CSD 3368 – American Sign Language I Spring Semester 2019 Instructor Contact Information: Office Hours: Mondays & Wednesdays – 12 pm – 2 pm Tuesdays & Thursdays – 1 pm – 2 pm Other times by appointment. Office E-mail Class Times and Location: Course Description: This course introduces the fundamental elements of American Sign Language in a cultural context. Emphasis is on the development of basic expressive and receptive skills. Open to students with no previous experience in American Sign Language. Pre-Requisites: None Course Objectives: The curriculum is designed to help students meet the five Standards of Learning American Sign Language (the 5Cs) as outlined by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) in the low to mid novice range. ● Communicate in American Sign Language using the three modes of communication, interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational, ● Gain knowledge and understanding of Deaf culture, ● Use American Sign Language to connect with other disciplines and acquire information, ● Develop insight into the comparison of the nature of language and culture, and ● Use American Sign Language to participate in communities at home and around the world. The five C’s, Communication, Culture, Connections, Comparisons, and Communities, represent the standards as outlined by the Standards for Foreign Language Learning in the 21st Century as outlined by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL). Required Textbook: Zinza, J.E. (2006). Master ASL Level One. Burtonsville, MD: Sign Media Press. This package includes the hardcover textbook and DVD. (The blue textbook is not required.) Please bring your text to each class. Required Equipment: A computer/tablet with Internet and video recording capabilities to complete practice video assignments on AsULearn. Free Online Resources: These resources can be used to review vocabulary or fingerspelling. -1- Disclaimer: The content provided by these web sites do not guarantee the accuracy of ASL. Vocabulary American Sign Language Dictionary http://www.handspeak.com/word/ Lifeprint Signing Savvy http://www.signingsavvy.com/ Fingerspelling ASL Fingerspelling 1.0 http://www.tucows.com/preview/205271 ASL Pro Fingerspelling http://www.aslpro.com/cgibin/aslpro/fingerspell.cgi Dr. Bill Vicar’s ASL Fingerspelling Practice http://asl.ms/ Fluency in American Sign Language requires the mastery of expressive and receptive skills. The expressive skill is the ability to sign in ASL clearly while the receptive skill is the ability to understand other people signing in ASL with little to no difficulty. We will work on both skills in this class. Course Requirements: 1. Three Written Exams on Receptive ASL Skills, ASL Grammar, and Deaf Culture: The three written exams will assess your receptive skills (your ability to understand what was signed in ASL) and ASL grammar and Deaf culture as outlined in Zinza’s book. As with most exams, talking and/or using cell phones are prohibited and may result in automatic Fs. More information about the exams will be provided in class. Please check the course outline below for exam dates. 2. Twenty-five Practice Video Assignments on Expressive Skills: Practice is essential to developing fluency in ASL. To help you develop this fluency, you will be provided with thirty practice videos, but only twenty-five practice videos submitted on time will be counted. For most of these videos, you will watch a brief video signed by an ASL signer and respond accordingly in ASL on video to be posted in AsULearn. Minimal feedback, if any, will be given as you will be graded on the completion and effort of your videos. The course outline lists the dates each of the practice videos will be assigned. They are due by 11:59 PM EST the next day. More information will be provided in class and/or AsULearn. 3. Three Expressive Projects: You will be required to complete three expressive projects this semester for feedback and grading. Unlike the practice video assignments, you may be required to complete your expressive project with a classmate or give a presentation in front of class and you will receive extensive feedback. More information will be provided in class. Check the course outline below for due dates. Evaluation Method: Three Receptive/Grammar/Culture Exams Twenty-five Practice Video Assignments Three Expressive Projects 20 pts each 1 pt each 5 pts each -2- 60% 25% 15% TOTAL 100% Please be aware that NO extra credit will be given for any reason Grading System: A = 93-100% B- = 80-82.99% D+ = 67-69.99% A- = 90-92.99% C+ = 77-79.99% D = 63-66.99% B+ = 87-89.99% C = 73-76.99% D- = 60-62.99% B = 83-86.99% C- = 70-72.99% F = Below 60 AsULearn: We will be using AsULearn for this class. Be sure to check regularly. Your practice videos will be assigned in AsULearn as well as grades posted there. Class Attendance and Participation: ASL is a visual language that cannot be learned effectively from books and/or videos. Attendance and participation in all class exercises are required. Practice is essential to successfully communicate in ASL. Make Ups: No make ups are permitted for any reason whatsoever. You are notified of the due dates and the test dates far in advance and you should be able to plan accordingly. If there are extenuating circumstances that prevent you from attending and/or participating and/or completing your assignments, you are