Revised 2/2012

ASL 100 - Orientation to Acquisition of Asl As an Adult (2 CR.)

Course Description

Presents a brief introduction to the U.S. Deaf Community, focusing on the differences in language and literature. Introduces many common pitfalls experienced by adults when acquiring ASL as a second language. Provides students with an experience bridging spoken English and ASL via use of visual- gestural, non-verbal communication. Lecture 2 hours per week.

General Course Purpose

This course is intended for students with little or no experience with signed languages. Students will develop capabilities in non-verbal communication and visual gestural communication, studying gestures as a form of communication and a basis for visual language. Emphasis is on learning to think in pictures and building production and comprehension communication skills. 

Course Prerequisites/Corequisites

None.

Course Objectives

Upon completing the course, the student will be able to:

• Explain the difference between spoken languages and visual signed languages.
• Compare and contrast a variety of communication modes
• Follow simple and complex commands issued by the instructor using visual-gestural communication
• Issue simple and complex commands to other students using visual-gestural communication
• Describe objects using visual-gestural communication
• Participate in class discussions on complex hypothetical issues using visual-gestural communication
• Distinguish the difference between pantomiming and gesturing

Major Topics to Be Included

• Language vs. Communication
• The impact of modality on spoken languages and signed languages
• Making yourself understood in a visual language when you don’t know the sign
• Understanding other’s gestures
• Discussion of common pitfalls by adults acquiring ASL