FC 001 - American Sign Language I

ASL Program Fall 2012, August 27 to December 12 Mondays - 8:00 am to 12:00 pm Three credits hours

Instructors Information: Williams, B.A. Decker-Pickell, B.A. Office: SLCC 1203 Office Hours: o Felicia: (Monday & Wednesday 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm) and by appointment o Cindy: (Tuesday and Thursday 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm) and by appointment Email: o Felicia.Williams@gallaudet.edu o Cindy.Decker-Pickell@gallaudet.edu VideoPhone: (202) LOVE-ASL Please read this syllabus carefully. It outlines all activities and assignments for 15 weeks. You are required to understand and follow it. Please see us if you have any questions. Prerequisite: None Course Description: This is an introductory ASL course. It provides an emphasis on signing, receptive skills, and expressive skills. This course provides a historical introduction, cultural awareness, and cross cultural adjustment skill. Non-verbal communication is emphasized. Homework assignments will include, but are not limited to, attendance and involvement at community events. Goals: 1. To develop basic receptive skills in ASL. 2. To develop basic expressive skills in ASL. 3. To develop basic conversational fluency in ASL using appropriate vocabulary, grammar and conversational behavior. 4. To develop basic knowledge of ASL linguistic structures. 5. To gain some understanding of deaf culture, the Deaf community and the importance of ASL to Deaf culture and the Deaf community. Objectives: 1

Students will be able to 1. Introduce self and interact in Deaf culturally appropriate ways. 2. Ask and answer questions, both yes/no and WH. 3. Incorporate number structures such as cardinal and special information into basic conversations. 4. Demonstrate appropriate usage of facial expression and non-manual markers. 5. Engage in conversations about a variety of basic topics including introductions, personal schedules, home tasks, activities, classroom/home environments, etc. 6. Use basic ASL grammar structure, including rhetorical questions and topic/comment, directional verbs and the appropriate use of fingerspelling. 7. Discuss aspects of and perspectives on Deaf culture and Deaf Communities. 8. Participate in an experience using sign language in a public place and home. Describe experience and the response of the public/home in video. Required Materials: Signing Naturally Level One Units 1 - 6, Student Textbook Assessments: Rubrics for Video & Written Assignment (See attached rubrics) Homeworks 4 Quizzes Midterm and Final Exam 2 Reaction Papers Instructional Tools: PowerPoint Notes Real-life Materials Videos of ASL Short Narratives Video: brief family and education background Family Pictures Homework Assignment: Exposure to ASL & Deaf culture at Deaf-sponsored events. Students are required to attend TWO Deaf community event.. Prior to attending the event, you must obtain your instructors approval to ensure that the event is appropriate for your ASL development. You must also provide evidence that the event took place. Acceptable forms of proof may be any of the following: flyer, invitation, e-mail, ticket, and/or letter of proof from a contact person at the event. Lastly, students are expected to submit a report following the event. Please see below for Deaf community interaction report guideline. DEAF COMMUNITY INTERACTION EXPERIENCE GUIDELINE

Purpose: As an ASL student you are learning another language, which is very different from English or any spoken language you might know. It is well known that an important part of learning another language is to be exposed to it in its native environment. This assignment requires the student to go out into the Deaf community and begin to experience this visual-gestural language in places, which are part of the culture of Deaf people. Through this entry into Deaf Culture, you will begin to observe and understand not only the language of Deaf people but also their behaviors, attitudes, values, traditions and more. People who consider themselves part of Deaf Culture are a unique minority group in this society and learning how to communicate in their language requires time, patience, and direct interaction. Through direct contact with Deaf people in a mutually beneficial relationship, students will improve abilities in ASL, receptively and expressively. Also, students will enhance their understanding of the culture of Deaf people. Field experiences, like this assignment, offer interaction that supplements academic study with practical encounters. Rationale: To learn any second language adults must be immersed in it with native speakers to the greatest extent possible. A classroom environment is not designed to provide the type of natural interaction one can find in the real world. This is a necessary activity for anyone who has the desire to become fluent in a second language. Definition: For an event to be acceptable and counted as a Deaf event, students are required to observe any Deaf Community-related activity. Examples of such activity include Play with deaf actors or interpreted by a sign language interpreter, religious services, presentation by Deaf people, or Deaf Film with no captions. Requirement: Students will write 2 reaction papers that will describe their interaction/or experience with deaf people in the Deaf Community. You may write on *all or three of the highlights below. While students are being expose to Deaf Culture and American Sign Language they are to look for : *new vocabulary, *facial expressions, *cultural tidbits, *deaf art, *body movements, *signs with hand shapes or movements, *stories, *ASL structure, & *language differences. Each paper will be typed and 2 page in length. Both reaction papers may be handed in anytime before Dec. 10, 2012.

