SEATTLE CENTRAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE
ASL& 121: Introduction to American Sign Language
Instructor: Katie Roberts
Office: BE1124
Hours: 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM T/TH
E-mail: katie.roberts@seattlecolleges.edu
or by appointment
Phone: VRS (Interpreted Relay to Videophone) (206) 452-5095
Facebook: facebook.com/Katie.Roberts.Seattle.Central
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
American Sign Language (ASL) is the remarkable, complex, and naturally existing language
used by Deaf people in North America. ASL I introduces students to this visual/gestural language
and the community of people that use it. You will learn the fundamental vocabulary, grammar and
culturally-appropriate uses of ASL through natural, everyday conversational situations in both
formal and informal registers. This course is for students who have not previously studied ASL.
COURSE OBJECTIVE:
Students will learn to appreciate and respect ASL as a unique and wholly naturally occurring
language, and recognize Deaf people as a community with their own set of cultural traditions and
values. Students will become familiar with Deaf culture, history, folklore, community, and subcommunities such as the Deaf-Blind community in Seattle.
REQUIRED MATERIALS:
Signing Naturally Student Workbook Units 1-6 [Student Edition] [Paperback]
Cheri Smith; Ella Mae Lentz; Ken Mikos (Author) ISBN: 978-1-58121-210-5
NOTE: The current edition, which includes DVDs, is different from previous editions. You can
easily identify it by the white cover and teal coloring. It is not the gray book with blue print. You
cannot use older editions. You must buy this book, and it must have the DVDS included. They are
available in the bookstore.
Deaf Again, 4th Edition: by Mark Drolsbaugh
Canvas: This quarter, the course will be moved to CANVAS. This is a course management software
that will allow you have to discussions online, view videos online, have instant access to your
grades and more. https://canvas.seattlecentral.edu/login
ASL/ITP Lab: The ASL/ITP Lab is located in room BE1148. The lab has a videotape library of more
than 200 videos that you may use for your community hours. You will also need to have a flash
drive handy for your use.
Campus-wide Tutoring: Tutoring services are available for ASL students. You can check online on
Canvas to find more information.
Page 1
SKILL ENHANCEMENT EXERCISES (30% of the grade):
Signing Naturally Workbook Units 1-6 -The workbook exercises will allow you to review the
vocabulary and practice the grammar and language functions introduced in the classroom.
Receptive Narratives: To help you develop your receptive skills and your understanding of the
nuances of the language you will be given three to four video narratives of which you must answer
questions about.
CopySign and Expressive Narratives: Those narratives are designed to help you to learn what fluent
ASL “feels” like. You will be given some brief ASL narratives to memorize and reproduce on
videotape. You will receive feedback and an opportunity to revise your work prior to turning it in
for credit.
Deaf Culture
For this portion of the course, you will be watching videotapes, reading a book, and participating in
community gatherings. Interpreters will also be assigned to classes so we may discuss this material
in depth.



Videotapes: Culture and language are highly interwoven with each other. To fully
appreciate any language you must also have a sense of the community that uses the
language. You will be assigned videos to watch in class and you will have questions to
respond to on the discussion format online.
Deaf Again:
We will begin to explore the Deaf community by reading Deaf Again. You will have questions
to respond to on the discussion format online.
Deaf Community Contact Hours: The most beneficial way of learning a language is to use it
under natural conditions. By attending events within the Deaf community you will have an
opportunity to engage in dialogue as well as experience the cultural aspects of the
community. If your schedule does not allow you to attend the events you may substitute
these hours with videotapes or books. See professor for more information.
EXPRESSIVE ASSIGNMENTS, QUIZZES AND EXAMS (70% of the grade):
Vocabulary, Fingerspelling, and Number Quizzes:
Those quizzes will be given throughout the quarter. They are designed to test your knowledge of
ASL. There are no make ups for quizzes.
CopySign and Expressive Narratives: Those narratives are designed to help you to learn what fluent
ASL “feels” like. You will be given some brief ASL narratives to memorize and reproduce on
videotape. You will receive feedback and an opportunity to revise your work prior to turning it in
for credit. You will also have an expressive final at the end of the quarter.
Page 2
Midterm Receptive Narrative: You will have a receptive translation exam in the middle of the
quarter to allow you to assess your progress up to date. The exam will take place in the classroom.
Receptive Narrative Final: You will have a final receptive translation exam that will assess your
understanding of ASL vocabulary and grammar for the whole quarter. The exam will take place in
the classroom.
Expressive Final: – You will learn a story and sign it as your expressive final.
Homework is not accepted via email: Work turned in late will receive reduced points or none at all
depending on circumstances, unless you have extenuating circumstances and you contact me or
leave me a message in advance. You CANNOT make-up the vocabulary quizzes (they are live and
in-class), but you CAN make-up the other work provided you have taken the responsibility to
contact me and inform me that you will need to arrange a make-up date in advance.
