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A Camp Springs church was packed tightly, with 40 attendees busily learning and communicating, but the room was nearly silent.

The class Feb. 26 was the first of six bi-weekly free sign language classes to be held at Davies Memorial Unitarian Universalist Church, in which participants learned how to sign the alphabet, numbers, greetings and other elementary vocabulary.

Joyce Dowling of Brandywine, a substitute teacher for the hearing-impaired at Thomas Claggett Elementary School in District Heights, decided to start the class after getting many requests from people interested in learning sign language.

Dowling held a similar class at the church more than 20 years ago, she said, adding she thought it was time to inform the community again about the many uses of sign language, such as performance art, or for elderly who may lose their hearing.

Nearly 40 people showed up to the class, which Dowling said was a larger turnout than she expected, adding she knew people were interested in sign language but was still impressed with the crowd.

Students learned the placement of masculine and feminine nouns, such as nephew and niece.

The sign for niece is placed near the chin and originated from a lady tying her bonnet, Dowling said.

While the nephew sign is placed near the forehead, symbolizing a man touching his hat brim.

"This is fun. It really feels like you are accomplishing something," said Marcia Brennan, of Clinton.

Brennan said she always had an interest in sign language and could remember her cousin teaching her simple signs as a child.

About halfway through the evening, participants broke up into groups and practiced with one another, repeatedly signing practice sentences.

Sheila Loving of Washington, D.C., was hoping to learn signs she could bring back to the mime ministry she participates in at the Emanuel Baptist Church in southeast Washington.

"It really helps to engage the congregation when they see us perform," said Loving, adding that the mime ministry both sings and uses signing for hymns and other songs.

One sign Dowling made sure she taught the class was "sign slowly" to help those new to sign language communicate with the deaf that they are still learning and therefore signing slowly.

She said this was a sign she used often while learning sign language in Rochester, N.Y., in the early 1980s because the National Technical Institute for the Deaf was nearby.

Today, as she teaches deaf children, she said she had noticed many of the students' parents don't learn sign language and thought teaching a free class may entice residents with deaf family members or friends to learn the language.

Brennan agreed learning sign language would be useful in her travels and is encouraging her daughter, a flight attendant, to attend the lessons as well.

"It's worth it if I can communicate with one more person I couldn't communicate with before," she said.

Classes will continue every other Thursday from 7 to 8:30 p.m. through May 14.

E-mail Megan McKeever at mmckeever@gazette.net.