AMSL 102 COURSE SYLLABUS
MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY
COURSE: AMSL 102 Beginning American Sign Language 2
CREDITS: 3
COURSE SCHEDULE: Tuesdays and Thursdays 5:30pm-6:45pm
INSTRUCTOR: Jessica L. Wohlstetter, M.A.
CONTACT INFO: wohlstetterj@mail.montclair.edu
OFFICE HOURS: Tuesday 4:15pm-5:15pm
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course is a follow-up study to AMSL 101 and focuses on developing
both expressive and receptive American Sign Language skills. Course content
will include ASL signs and concepts, grammatical features of ASL, and an
awareness of Deaf culture with an emphasis on skill development, correct usage
of signs, and an increased general understanding of American Sign Language.
Current events related to the Deaf community will also be addresses during this
course.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
1. Students will expand on their vocabulary of signs and numbers.
2. Students will continue to develop their receptive and expressive ASL
skills.
3. Students will recognize and employ the syntax and fundamental
grammatical rules of ASL.
4. Students will expand on their beginning level of mastery of receptive
and expressive fingerspelling (including clarity, rhythm, speed, and
smooth execution of letter shapes) as well as expand on their
understanding of when to use and when to avoid fingerspelling.
5. Students will expand on their understandings of Deaf culture and
sensitivity. This will be achieved through participation in Deaf
community events, watching Deaf culture videos and reading related
excerpts from books and articles.
6. By the end of the semester, students will have basic communication
skills and the cultural sensitivity necessary to interact with the Deaf
community.
STUDENT REQUIREMENTS:
 American Sign Language is a visual language and is best learned through
practice. Therefore, attendance and class participation are required. In
accordance with MSU’s Student Handbook, more than two absences will
automatically result in a lower grade. For each absence or lateness over
the limit, the final grade will be lowered a step (example: 3 absences;
student earned an A; lowered to an A- for that third absence).
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Students must arrive on time to class and remain in class for the full
session. Two late arrivals and/or two early departures are equivalent to
one absence.
No spoken English is permitted during class.
All beepers and cell phones must be turned off or set on vibrate mode.
All assignments, reports and readings are to be completed on time. Late
assignments will not be accepted.
All assignments (except Blackboard postings) are to be physically handed
in to the Professor. Papers are to be double-spaced and should include
your name, course number, title of assignment and date of assignment in
the upper right hand corner of the front sheet. Any papers longer than one
page should be stapled once in the upper left hand corner.
TEXTS:
A Journey into the Deaf World by Harlan Lane, Robert Hoffmeister and
Ben Bahan (Dawn Sign Press, 1996).
Signing Naturally Level 1 by Cheri Smith, Ella Mae Lentz, Ken Mikos
(Dawn Sign Press).
GRADING AND COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
Quizzes: 10%
Cultural Experience: 15%
Assignments: 20%
-Commentaries
-In class Dialogues
Midterm: 25%
Final Exam: 30%
-Part One: Dialogue with Professor (25 points)
-Part Two: Written Exam (75 points)
I. QUIZZES: All quizzes will be announced. Quizzes will be based on materials
learned from the Signing Naturally workbook and videotape as well as from class
discussions and lesson.
II. CULTURAL EXPERIENCE: Students are required to participate in one event
within the Deaf community during the semester. There must be a minimum of
five Deaf people present and sign language must be the primary method of
communication. Your visit should last a minimum of an hour and a half. Students
will be informed of various cultural activities throughout the course.
After your cultural experience, students are required to submit a one page
double-spaced typed paper. Papers should include: date, location, activity,
persons interacted with, new signs learned, your overall observation and reaction
to the experience and how this experienced compared to your first outing in
AMSL 101. Proof of attendance must be attached.
Cultural Experiences Due: April 19, 2007
III. ASSIGNMENTS:
A. Commentaries: Students will be assigned readings from A Journey Into a
Deaf World.
Chapter 7 pages 213-227: “Disabling the Deaf World”
Commentary due on: January 30, 2007
Chapter 8 pages 228-265: “Educational Placement and the Deaf Child”
Commentary due on: February 22, 2007
Chapter 9 pages 267-276: “Language and Literacy”
Chapter 12 pages 335-342; 353-366: “The Hearing Agenda I: To mitigate
A disability”
Commentary due on: March 8, 2007
Chapter 13 pages 369-378: “The Future of the Deaf World”
Chapter 14 pages 386-407: “The Hearing Agenda II: Eradicating the Deaf
World”
Chapter 16 pages 452-455: “Journey’s End”
Commentary due on: April 5, 2007
After each assigned reading, students are required to submit one full-page,
double-spaced typed commentary. When writing commentaries, students should
consider the following questions:
1. What information gave you new insight or understanding about Deaf
people, the Deaf community or Deaf culture?
2. How is the information similar and/or different to the understandings
that you have of Deaf people, the Deaf community of Deaf culture?
3. What questions are you still left with at the end of the reading?
B. Other Assignments: Throughout the semester, students will be assigned
homework utilizing the Signing Naturally workbook and videotape. Also, there
will be in class dialogues to demonstrate student’s knowledge of the language.
IV: MIDTERM EXAM: The midterm exam will evaluate your receptive and
expressive ASL skills. Midterm exams will be based upon materials learned from
the Signing Naturally workbook and videotape, class discussions and readings
from A Journey into the Deaf World. Midterm exam: March 1, 2007
V: FINAL EXAM: The final exam will be a comprehensive exam based on
materials learned from the Signing Naturally workbook and videotape, class
discussions and readings from A Journey into the Deaf World.
Part One will consist of a one-to-one dialogue with the Professor. Part One:
April 26, 2007 (Appointments will be assigned at a later date).
Part Two will be a written exam on May 3, 2007.
SCHEDULE OF CLASSES
January 16: Intro to course and warm-up activities
January 18
January 23
January 25
January 30: Commentary #1 Due
February 1:
February 6
February 8
February 13
February 15
February 20
February 22: Commentary #2 Due
February 27
March 1: Midterm Examination
March 6
March 8: Commentary #3 Due
March 13 & 15: No Class Spring Recess
March 20
March 22
March 27
March 29
April 3
April 5: Commentary #4 Due
April 10
April 12
April 17
April 19: Cultural Experience Paper Due
April 24
April 26: Final Examination Part One: Dialogue
May 1: Friday Schedule No Class
May 3: Final Examination Part Two: Written