1 Elementary American Sign Language
Study of American Sign Language (ASL) including
appreciation of the deaf culture. Introduction to current
and historical aspects of the deaf culture, survival
skills of the hearing-impaired including special
schools, equipment, and lipreading, parenting techniques,
and challenges of living in a hearing world.
Skills focus on the basic principles of phrasing,
vocabulary, sentence patterns, manual counting and
spelling, semantics, and the development of expressive
and receptive abilities. Fourteen hours of supplemental
instruction in a Success Center that
supports this course is required. This course corresponds
to the first year of high school ASL.
2 Elementary American Sign Language
Continued systematic study of the structure, vocabulary,
and conversational strategies of American Sign
Language (ASL). Skills focus on the basic principles
of phrasing, sentence patterns, manual counting and
spelling, semantics, and the development of expressive
and receptive abilities. Continued study of the
American Deaf Culture history, community and language.
Fourteen hours of supplemental instruction in
a Success Center that supports this course is
required.
3 Intermediate American Sign Language
Continued study and review of the structure, vocabulary,
and conversational strategies of American Sign
Language (ASL). Review of ASL grammar, with special
emphasis on idiomatic constructions. Continued
study of the American Deaf culture history, community,
and language, thereby promoting an understanding
of the wide variety of cultural issues
concerning the Deaf community. Fourteen hours of
supplemental instruction in a Success Center that
supports this course is required.
16 American Deaf Culture
An introduction to American Deaf culture, history, the community, and the language. Deaf
cultural values, characteristics, norms, minority issues, and community dynamics are
explored. Societal and individual perceptions of self in relation to group identity are
examined through articles, books, interviews, videos, and community interaction. Students
engage in community service activities in order to experience Deaf culture first hand.
