ASL 1150C-1203
American Sign Language II

ACADEMIC DEPARTMENT:

Dean: Dr. Joe LeopoldAcademic Chair: Dr. Shirley Oakley

Office Location: LA 159Office Location: LA 159
Office Number: (727)791-5904Office Number: (727)791-2570

Instructor/email: / Dr. Beth Carlson
mailto:
Course type: / classroom and lab
Prerequisites: / successful completion of ASL 1140C
Course description: / Intermediate American Sign Language (ASL) is a continuation of the basic American Sign Language course and expands the student's vocabulary and signing fluency. Students will have directed practice with media generated materials, emphasizing receptive and expressive conversational practice. Lecture - 47 contact hours. Lab – 30 contact hours.
Office location: / LA 165 (Clearwater)
Office hours: / On Campus / Virtual Hours
Daytime:
Tuesday/Thursday: 10:00-10:15am; 12:45-1:00
Wednesday: 12:30-2:00
Evenings:
Tuesday/Thursday: 5:30-6:00; 8:15-8:30 /
M-W: 8:00-9:00 am
Phone: / 727-791-2746
Disabilities info: / From Student and Educational Services

Academic and Student Affairs: / From Student and Educational Services
Reasonable accommodations are available to students who:
  • are otherwise qualified for admission to the College
  • identify themselves to appropriate College personnel
  • Provide acceptable and qualifying documentation to the College.
It is the student's responsibility to provide notice of the nature of the disability to the College and to assist in identifying appropriate and effective accommodation. Students must personally identify the need, provide supporting diagnostic test results and professional evaluations, participate in planning services, and give adequate notice in requesting accommodation.A Counselor/Learning Specialist in the Office of Services for Students with Disabilities (OSSD) is assigned to oversee services on each SPC campus. To call, visit, or e-mail a Counselor/
Learning Specialist,seethe following link.
Contact Information by Campus

Class meeting schedule: / Tuesday/ Thursday 6:00-8:15 pm
Clearwater Campus LA 108
Textbooks: / Required:
1. Signing Naturally Level II chapters 7-12 by Lentz, Mikos and Smith
ISBN: 978-1-58121-221-1
2. A Loss for Words by Lou Ann Walker.
Harper Collins Publisher
ISBN: ISBN-13: 9780060914257
3. GoReact by Speakworks
Recommended Text or Other Reading Material:
Library:
Other materials/
Media
Protocol: / For this class you must have access to a webcam. Use the ASL Lab.
Protocol for Production of MediaMake sure yousign the following information on each video project.
Your First and Last NameThe DateThe Project Title
When producing visual/gestural material the student must be aware of procedures that willenhancethe production:
Backgrounds
  • Colorof Clothesshould be asolidcolor that contrasts with a student’s skin color.
  • Light skinned students wear darker solid color tops.
  • Darker skinned students wear lighter solid color tops.
  • Tops should have sleeves; no tank tops, low cut or sleeveless
    tops permitted.
  • Tops should not have distractions:buttons, emblems, and graphics.
Distractions
  • Hair should be out of the face.Do not wear a hat or chew gum.
  • Jewelry should not be distracting: dangling earrings, shiny necklace, sparkly pins
  • Midriff and/or shoulders should not be exposed
    Not following protocol will result in points being deducted from the final grade of the material produced. Exercises from the Student Textbookswill be assigned each week.You will be prepared to demonstrate their receptive and expressive sign skills during the class.
    Video Assignments:You will be expected to submit digital assignments for grading.This work will be recorded throughGoREACT.Be sure to set up and save your password as soon as you receive my invitation to the class.Webcams are available in the ASL Lab.Personal webcams are acceptable provided media protocol is followed.

