Beginning American Sign Language I Syllabus for 2014-2015
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Course

SGNL-1301-002 Beginning American Sign Language I

Prerequisites

Course Description

Introduction to American Sign Language covering finger spelling, vocabulary and basic sentence structure in preparing individuals to interpret oral speech for the hearing impaired.

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Department Expectations

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Hours

(3 sem hrs; 3 lec, 1 lab)

Class Type

Dual Credit Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Textbooks:

1. Signing Naturally I Student Workbook and Videotext (Units 1-6)

    ISBN: 978-1-58121-210-5

2. A Loss For Words: The Story of Deafness in a Family

    Lou Ann Walker,  · ISBN-10: 0060914254

3. The Gallaudet Dictionary of American Sign Language  

      ISBN 978-1-56368-282-7

4. Supplemental Materials as provided by the Instructor

Supplies

No supplies available

Student Performance

Purpose and Goals of the Course:  The student will demonstrate the ability to comprehend information presented in American Sign Language based on Signing Naturally I, Units 1-6.  Topics include:  introducing oneself, exchanging personal information, talking about surroundings, telling where you live, talking about your family and telling about activities.

Performance/Learning Objectives (Minimum Competencies):

Performance Objectives for introducing oneself: 

The student will demonstrate comprehension

1.  when asked for their name.
2.  when asked for confirmation of their name.
3.  when asked to correct information.
4.  negation is incorporated using a headshake.
5.  of yes/no questions.
6. of wh-question “what”.
7. of personal pronouns
8. of spatial referencing.
9. of numbers 1-10.

Method of Measurement:  Homework, written quizzes and class participation.

Performance objectives for this outcome in regards to exchanging personal information: 

The student will demonstrate comprehension

1. when asked if they are Deaf or hearing
2. when asked where the student is learning sign language
3. when asked to respond to the information using OH-I-SEE sign
4. when asked to respond to agent markers
5. when asked to respond to yes/no questions
6. when asked to respond to the wh-question  WHERE?
7. when asked to respond to negation incorporating the sign NOT.

Method of Measurement:  Homework, written quizzes and class participation

Performance objectives for this outcome when talking about surroundings:

The student will demonstrate comprehension

1. to asking and/or telling WHERE.
2. to expressing wants.
3. to correcting information with the WAVE-NO sign.
4. to the use of agent markers.
5. to the use of non-manual marker production-from NEARBY  to FARAWAY.
6. of numbers 1-15.

Method of Measurement:  Homework, written quizzes and class participation

Performance objectives for this outcome when talking about where you live:

The student will demonstrate comprehension of

1. asking/telling WHERE.
2. asking/telling how you come to class.
3. wh-questions WHERE and  HOW.
4. where things are located on campus.
5. noun-verb pairs.
6. numbers 16-20.

Method of Measurement:  Homework, written quizzes and class participation

Performance objectives for this outcome when talking about your family:

The student will demonstrate comprehension of

1. how to ask/tell about marital status.
2. how to ask/tell if they have children/siblings.
3. how to tell how many.
4. passive pronouns.
5. yes/no questions.
6. negative responses incorporating NO, NOT and NONE.
7. contractive structure.
8. numbers 21-25.

Method of Measurement:  Homework, written quizzes and class participation

Performance objectives for this outcome when telling about activities:

The student will demonstrate comprehension of

1. how to apologize appropriately in a variety of situations.
2. how to give reasons.
3. how to give opinions.
4. how to suggest alternate activities.
5. time signs.
6. wh-questions including WHAT WILL/DID YOU DO
7. how to incorporate dual pronouns correctly.
8. how to list activities.
9. numbers 26-30 and multiples of 5-100

Method of Measurement:  Homework, written quizzes and class participation

Learning Outcome 2:  The student will demonstrate the ability to express information in American Sign Language based on Signing Naturally I, Units 1-6.  Topics include:  Introducing Oneself, Exchanging Personal Information, Talking About Surroundings, Telling Where You Live, Talking About Your Family, and Telling About Activities.

Performance objectives for this outcome in regards to introductions:

The student will respond appropriately

1. when asked for their name
2. when asked confirmation of their name.
3. when asked to correct information.
4. when negation is incorporated using a headshake.
5. to answer yes/no questions
6. to the wh-question WHAT.
7. to personal pronouns.
8. to spatial referencing.
9. using numbers 1-10.

Method of Measurement:  Homework, written quizzes and class participation

Performance objectives for this outcome in regards to exchanging personal information:

The student will respond appropriately when asked

1. if Deaf or hearing.
2. where learning sign language.
3. to respond to the information using OH-I-SEE sign.
4. to respond to agent markers.
5. yes/no questions.
6. a wh-question WHERE.
7. to respond with negation incorporating the sign NOT.

Method of Measurement:  Homework, written quizzes and class participation

Performance objectives for this outcome when talking about surroundings:

The student will respond appropriately

1. when asking and/or telling where
2. when expressing wants.
3. when correcting information with sign WAVE-NO.
4. to the use of agent markers.
5. to the use of non-manual marker production, NEARBY to FARAWAY.
6. to use numbers 1-15.

Method of Measurement:  Homework, written quizzes and class participation

Performance objectives for this outcome when talking about where you live:

The student will respond appropriately

1. when asking/telling where
2. when asking/telling how you come to class.
3. to wh-questions, WHERE and HOW.
4. to real world orientation.
5. to noun-verb pairs.
6. to use numbers 16-20.

