COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This course is designed for students who have no knowledge of American Sign Language, to allow them to function comfortably in a variety of communication situations.  The focus will be on developing visual readiness skills and developing both expressive and receptive skills in basic ASL.  The course includes introduction to conversational vocabulary, fingerspelling, grammatical principles and syntax.  Information related to deaf culture will also be included.

PREREQUISITES:  None

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

Upon completion of this course, students will have the capability to demonstrate basic competency and proficiency in the following areas: 

Communication.  Demonstrate the acquisition of a functional sign phonology, lexicon, grammar and syntax adequate to receive and convey information and ideas in everyday communication situations, as well as professional and social situations.

Receptive Skills.  Demonstrate the ability to apply visual "listening " skills and to respond appropriately and effectively in various communication situations.

Expressive Skills.  Demonstrate functional signing skills necessary to fulfill professional, social, and everyday communication needs.

Cultural Analysis.  Analyze and respond to information about the variety of sign communication within and outside the distinct cultural group known as the deaf community and the deaf world.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

Attendance and full class participation.  The instructor will present lectures, demonstrations, and videotaped materials using ASL and no voice.  Students are expected to participate in class activities without voice, and are required to do the workbook and view videotapes as assigned.

Attendance.  Due to the nature of this course, time constraints, logistics and facility limitations, much of what will be presented in class cannot be obtained outside of class.  Therefore, students are strongly encouraged not to miss any classes.  Make-up quizzes will not be given.  If a student needs to be absent for any of the videotaping sessions (should they take place in class), arrangements will need to be made with the instructor ahead of time.

Language Lab Assignments.  There will be outside class lab assignments for which the students will be responsible.  The instructor will give out the materials during class prior to lab time.  Some of the materials will be for practice and improving specific skill areas; some will present material on deafness and Deaf Culture.  Exams and quizzes will cover information presented in the lab as well as what is covered in class and in the book.

EVALUATION AND GRADING:

Evaluation will be on going and based upon student performance.  Specific individual feedback will be given as students progress through the activities in the course.  Grades will be based upon a variety of measures such as homework, quizzes, in-class dialogues, ongoing in-class performance, lab assignments, and final project.  Midterm and final evaluations will cover the book, information presented in class, and information covered in the lab.  There will also be signed 1:1 proficiency interviews.

Grading Criteria:

                              Quizzes and Papers                                                   25%

                              Dialogues                                                                       25%

                              Midterm and Final Exams                                        25%

                              Student participation                                                  25%

REQUIRED BOOK AND MATERIALS:

Lentz, Mikos & Smith, Signing Naturally Student Workbook Level 1, with accompanying videotext.

Handouts and assigned readings from articles and books relevant to ASL, Deaf Culture and experience.

One (1) blank VHS tape to record signed dialogues.

INSTRUCTOR:

Pam Walker

Department of Foreign Language and Literatures - Faner 2166

Office:  Faner 2062

Office Hours: 9:00-10:00 am MW, 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. T/Th/F

Phone:  618-453-5417

Email:  pjwalker@siu.edu

Class Hours: MW 10-11:50, or MW 1-2:30, or T/R 1-2:50

Location:  Sec. 1- Wham 307, Sec. 2 Lawson 201, Sec. 3 Eng. 310

Course Schedule:

Wk. 1:    Aug.23 Introduction, Non-Verbal Activities, Unit 1.  Aug. 25 Unit 1 quiz, Unit 2

Wk. 2: Aug.30 Unit 2 Quiz. Unit 3. Sept. 1 Unit 3. Dialogue #1.

Wk 3: Sept. 6 Labor Day, No class.  Sept. 8 -. Unit 3 quiz, Unit 4 and Deaf Mosaic: "Deaf President Now "(Language Media Center).

Wk. 4: Sept. 13 Unit 4 Sept. 15 Unit 4 Quiz and response paper due. Unit 5.  Dialogue # 2 due.

Wk. 5: Sept.20 "60 Minutes Interview ", Unit 5. Sept. 22 Unit 5 quiz

Wk. 6: Sept.27 Unit 6. Response paper due. Sept. 29 Unit 6

Wk. 7: Oct. 4 Oct. 6 Unit 6 Quiz. Cumulative Review and midterm review.

Wk. 8: Oct. 11 Midterm Exam. Oct. 13 - Unit 7

Wk. 9: Oct 18 Unit 7. "Breaking Barriers " video. Oct. 20 Unit 7 quiz and Dialogue # 3 due, Unit 8

Wk. 10: Oct. 25 Unit 8 quiz. Response paper due. Unit 9.  Oct. 27 Unit 9

Wk. 11: Nov. 1 - Unit 9 quiz and "The Sound and The Fury ", Unit 10. Nov. 3 Unit 10 and Dialogue # 4 due.

Wk. 12: Nov. 8 - Unit 10 Quiz and Unit 11. Response paper due. Nov. 10 - Unit 11. Dialogue # 5 due.

Wk. 13: Nov. 15 Deaf Culture presentation/ guest speaker. Nov. 17 - Response paper due.

Nov. 22 & 24: Thanksgiving Break

Wk. 14: Nov. 29 - Unit 11 quiz and Unit 12.  Draft for final project due. Dec. 1 Unit 12

Wk. 15: Dec. 6 - Unit 12 quiz and Cumulative Review. Dec. 8 Final Interviews

Wk. 16: Final Projects