Policies:

1. *Absence policy. Absences (excused or unexcused) totaling more than three will negatively affect a students grade by one letter grade and may result in being dropped from the course. Arriving late and/or leaving early are very distracting in an ASL class and will count toward absences. Two lateness/early departures will equal one absence. PLEASE BE CONSIDERATE AND ARRIVE ON TIME. If you are absent, please arrange for a classmate to collect handouts and take notes for you. 2. *Use target language in classroom. In order to provide you with as many opportunities as possible to be exposed to your new language, this class will be taught in ASL without the use of spoken English. Students are expected to respect this no voice rule and refrain from using spoken English in the classroom. Use of gesture, mime and other non-English ways of communicating are highly encouraged. You will learn appropriate strategies for what to do when you do not understand. 3. *Class Participation. Excellent class participation demonstrates your ability to refrain from using your voice in the classroom and signing at all times, engaging in class activities willingly and cooperatively and respecting your peers and professor. Repeatedly using voice or whispering during class time may result in dismissal from class at the professors discretion. 4. *Completion of homework assignments. Students are expected to complete all homework assignments by assigned due dates. Late work will be lowered a grade for each class late. 5. Use your student workbook and videotape/DVD on a regular basis. The student workbook and accompanying videotape serve as your primary study materials. Along with information about ASL grammar and culture, the videotape presents you with natural-occurring ASL dialogues and practice activities that accompany the workbook activities. Additional homework may also be assigned. Be forewarned that the video dialogues will be difficult to understand when you watch it for the first time. You will be expected to view the same dialogue a few times. To help ease your frustration, I strongly encourage you to understand the context of the conversation rather than try to understand specific signs. Repeated exposure to natural ASL dialogues will help your ASL development. 6. Use target language outside of classroom. Students are strongly encouraged to practice outside of class with each other, through a tutor in the lab (if provided for students), at Deaf events and/or with a Deaf person. ASL cannot be learned from a book. You must use it on a regular basis to reinforce your learning and to develop natural sign language conversational skills. 7. Cell phones and Pagers. Cell phones and pagers must be turned off and put away before entering the classroom. You are permitted to check your cell phone or pager during break. However, do not forget the no voice rule and DO NOT check your

phone or pager while the teacher is lecturing. Anyone caught with their cell phone out during class will be asked to leave. Accommodations: If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability, if you have emergency medical information to share with your instructor, or if you need special arrangements in case the building must be evacuated, please make an appointment with me as soon as possible. If you would like to speak to someone about support services or other questions related to accommodations, please contact the Disabled Student Services, Room BE1112, at (202) 234-5678 Course Outline
Week 8/27 Topic Introduction Assignments Course Overview Signing Naturally Workbook Unit 1 Homework 1:1, pages 4-5 American Deaf Culture Quiz (No class Monday September 3) CLOSED (Labor Day) Workbook/video activities for Unit 1 Homework 1:1-1:7, pages 6-24 Exercise 1:1, page 375 (for classroom use)

9/3 9/10

None SN Unit 1 Introducing Oneself

9/17

SN Unit 1

Workbook/video activities for Unit 1 Homework 1:8-1:12 and Unit 1 Review, pages 25-45 Quiz (on-line) due 9/24 Workbook/video activities for Unit 2 Exercises 2:1-2:5, pages 376-381 (for classroom use) Reaction paper A Sign of Respect due, 10/1 Workbook/video activities for Unit 2 Homework 2:7-2:11, pages 72-83 Review Units 1 & 2 for exam Workbook/video activities for Unit 2 Homework 2:12 and Unit 2 Review, pages 84-107 Quiz (on-line) due 10/15

