AUC's School of Continuing Education

AUC’s School of Continuing Education Offers Basics of Egyptian Sign Language Workshop

The American University in Cairo’s (AUC) School of Continuing Education (SCE) is offering a new workshop, Basics of Egyptian Sign Language, to equip participants with essential sign language skills. The workshop aims to dispel common misconceptions, including the belief that sign language is universal, and fosters inclusivity by enabling effective communication with people who are deaf or hard of hearing.

“This workshop can benefit anyone — AUC faculty, educators, healthcare professionals, customer service agents and more,” said Maged Habashy, director of the Languages Department at SCE. Currently, the workshop is training 180 customer service agents in collaboration with a French company operating the Cairo Light Rail Transit between Cairo and the New Administrative Capital.

“The sign language workshop at AUC was a remarkable experience for me. It added a lot to my understanding of deaf culture and the needs of the deaf in communications,” said participant Wafaa Shoukry. “I highly recommend this workshop to anyone interested in learning sign language,” added Shoukry, who looks forward to continuing her learning journey.

Held at AUC’s Tahrir Square campus, the workshop begins with training participants to sign the Arabic alphabet and greetings, followed by vocabulary related to family, professions, religion, governorates, and countries. Participants also learn to sign adjectives expressing different emotions, enabling them to engage in complete conversations in Egyptian Sign Language.

Beyond language skills, the workshop addresses misconceptions about the deaf community, such as the belief that people who are deaf are intellectually challenged or unable to participate fully in society. The first part of the course is dedicated to correcting such misunderstandings and emphasizing the importance of sign language in Egyptian communities.

With growing interest, SCE plans to introduce an advanced Egyptian Sign Language course in the future. The workshop is available on demand through the SCE website.

For more information about the university news and events follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, X and TikTok.

Founded in 1919, The American University in Cairo (AUC) is a leading English-language, American- accredited institution of higher education and center of the intellectual, social, and cultural life of the Arab world. It is a vital bridge between East and West, linking Egypt and the region to the world through scholarly research, partnerships with academic and research institutions and study abroad programs. 

The University offers 39 undergraduate, 52 master’s and two PhD programs rooted in a liberal arts education that encourages students to think critically and find creative solutions to conflicts and challenges facing both the region and the world. 

An independent, nonprofit, politically non-partisan, non-sectarian and equal opportunity institution, AUC is fully accredited in Egypt and the United States.