Method of Measurement:  Homework, written quizzes and class participation

Performance objectives for this outcome when telling about your family:

The student will respond appropriately

1. when asking/telling about marital status.
2. When asking/telling if they have children/siblings.
3. When telling how many.
4. When using possessive pronouns.
5. To yes/no questions
6. To negative responses incorporating NO, NOT, and NONE
7. Using contractive structure.
8. When using numbers 21-25.

Method of Measurement:  Homework, written quizzes and class participation

Performance objectives for this outcome when telling about activities:

The student will respond appropriately

1. when apologizing in a variety of situations.
2. when giving reasons.
3. when giving opinions.
4. when suggesting alternate activities.
5. To appropriate time signs.
6. To wh-questions including WHAT WILL/DID YOU DO.
7. When incorporating dual pronouns
8. Listing activities
9. Using numbers 26-30 and multiples of 5 up to 100.

Method of Measurement:  Homework, written quizzes and class participation

Learning Outcome 3:  The student will demonstrate an understanding of cultural norms and behaviors of people who are Deaf.

The student will demonstrate an understanding

1. of how American Sign Language evolved in the United States.
2. of how the Deaf Community has developed in the United States
3. of the history of Deaf Education in the United States
4. of how giving and receiving information is incorporated in the Deaf community and the importance of that process.
5. of how attention-getting behaviors are used in the deaf community.
6. of how to negotiate a signing environment.
7. of strategies used when asking for repetition.
8. of things that are included when people who are Deaf meet others that are Deaf or know sign language.
9. of name signs.
10. of how Deaf people know when a baby is crying; wake up in the morning; understand TV; and talk on the telephone or use other electronic communication devices
11. and respect for the linguistic minority that makes up the vibrant community of people who are Deaf
12. of the importance of ASL poetry and storytelling to the Deaf community.

Method of Measurement:  Homework, written quizzes and class participation

Learning Outcome 4:  The student will demonstrate an understanding of the linguistic components of American Sign Language.

The student will demonstrate

1. the difference in a yes/no question and a wh-question.
2. how hand dominance (right or left) is used in American Sign Language.
3. an understanding of spatial agreement.
4. an understanding of the incorporation of fingerspelling in American Sign Language.
5. the various ways to use negative responses
6. the appropriate way to contrast two people, places or things.
7. how time is incorporated into ASL.
8. the four different sentence types appropriately.
9. the appropriate use of limb classifiers

Method of Measurement:  Homework, written quizzes and class participation

Students Rights and Responsibilities

Log in using the AC Connect Portal

In order to receive your AC Connect Email, you must log in through AC Connect at https://acconnect.actx.edu .

If you are an active staff or faculty member according to Human Resources, use "Exchange". All other students, use "AC Connect (Google) Email".

Expected Student Behavior

Follow the Amarillo College Student Conduct

Grading Criteria

Assignments:

Signing Naturally:  To successfully complete this course, you will need to view, on a regular basis, the Signing Naturally videotext, which accompanies your textbook.

Students will translate the conversations in the Signing Naturally Units.  Due dates are listed on the outline.

For each Unit Conversation Translation you can make up to a 100 on each assignment.   

Unit Vocabarly/Grammar Quizzes: The students will have 2 +/- quizzes. You could make possible 100 for each. They will count 2 times. 

Song Translations: Each student needs to translate a song in ASL. The student will be responable for translating the song and signing the song in front of the class. You could possible make a 100 on this assignment. It will count twice. 

Vocabulary, Fingerspelling and Number (maybe sentences) Quizzes: You will have 5 quizzes. I will sign a vocabulary word, fingerspell a word and a number. You will need to write down what I sign. Sometimes, I will sign a sentence. For each quiz, you can make up to a 100.    

Readings: 

1. Each student will read the article “Deaf President Now” and submit a typed one-page essay that includes a summary of the events and a personal reaction.
2. Each student will select 2 additional articles of personal interest in the general field of deafness and submit a typed one-page essay that includes the main topics and supporting details of the article and a personal reaction/connection. 

Lab Work: 

1.  Interacting with the Deaf Community:

Attend 1 Deaf Events= a 100

Interaction of 10 hours = a 100

1.  Attend at least 1 “Deaf Event” of your choice and submit a completed Deaf Event form.  A “Deaf Event” is any gathering of one or more Deaf individuals where you are able to observe and/or interact. 
2. Interaction with Deaf individuals –Required 10 hours.  Document all interaction on one form.   

Exams:

Mid-Term – 100

    The Mid-Term Exam will include materials learned from Units 1-3.  Sections for receptive vocabulary, phrases, sentences will be included along with an expressive prompt that will be evaluated with a rubric. I will give your sign prompt before the mid-term.

Final Exam – 100

     The Final Exam is a written, comprehensive final, not to exceed 2 ½ hours in length, that will be given at the end of the semester during the regularly scheduled final exam time unless the college is closed due to bad weather.  In that event, the exam will be given at the next scheduled class period.  The exam will cover key concepts discussed during the semester.  The final exam will include receptive and expressive sections along with multiple-choice questions. For your signing prompt, you will sign one of story in Unit 6.

Grade Computation:

Final grades for this course will be based on the components outlined above and will be calculated as follows:

High Grade Summary:

>Other exams and bonus point opportunities are given at the discretion of the instructor.

College Grade Summary:  

Attendance

General Information:  Attendance and class participation are important to learning and are expected.  Please come to class prepared and ready to participate.  But I do understand things happen. If you miss a class, please email me before the test/quiz and we can work out a time to make up the missing work.  

Calendar

Additional Information

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