encouraged to contact the Office of the Dean of Students (https://deanofstudents.appstate.edu/) for assistance with case management. Through them, make ups may be arranged. Inclement Weather Policy: Weather and road conditions often vary significantly within this area and therefore, the decision whether to travel must rest with the individual. When there has been no general cancellation of university classes and when serious weather conditions may affect the safety and wellbeing of students and/or the instructor traveling from off-campus, the instructor will provide an alternative assignment or the opportunity to make up any missed assignments or examinations. When there is inclement weather, check your email or check the AsULearn class website before coming to class. Language Policy: When you enter the ASL classroom, you are entering the ASL community, which means you are in total immersion with the Deaf Community and American Sign Language (ASL). This means entering a novoice environment from the beginning to the end of the class session. There are several reasons for this practice: 1. The no-voice environment will help you develop your receptive and expressive skills effectively. Experience shows that students are generally more successful at learning ASL when they immerse themselves in the language. 2. It is the socio-cultural norm and custom of the Deaf-World. 3. Voicing interferes with the correct uses of ASL vocabulary in different contexts (semantics) and grammatical structures. There is the misconception that ASL is English but in sign language. Letting go of spoken English will allow you to learn ASL as a language of its own and separate from English. -3- For all conversations, questions, and answers, use ASL, gestures, or written English form. The instructor will cue you when you can use voice (e.g. during breaks). Student Conduct: If you have any questions, please refer to the Student Conduct found at https://studentconduct.appstate.edu/ Student Progress: Grades will be posted in AsULearn. However, you are responsible for monitoring your progress in this course. Questions about your progress and this course are welcome at any time – preferably through e-mail. Appalachian State University Syllabi Policy and Statement Information: Appalachian State University has official policies covering the Academic Integrity Code, Disability Resources, Attendance Policy, and the Statement on Student Engagement with Courses. Policy statements are available on the Academic Affairs website at: https://academicaffairs.appstate.edu/resources/syllabi-policy-and-statement-information COURSE OUTLINE: Your instructor reserves the right to modify this course outline. Most practice videos are assigned on Mondays and Wednesdays except when we have a holiday or an exam on a Monday or Wednesday. Week Dates Topics & Important Dates Practice Videos Assigned (Due by 11:59 PM EST the next day.) #1 #2 1 Monday, January 14, 2019 Wednesday, January 16, 2019 Friday, January 18, 2019 Syllabus & Introduction Textbook: Introduction Unit 1: Welcome 2 Monday, January 21, 2019 Wednesday, January 23, 2019 Friday, January 25, 2019 HOLIDAY – NO CLASSES Unit 1: Welcome Unit 1: Welcome 3 Monday, January 28, 2019 Wednesday, January 30, 2019 Friday, February 1, 2019 Unit 1: Welcome Unit 1: Welcome Unit 1: Welcome 4 Monday, February 4, 2019 Wednesday, February 6, 2019 Friday, February 8, 2019 Exam #1 & Expressive Project #1 Unit 2: Getting Started Unit 2: Getting Started 5 Monday, February 11, 2019 Wednesday, February 13, 2019 Friday, February 15, 2019 Unit 2: Getting Started Unit 2: Getting Started Unit 2: Getting Started #9 #10 6 Monday, February 18, 2019 Wednesday, February 20, 2019 Friday, February 22, 2019 Unit 2: Getting Started Unit 3: Getting to Know You Unit 3: Getting to Know You #11 #12 -4- #3 #4 #5 #6 #7 #8 7 Monday, February 25, 2019 Wednesday, February 27, 2019 Friday, March 1, 2019 Unit 3: Getting to Know You Unit 3: Getting to Know You Unit 3: Getting to Know You 8 Monday, March 4, 2019 Wednesday, March 6, 2019 Friday, March 8, 2019 SPRING BREAK – NO CLASSES SPRING BREAK – NO CLASSES SPRING BREAK – NO CLASSES 9 Monday, March 11, 2019 Wednesday, March 13, 2019 Friday, March 15, 2019 Unit 3: Getting to Know You Unit 3: Getting to Know You Unit 3: Getting to Know You #15 #16 10 Monday, March 18, 2019 Wednesday, March 20, 2019 Friday, March 22, 2019 Unit 3: Getting to Know You Exam #2 & Expressive Project #2 Unit 4: Family & Friends #17 11 Monday, March 25, 2019 Wednesday, March 27, 2019 Friday, March 29, 2019 Unit 4: Family & Friends Unit 4: Family & Friends Unit 4: Family & Friends #19 #20 12 Monday, April 1, 2019 Wednesday, April 3, 2019 Friday, April 5, 2019 Unit 4: Family & Friends Unit 4: Family & Friends Unit 4: Family & Friends #21 #22 13 Monday, April 8, 2019 Wednesday, April 10, 2019 Friday, April 12, 2019 Unit 4: Family & Friends Unit 4: Family & Friends Unit 5: School Days #23 #24 14 Monday, April 15, 2019 Wednesday, April 17, 2019 Friday, April 19, 2019 Unit 5: School Days Unit 5: School Days Unit 5: School Days #25 #26 15 Monday, April 22, 2019 Wednesday, April 24, 2019 Friday, April 26, 2019 HOLIDAY– NO CLASSES Unit 5: School Days Unit 5: School Days #27 #28 16 Monday, April 29, 2019 Wednesday, May 1, 2019 Unit 5: School Days Unit 5: School Days #29 #30 17 Wednesday, May 8, 2019 8:00 am – 10:30 am Exam #3 & Expressive Project #3 -5- #13 #14 #18
