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American Sign Language (ASL) 1 B Self-Paced

Syllabus

Course Essential Questions

  • How does the understanding of Deaf culture and its history influence meaningful interactions with the Deaf community?
  • What strategies can be used to accurately communicate in sign language in various contexts?
  • How do the unique structures of ASL grammar and vocabulary contribute to effective communication?
  • How can nonverbal communication, including facial expressions and body language, enhance clarity and meaning in ASL?

Course Learning Objectives

  • Describe the people and the historical events that have shaped ASL and Deaf culture.
  • Compare and contrast cultural aspects and social norms of the Deaf community with the hearing community.
  • Converse with others in ASL by demonstrating comprehension and the use of foundational vocabulary.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of ASL linguistic markers to communicate clearly and accurately.
  • Develop fluency in ASL at the novice level by applying basic linguistic and cultural elements to engage in effective communication.

Unit 1: Home (Topics 1-3)

Unit Level Essential Question

  • How do technology and visual language affect daily home life for the Deaf community?

Topic 1: The Home

Learning Objectives

  • Identify various types of technology Deaf people use in their homes.
  • Use appropriate handshapes to describe the appearance of an object.
  • Identify each room in a house.
  • Research in depth a device used by Deaf people to navigate life at home.
  • Demonstrate proper facial expressions to show distance.
  • Describe the layout of a home.

Topic 2: Appliances and Furniture

Learning Objectives

  • Describe future innovation in technology that aims to benefit the Deaf community.
  • Use rhetorical questions to state the location of items.
  • Express the location of household items.

Week 3: Chores

Learning Objectives

  • Compare and contrast Deaf homes with homes of hearing people.
  • Describe how often an activity or event occurs.
  • Apply unit vocabulary to communicate about household chores.

Unit 2: Food (Topics 4-6)

Unit Level Essential Question

  • How do the dining experience and traditions influence Deaf culture?

Topic 4: Grocery Store

Learning Objectives

  • Describe the importance of visual displays in public spaces for the Deaf.
  • Use quantifiers to describe item amounts.
  • Identify food items to purchase at the grocery store.

Topic 5: Diet and Recipes

Learning Objectives

  • Explore the experience of a Deaf person accessing a drive-thru.
  • Demonstrate appropriate facial expressions and head movements to express frequency.
  • Describe the kinds of food one typically eats.
  • Discover the life and experience of famous Deaf baker Tasha Stones.
  • Use body shifting to show a sequence of steps.
  • Share a favorite recipe.

Topic 6: Dining Experiences

Learning Objectives

  • Reflect on how Deaf-owned restaurants help build community.
  • Demonstrate shoulder shifting to show a conversation between two people.
  • Apply unit vocabulary to talk about dining experiences.

Unit 3: Around Town (Topics 7-10)

Unit Level Essential Question

  • How can we use ASL to navigate our community?

Topic 7: Professionals

Learning Objectives

  • Analyze careers that are well-suited for the Deaf community.
  • Make statements using rhetorical questions.
  • Describe various careers and related responsibilities.

Topic 8: Community and Errands

Learning Objectives

  • Explain how the ADA (American Disability Act) has impacted the Deaf community.
  • Use classifiers to show the location of items in reference to each other.
  • Identify buildings and structures in the community.
  • Use movement to express an action involving directional verbs.
  • Identify common errands one runs around town.

Topic 9: How Much Does It Cost?

Learning Objectives

  • Explore how businesses can make themselves more accessible to the Deaf community.
  • Use proper sign order structure to state how much things cost.
  • Describe a shopping experience.

Topic 10: Weather

Learning Objectives

  • Analyze the importance of interpreters during emergency weather events.
  • Use both repetitive movements and facial expressions to describe levels of intensity.
  • Apply vocabulary to describe weather patterns.

Unit 4: Fun and TraveL (Topics 11-14)

Unit Level Essential Question

  • How can we communicate about our plans and experiences related to travel in ASL?

Topic 11: Destinations

Learning Objectives

  • Explore the life and experiences of Deaf world traveler Calvin Young.
  • Demonstrate spatial agreement when sharing information.
  • Describe a variety of travel destinations.

Topic 12: Transportation

Learning Objectives

  • Recognize the benefits of visual communication in loud transportational environments.
  • Use classifiers to express speed and direction.
  • Describe various types of transportation.

Topic 13: On Vacation

Learning Objectives

  • Explore the experiences of Deaf mountaineers Scott Lehmann and Shayna Unger.
  • Use facial expressions to indicate weight and size.
  • Identify essential items to pack for a trip.
  • Use ordinal numbers to convey a sequence.
  • Apply unit vocabulary to communicate about attractions when traveling.

Topic 14: End-of-Course Assignments

Learning Objectives

  • Take the proctored final exam to demonstrate proficiency at the novice level.