Course goals and objectives: / Upon completion of this course, the student will:
  • Explain the importance of non-verbal and visual gestural communication techniques in relation to: a) the origin of signs; b) the origin of sign language; and c) the culture of the Deaf community.
  • Continue to demonstrate 80% competency in expressive communication skills through conversational signing by using manual and non-manual grammatical features of sign language.
  • Continue to demonstrate 80% competency in receptive communication skills in conversational signing through comprehension monitoring techniques.
  • Continue to develop skills in receptive and expressive fingerspelling.
  • Continue to develop receptive skills and increase the ability to accurately and appropriately express ASL.
  • Develop an intermediate level competency in spontaneous conversational ASL as demonstrated by accurate use of sign vocabulary, classifiers, and ASL structure.
  • Recognize and apply a glossing system for describing sign production and its related characteristics (e.g., facial expression, location, structure, etc.)
  • Present signed productions at 80% mastery.
  • Acquire an additional ASL working vocabulary of approximately 250-300 signs.
  • Continue to develop an appreciation and understanding of Deaf Culture and ASL as a language in its own right.
  • Summarize basic applications of visual and sign communication
DISCIPLINE SPECIFIC INFORMATION:
If you must enter the classroom after class has begun, please do so as quietly as possible. Exercises techniques used in Deaf Culture for interruption. Because American Sign Language is a visual-gestural language, it is best learned in a voiceless environment. You are expected to use only sign/fingerspelling and are discouraged from using your voices in the classroom. Please make use of techniques for getting the meaning across rather than attempting to make us of voice if there is a misunderstanding in meaning. The curriculum and the lessons are designed to help the class and the program meet the five areas of Communication, Cultures, Connections, Comparisons and Communities outlined by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL).
The curriculum parallels what we know about language development and second language learning. We focus on introducing language in context and reinforcing what is learned by engaging you into various interactive activities. A conversational curriculum requires you to be an active learner. You need to come prepared to sign with me and other classmates. Our classes are conducted in ASL from the very first day. You are immersed in the language to maximize your language learning. I will use gestures, signs, drawings, and act out situations to get the point across and your job is to keep trying. This may sound unnerving at first, but trust me, it works!
1) Communication: Exchange information in ASL using short dialogues about everyday life such as describing people and things, making requests and asking for advice, describing places, giving opinions about others, and discussing plans and goals with other students, the instructor, and through video recording activities.
2) Communication: Develop skills in using facial expressions, gestures and specialized handshapes (classifiers) for communication and descriptive purposes.
3) Communication: Maintain a conversation in ASL with native signers using both culturally appropriate content and interpersonal skills, and comprehend basic conversational questions and short discourses.
4) Communication: Develop understanding and use of ASL grammatical principles including (a) Use of space for referents, (b) Directionality for verb signs, (c) Modification of signs for degree, and (d) Communicating about more than one (plurals).
5) Communication: Develop skills in organizing and delivering narratives in ASL including (a) Using the appropriate introduction, body, and conclusion, (b) Grammatical markers for transitions, (c) Role-shifting between two or more characters, and (d) Use of space.
6) Cultural and Connections: Discuss the view that Deaf people are a cultural-linguistic minority group.
7) Comparative: Explore Deaf art and how it expresses the Deaf experience.
8) Comparative: Discuss the rules of social interaction in Deaf culture and compare them with other cultural norms.
9) Comparative: Understand the Deaf community’s participation in society, and dispel misrepresentations and stereotypes about them.
10) Comparative: Examine the historical collision between culture and disability in the Deaf community, including ethical conflicts with the medical model.
11) Comparative: Discuss the intersections which occur within the Deaf community, the universality of the Deaf experience, and the visions of the future.
12) Community: Attend ASL and Deaf events to continue to develop ASL and Deaf behavioral norms outside of the classroom.
Attendance policy: / The college-wide attendance policy is included in the Syllabus Addendum Since learning a language requires interacting as with native users and practicing with others on a regular basis, American Sign Language students will need to attend and participate in all classes to be successful. Attendance will be tracked during each class and students who in excessive of four absences will be dropped from the course due to lack of60% activity time. For extenuating circumstances, documentation must be presented.
IMPORTANT COLLEGE POLICY REGARDING COURSE DROP-ADD PERIOD AND AUDIT INFORMATION

