American Sign Language (ASL) and Culture

Many Deaf people view themselves as a unique cultural and linguistic minority and use sign language as their primary language. The characteristics of Deaf culture are formed out of many shared life experiences rooted in a visual world designed for communication ease. This American Sign Language and Culture course is designed to provide insight into this unique population; their values, traditions, and cultural norms. Students will gain a broad perspective of American Sign Language and Culture in a course guided by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Language World-Readiness Standards.

Students will be expected to develop vocabulary skills to express feelings, likes, and dislikes, and exchange ideas on familiar and everyday topics through brief discussions and basic signing. Students will engage in activities and discussions that promote ASL and Culture awareness through five thematic units:

(1) American Sign Language at a Glance

(2) Talking About Myself

(3) Everyday Life

(4) School and Extracurricular Activities

(5) Contemporary Life

Each week, students will engage in practices and assignments that enrich their linguistic, cultural, and historical knowledge. Activities include interpreting text and audio from authentic resources such as YouTube videos, podcasts, and articles. There will be a combination of practices, assignments, presentations, student (self) made videos, formative and summative assessments, and group projects.

In this standard-level course, students are expected to invest approximately 6 hours per week on their coursework.

Acknowledgements

There are no formal language prerequisites for this course.
This course contains an end-of-course proctored exam. Instructions for students to identify an appropriate adult proctor are included in the course lessons.

Course Objectives

Course Learning Objectives:

Sign everyday situations using common words and phrases.
Identify typical practices related to everyday life in Deaf community.
Describe the influences of ASL & culture in today's world.
Compare and contrast ASL & culture with other languages and cultures.

Course Essential Questions:

How can we communicate in ASL using basic signs and vocabulary?
What are some aspects of the Deaf community?
What are historical facts that have shaped ASL and the culture of today?
How have the technological advances of the 21st Century impacted the Deaf community?

Additional Requirements

Access to a computer with audio, microphone, and camera.
Sufficient bandwidth to support video uploads (up to 5 minutes).
Access to a device that will enable students to record and upload videos of themselves signing for assessment purposes.