Course Descriptions
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ASL 110
The purpose of this course is to build up conversational competency in American Sign Language by activating visual-spatial communication skills; mastering basic vocabulary, grammar and compositional structures; and developing awareness of the history of gestural languages and deaf people in society. Weekly modules are structured into four sections: culture, communication, narration and literature. These sections are designed to guide students from a conceptual understanding of American Sign Language through real-life conversational structures toward independence in practical dialogue and compositions.
ASL120
The purpose of this course is for students to increase narrative and conversational fluency in American Sign Language with emphasis on character development, role shifting, and story cohesion. Students will continue to strengthen visual-spatial communication skills, build fluency in vocabulary, grammar, and compositional structures; and cultivate their awareness of and engagement with deaf people in society.
ASL 130
The purpose of this course is to expand abstract conversational skills in American Sign Language by building on visual-spatial communication skills, vocabulary, grammar and compositional structures; while implementing a greater awareness of the history of gestural languages and deaf people in society through ASL community projects and literary production work.
ASL 140
The purpose of this course is to expand students’ range of proficiencies in American Sign Language, building on conversational and narrative storytelling skills to develop multimedia literary compositions and formal presentations; increase fluency in ASL/English translations; and apply ASL learning towards community projects and literary production work.
This course acquaints students with knowledge of d/Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) people by surveying critical issues in how DHH people have been perceived and portrayed throughout history, how DHH and hearing people have advocated together for their civil rights, and how sign language studies, performance arts, and media have been instrumental in promoting these rights. As part of their studies, students will create an ASL media or performance arts production that is reflective of Deaf epistemologies. Students will complete the course with a greater understanding of factors impacting language studies and construction of knowledge by/about DHH people, awareness of their own roles as members of the ASL community, and ability to address sociocultural issues in tandem with Deaf communities and broader sign language communities.
Course Outcomes
ASL 110: By the end of the semester, students will be able to communicate in simple conversations with a variety of partners, give and request background information, and create and share simple stories with a clear structure and poetry compositions using rhythm and rhyme. Students will demonstrate an awareness and appreciation of Deaf culture by identifying, describing, and participating in culturally valued activities within an ASL community.
ASL 120: By the end of semester, students will be able to construct cohesive and articulate narrative and literary compositions with expanded use of compositional structures, character description, role shifting, and classifiers. Students will articulate their role as an ASL learner by cultivating their awareness of and engagement with deaf people in society.
ASL 130: By the end of the semester, students will be able to communicate ideas and information using multiple literary formats; including descriptions, narratives, stories, poems, and opinion statements. Students will demonstrate leadership in ASL community activities and articulate opinions about ASL and Deaf culture using historical and observational reasoning.
ASL 140: By the end of the semester, students will be able to construct and present a sophisticated array of formal and informal narratives and compositions, adjusting the signing register to accommodate a variety of audiences and communication purposes. Students will be able to describe and participate in ASL literary traditions and articulate detailed opinions about Deaf cultural values.