AN EAGER SHOW OF HANDS.

Byline: - Nicole Sunkes

When Christie Jenkins met deaf actor Anthony Natale in 1996 at a screening of ``Mr. Holland's Opus,'' she was inspired to learn sign language. To her surprise, she could not find an instructional video.

So, she took things into her own hands. Using a $100,000 inheritance from her parents, she created a video starring Natale. The video was released that same year, and today, ``How to Talk to a Person Who Can't Hear'' is the No. 1 sign language video in the United States. Jenkins and Natale tour the country, lecturing and appearing on talk shows.

``We really, really want Americans to know how to sign,'' she said.

Jenkins also offers classes at churches. ``Church has been dead to deaf people for centuries,'' she said. ``There is a growing movement in churches that are now including deaf interpreters.''

Her classes are geared to anyone interested in learning to sign, from infants to senior citizens. ``Babies can sign and communicate what they need three to seven months before they can speak,'' Jenkins said.

She will be teaching at the First Christian Church in Studio City at 9 a.m. Saturday and also at Holliston Methodist Church in Pasadena on March 29. The fee, which goes to the churches, is $5. Her video is available at www.signlanguagevideo.com or by calling [phone]. Thirty percent of all video proceeds go to groups working to empower deaf people.

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Photo:

Christie Jenkins, who will teach sign language in Studio City and Pasadena this month, makes the sign for ``mother.''

David Sprague/Staff Photographer