FEDERAL GUIDELINES RELATED TO FINANCIAL AID AND TOTAL WITHDRAWAL FROM THE COLLEGE

Evaluation process: / Assignments
3Story Projects ...... 30 points
Unit Tests...... 30 points
Final Project...... …...... 10 points
15Contact Hours...... …...... 10 points
Journal/Book Test...... 10 points
In-class performance/progress……..10 points
100 points
Grading scale: / A = 90+
B = 80+
C = 70+
D = 60+
F = less than 60
Grading policies: / ASL Immersion and No Talking Policy:
The curriculum and workbook are designed with the assumption that you use English as your first language. ASL will be used exclusively in the classroom for two reasons. First, it is culturally inappropriate to use voice in an ASL environment, or to not sign in the presence of any Deaf person. Speaking eliminates the Deaf person, whether intentionally or not, from the communication around them. In the classroom, it is critical that the instructor, Deaf or hearing, maintain a culturally appropriate environment so that you can develop the habit of signing in Deaf-hearing situations. Secondly, you can only become fluent by constantly using ASL. The more you rely on English to understand ASL, the longer you will remain in the limbo of being unable to communicate in ASL. You can’t learn a language by speaking or listening to another language. No language is a direct translation of another, and concept formation is enhanced by full immersion. Students will not learn ASL until they actually commit to using it as a living language. The classroom will become a microcosm of the living world where all meaning is negotiated in ASL. For this reason, sounds, exaggerated body movement, or intentionally attempting to bring attention to yourself with noises, will result in a loss of participation points in this class.
Since ASL does not yet have its own standardized writing system, written English is used to give instructions, and explain some signs in the student workbook. However, whenever possible I will use pictures and other ways to minimize the use of English in the classroom.
Assignments
Students should expect to spend at least six hours outside of the classroom on homework assignments, social hour, study groups, and other ASL related activities to perform well in this class. Based on past experience, there is a strong
relationship between a student’s attendance, participation, effort on homework assignments, and getting a good grade on the exams
Written Work/Assignments: All work is due on the date specified on the schedule. It is due at the beginning of the class period. Late work will not be accepted past the next class period of a missed class without a 50% reduction in grade. Written work and assignments should include your name, date assignment is due, and class title. In class assignments may not be made up.
THE LAB component of this class is conducted as an independent study and is based on classroom requirements and activities assigned by the instructor. NO Lab assignment will be accepted late and no partial lab assignments will be accepted; however, a student may turn lab work in early if they wish. All work is due on the date listed. A grade of “50%” will be assigned for work not submitted on time. At the time of each test, students need to bring in their completed homework assignments.
Use this space here to write down contact information from at least three classmates. And, please, if you must miss a class, please do not contact me and ask if you missed anything in class; YOU DID! Ask your classmates.
Contact 1: ______
Contact 2:______
Contact 3:______
Contact 4:______
Class calendar: / Week of: / Assignments:
5/17-5/19 / Introduction/Review of Units 1-6
Textbook and videotape; course goals/requirements; The Building Blocks of ASL; Strategies for learning ASL
Cumulative ReviewUnits 1-6
*View DVD; review vocabulary and textbook exercises
Post Introductions and Complete Re–Defining Deaf Assignment
A Loss For Words: Journal entry Chapter 1 (Due 5/22)
5/24-5/26 / Unit 7:Describing People and Things: 7.1-7.8
*View DVD; review vocabulary and complete textbook exercises
A Loss For Words: Journal entry Chapter 2/3 (Due 5/29)
5/30 / College Closed – Memorial Day
5/31-6/2 / Unit 7:Describing People and Things: 7.9-7.13
Unit 8: Making Requests and Asking for Help: 8.1-8.5
Unit 12: Lessons 1-2 , View and practice The Tailor
In class retell practice with The Tailor
*View DVD; review vocabulary and complete textbook exercises
A Loss For Words: Journal entry Chapter 4/5 (Due 6/5)
6/7-6/9 / Unit 8: Making Requests and Asking for Help: 8.6-8.14
*View DVD; review vocabulary and complete textbook exercises
Unit 12: Lessons 3-5 , View and practice One Fine Day
In class retell practice with One Fine Day
Post unit 7/8 Project in GoReact (Due: 6/12/15)
Unit 7/8 Test 6/9
A Loss For Words: Journal entry Chapter 6/7 (Due 6/12)
6/14-6/16 / Unit 9:Describing Places: 9.1-9.8
*View DVD; review vocabulary and complete textbook exercises
Unit 9:Describing Places: 9.9-9.14
Unit 12: Lessons 3-5 , View and practice One Fine Day
In class retell of One Fine Day
*View DVD; review vocabulary and complete textbook exercises
A Loss For Words: Journal entry Chapter 8/9 (Due 6/19)
Unit 12: Lesson 3-4
6/21-6/23 / Unit 10: Giving Opinions About Others: 10.1-10.6
Unit 10/11: Giving Opinions About Others: 10.7-11.5
Unit 12: Lesson 12:8 View and practice The Lion and The Mouse
In class retell The Lion and The Mouse
*View DVD; review vocabulary and complete textbook exercises
Unit 12: Lesson 5-6
A Loss For Words: Journal entry Chapter 10/11 (Due 6/26)
6/29-6/30 / Unit 11:Discussing Plans and Goals: 11.5-11.13
*View DVD; review vocabulary and complete textbook exercises
Unit 12: Lesson 12:9 View and Practice The Fox and the Crow
In class retell The Fox and the Crow
*Choose Final Fable Assignment for In-Class Retell
A Loss For Words: Journal entry Chapter 12/13 (Due 7/3)
7/4 / College Closed – Independence Day
7/5-7/7 / Unit 12: Lesson 9/ Unit 12: Lesson 10
A Loss For Words: Journal entry Chapter 14-16 (Due 7/12)
7/12-7/14 / A Loss For Words OnlineTEST 7/12
Unit 9-11 test 7/14
7/20-7/21 /
FINAL EXAM WEEK - Present Final Project – Adapted Fable
Important Dates: / College Calendar