9/24

SN Unit 2 Personal Information SN Unit 2

10/1

10/8

SN Unit 2

10/15

SN Unit 3 Discussing Living Situations SN Unit 3

Workbook/video activities for Unit 3 Homework 3:1-3:8, pages 110-129 Exercises 3:1-3:4, pages 382-387 (for classroom use) VISTA Workbook/video activities for Unit 3

10/22

Homework 3:9-3:15, pages 130-151 10/29 SN Unit 3 SN Unit 4 Talking About Family Workbook/video activities for Unit 3/4 Homework 3:16 and Unit 3 Review, pages 152-175 Homework 4:1-4:4, pages 178-187 Exercise 4:1, page 388 (for classroom use) First ASL Observation report due 11/5 Quiz (on-line) due 11/5 VISTA Workbook/video activities for Unit 4 Homework 4:5-4:10, pages 188-204 Reaction paper No Sound TV due 11/12 Graded video: Autobiography due 11/12 Workbook/video activities for Unit 4 Homework 4:11-4:15 and Unit 4 Review, pages 205-229 The Gum Story 6:5-6:7, pages 319-326 Exam Units 1-4 on 11/19 (on-line) CLOSED (Thanksgiving Holiday) Unit 5 Telling About Activities Workbook/video activities for Unit 5 Homework 5:1-5:5 Exercises 5.1-5:5, pages 389-395 (for classroom use) The Gum Story 6:8, pages 327-328 Childhood Stories: Wrong Name and If Only I Could Fly 6:13, pages 338-345

11/5

Unit 4

11/12

Unit 4

11/19 11/26

Competency Goal 2: Interpretive Communication The learner will comprehend signed information on a variety of topics in ASL. 2.01 Demonstrate comprehension of basic personal and social questions by responding appropriately using ASL signs and phrases of 1-to-3 sentences in length. 2.02 Comprehend fingerspelling such as products, brands, names, places and words that have no signs and lexicalized fingerspelling with teacher-aided cues.
12/3 Unit 5 Workbook/video activities for Unit 5 Homework 5:6-5.9, pages 251-277 Homework Unit 5 Review, pages 278-306 Exercise 5:6, page 396 (for classroom use) Quiz (on-line) due 12/10

12/10

Unit 6 Units 5-6

Workbook/video activities for Unit 6 Students will perform Gum Story live in class Review Units 5-6 for exam Second ASL Observation report due 12/17 Exam Units 1-6 Grouped Final Exam schedule on Monday December 17

12/17

Final Exam

Attendance Do not miss class. Missing classes will seriously affect your final grade. You are allowed to miss three classes. When you miss class for fourth time, for any reason, your grade will start to go down. I will deduct 15 points for each class you miss. The next section describes points basically, 50 points=1 letter grade. Here is an example: a student earns a B in the course, buy she missed 6 classes. She gets to miss 3 without penalty. For each of the other 3, I will deduct 15 points. 3 x 15=45, so her final grade goes down to a C+. Strong attendance will earn you extra credit pints at the end of the semester! The following table outlines the number of extra points you can earn. Number of absences 0 1 2 3 Extra Credit Point Earned 20 15 10 5

Course Competencies ASL Program Course competencies relate to both Gallaudet University Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) and to the ASL Program Student Learning Outcomes

Grading Policy

The final grade will be determined by averaging the grades earned for each evaluation given. Assignments Examinations (2) Quizzes Videos Total 10% 50% 20% 20% 100%

94 90 87 84 80 77 77 74 0

to to to to to to to to to

100 93 89 86 83 79 79 76 73

= = = = = = = = =

A AB+ B BBC+ C F

The final course grade is based on percentages: Syllabus is subject to change. You will be notfied of changes in the announcement section of the Blackboard.