Class Attendance Policy: Attendance is very important in ASL classes, as face-to-face time is
vitally important in developing communication skills and fluency. You will earn points for each
class you attend. If you will be missing a large number of classes you will need to meet with
instructor to make other arrangements that may include but not be limited to withdrawing from
class or your final grade being docked. If there is a death in the family, a medical emergency or
some other serious matter, please see me, and bring documentation if you wish to get a wavier
from class. Please use your time wisely.
Class Door Policy: Interruptions cannot be tolerated once class has begun. The class door will be
locked at 5 minutes after class begins.
Student Conduct: Students will be held responsible for their conduct during class and the work they
submit, as outlined in the student handbook: http://seattlecentral.edu/stulead/studenthandbook.pdf. This includes cheating, plagiarism, and otherwise disruptive behavior
during class (interrupting others, interrupting the teachers, speaking out of turn, and coming to
class under the influence of illegal drugs and/or alcohol).
Snow and Emergency Closure Policy
Seattle Central, SVI and The Siegel Center all follow the same schedule for closures. A decision is
usually announced by 5 AM about if school will be closed that day. You may find the information on
the front page of the website.
Standard Grading System
The Seattle Community Colleges use a numerical grading system. Numerical grades may be
considered equivalent to letter grades as follows:
A
AB+
4.0
3.8
3.4
-
3.9
3.5
3.2
You will need a 2.0 to pass
this class.
Page 3
B
BC+
C
CD+
D
F
3.1
2.8
2.4
2.1
1.8
1.4
1.1
0.0
-
2.9
2.5
2.2
1.9
1.5
1.2
1.0
METHODS OF INSTRUCTION AND COURSE MATERIALS:
During the quarter you will be receiving quite a bit of information regarding the structure and
usage of ASL. Methods of instruction will entail lectures, modeling, small- and large group practice,
individual work, online participation on CANVAS, whole classroom discussions and videotaping in
the lab.
Voices off! Since ASL is a visual/gestural language, you will need to develop communication skills of
which you are not accustomed: using one's hands, face expressions, body movement and spatial
referencing. The primary mode of communication in the classroom will be ASL. As you are
probably discovering, it is very difficult to prevent your English skills from influencing signing. The
instructor will call in an interpreter occasionally for class discussions. I strongly encourage you to
use ASL but if there are some difficult concepts to communicate then you can write notes for
clarification of homework and test directions.
Although talking is a natural impulse of a student learning ASL, it is not permitted in class.
Students learn better if they let go of the need to rely on spoken languages to process information
in ASL. To that end, I am instituting a policy that students are not allowed to speak in class. If you
are caught three times, you will be asked to leave class, and you will lose attendance points that
day. Establishing this policy is in everybody’s best interest because speaking is often used as a
crutch while you are learning ASL.
Instructor Expectations of Students: For myself I have the following expectations of the students:
1. I expect you will arrive on time to class. This will allow the class to stay organized and running
smoothly.
2. I expect you will arrive to class prepared for the planned activities. This particularly means
having your homework completed, bringing your flash drive to class on lab days and being prepared
to participate fully in class activities.
3. I expect you will NOT use your voices. ASL is a very challenging language to learn. It is
particularly difficult not to "think" in English. I expect you will respect your classmates and not
distract their concentration by using English or other vocal languages in the classroom. If you wish
to share ideas, gossip, comments, or remarks with your neighbors, feel free to do so using ASL! I
reserve the right to remove you from the classroom if you continue to disrupt their work.
Page 4
4. Your cell phones and all electronic devices (iPod, etc) will be turned off and tucked away out of
sight. If it is an emergency, leave the classroom to make your call. Do not make it a habit!
5. Please feel encouraged to raise your hand if you don't understand what is happening in class!
We are all learning to communicate together in a new way. Your classmates will benefit not only
from your question itself but from watching you sign a question.
Note: If you feel the need to seek extra assistance for difficult concepts, come see me during
office hours or make an appointment. You can also email me at katie.roberts@seattlecolleges.edu
Student Expectations of the Instructor: I don't pretend to know what your expectations will be of
me, but as a student you can expect the following from your instructor:
1. You can expect the instructor to return all assignments promptly so that you can receive
your feedback as quickly as possible after the event.
2. You can expect the instructor to be organized and prepared for the day's lesson.
3. You can expect the instructor (with student help) to create a supportive, flexible, and
cooperative learning environment so that we all can have fun while we learn to master this
fascinating language.
4. I normally respond to all emails within 24 hours, and you should not except a response
from me on weekends and holidays.
Students with documented disabilities requesting class accommodations, requiring
special arrangements in case of building evacuation, or have emergency medical
information the instructor should know about are asked to contact the disability
support services office (DSS) in Rm. 1112. Once the disability is verified with DSS you
will be given a letter of accommodation to be handed to your instructor.
Page 5