Class policies: / Academic Honesty

Classroom Protocol:
Class discussion periods will be conducted in an orderly fashion. If a student must enter theclassroom after class has begun, please do so as quietly as possible. If a student has adisagreementwith an instructor on a particular graded exercise or exam question, pleasesee the instructor afterclass.
Because American Sign Language is a visual-gestural language,it is best learned in a voicelessenvironment. Students are expected to use only sign/fingerspellingand are discouraged from usingtheir voices in the classroom.
STUDENT EXPECTATIONS

ONLINE STUDENT PARTICIPATION AND CONDUCT GUIDELINES

CAMPUS SAFETY AND SECURITY

SEXUAL PREDATOR INFORMATION

SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS

Assignment
Test details: / Book Blog: A journal will be kept throughout the semester in which the student will respond to chapter readings from A Loss for Words. A comprehensive test will follow.
Contact Hours: The student will be required to document 15 CONTACT HOURS during the semester. A Minimum of 10 (or more) of the 15 hours must be spent interacting with deaf people at deaf culture events, silent dinners and lectures by Deaf people. The purpose of these Interactive Contact Hours will be to expose the student to native signers and to allow the student to develop a broader understanding of the Deaf Community. These activities must result in a student being able to show improved communication skills. Interactive “Hands On” activities may include the ASL Club activities; Student Service Activities on the QUAD, and other community volunteer opportunities. Call the agency for information about assisting and let them know you are taking ASL I at SPC. Sites include: Safety Harbor Library: 727 724-1525 X 232 for Rosa Rodriquez; Deaf and Hearing Connection: 727 399-9983; Blossom Montessori School: 727 539-7879; Family Center on Deafness: 727-549-6664.
Other events for Interactive Contact Hours include:
1) Attend a religious event at which there is an interpreter: Write five (5) words or signs you learned while watching the interpreter; after the event, ask the interpreter for their name and if they have a QA or RID Certification.
2) Attend any public meeting sponsored by a Deaf Organization such as the St. Petersburg Association for the Deaf (SPAD); the Association of Late Deafened Adults (ALDA); Deaf Women of Tampa Bay and other local Deaf organizations. List the names of three (3) Deaf people you met at the meeting and respond to the blog questions.
3) Attend a Silent Social night at the local area Mall Food Courts. List three (3) new words and the names of two (2) Deaf people you meet.
4) Attend an interpreted community performance. Write five (5) words or signs you learn while watching the interpreter; after the event, ask the interpreter for their name and if they have a QA or RID Certification
5) Information and announcements of events will be posted on bulletin boards in the ASL lab and provided in class. If a student becomes aware that an event involves sign language or the Deaf community, please bring this information to share with your classmates.
Media contact hours may include Web Site assignments and video assignments for a total of no more than ten (5) contact hours. Information and announcements of events will be posted on bulletin boards and provided in class. Suggested Sign Language materials will be found in the Clearwater Sign Language Lab (LA 109).
All Contact Hour Assignments and Activities must be pre-approved by the instructor. The instructor will verify all volunteer hours with each agency. If a you are having any difficulty arranging Contact Hours, please inform the me as soon as possible and I will arrange for a tutor. Please do not assume that running into a deaf person with whom you communicate will count for contact hours.
CONTACT HOURS are to be submitted using the format on the Contact Hour Summary Sheet in My Courses in the Contact Hour Blog folder. Each submission should be no less than 350 words to receive full credit. Half of the contact hours (7) are at mid semester. The remaining half (8) are DUE by July 19th. A student may complete and turn in his/her required Summaries before Due Dates. It is suggested that these contact hours be included in the student learning log.
Unit Tests: There will be five unit tests this semester. Students need to submit homework assignments at the time of the test.
The Student will produce three (3) Expressive Skill Projects from Textbook assignments using GoReact and final project to be completed in class.
Check the Class schedule for the due dates on these assigned projects:
The student will record their projects following instructions for Media Protocol. Video recordings are to be submitted in Angel in the drop box for each unit. If a student has a personal webcam and records his or her project on a home computer, he or she must still consider media protocol.You will record your projects following instructions below for MediaProtocol. Unit projects will be recorded using webcams and submitted through GoReact.
Other notes: / ASL Transferability:
ASL (SPA 1612 and 1613) is recognized as a Foreign Language by many colleges and universities in Florida and the other forty-nine states and territories. While this language is generally accepted as an admission requirement at Florida’s public universities, some university departments require a working knowledge of an auditory/oral/written language as a graduation requirement. Please check with the department chair of the program in which you wish to enroll to determine if American Sign Language credits can be counted toward graduation.
IMPORTANT COLLEGE POLICY REGARDING COURSE DROP-ADD PERIOD AND AUDIT INFORMATION

Resources available: / Other Sources of Information related to ASL, Deaf Culture
These links do not count for Contact Hours.
Silent Titans Facebook Page
ASL University

Signing Savvy

American Sign Language Browser
/ Hand speak

ASLized

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