THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK THE COLLEGE OF STATEN ISLAND Department of World Languages and Literatures American Sign Language Program

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1 THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK THE COLLEGE OF STATEN ISLAND Department of World Languages and Literatures American Sign Language Program ASL 114--AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE II Instructor: Office: 2S--208 Hours: COURSE DESCRIPTION American Sign Language 114 is a second semester language course. The main objective is to improve signed communication skills, expand comprehension skills, increase sign literacy and expressive skills, and develop a further awareness of culture of deaf and hard of hearing users of ASL. Materials on basic conversational aspects in ASL will be introduced, such as describing people, things and places; making requests; asking for and giving advice; giving opinions; discussing plans and goals; and storytelling. This course is designed to advance students in the areas of structural accuracy and vocabulary to enable the student to sign effectively in most informal conversations. In addition, students will explore in greater depth the cultural distinctiveness of the Deaf community. To achieve this goal, the instructor will employ the communication-based methodology of instruction. This methodology requires the student's active participation in the observing and signing of the target language from the very beginning. STUDENT LEARNING OBJECTIVES Through completion of the required readings and participation in class activities, students will acquire skills in receptive and expressive language functions in interactive contexts, in getting attention, negotiating a signing environment, exchanging, confirming and correcting information, expressing degrees of uncertainty, and asking for clarification and repetition, using appropriate phonological, lexical, syntactical, semantical, and pragmatic aspects of American Sign Language. Students will further increase their knowledge of Deaf culture and understand its role in the Deaf community. REQUIRED TEXTS Smith, C., Mikos, K., & Smith, C. (2014). Signing naturally: Student set--level One, Units Berkeley, CA: Dawn Sign Press. ISBN: Padden, C. & Humphries, T. (1996). Deaf in America: Voices from a culture. Harvard University Press. ISBN

2 COURSE REQUIREMENTS 1. Attendance In this course continuous attendance is required. Points will be deducted from your overall grade for each absence. The deductions will result in a lower grade. If you know you will be absent from class make arrangements for a classmate to take notes and collect handouts for you. Getting notes and class handouts are student s responsibility, not the instructor. Excused absences and lateness must be accompanied with medical documentation. 2. Deaf Community Events and ASL Club Meetings Students must attend THREE Deaf community events and ASL Club meetings. A minimum of one Deaf event and ASL Club is mandatory. If an event or meeting is scheduled during class time, the class will be informed that attendance of the event or meeting will count as satisfying one requirement and will not result in an absence if attended. The instructor will announce Deaf events periodically. The ASL Club meetings are held during Thursday club hours in 2S Research Paper Students need to write ONE research paper. They are based on book readings, film screenings Deaf events and ASL Club meetings. 4. Homework Assignments Assignments based on Signing Naturally book. You will be expected to do the questions from each unit, as well as watch DVD videos and answer those questions as well. 5. Video Assignments Students are required to do video assignments. Descriptions of the videos are listed on page Midterm Examination 7. Final Examination

3 COURSE AND INSTRUCTOR POLICIES Instructional Strategies This course will be taught voice off, meaning that all instructions will be done in American Sign Language. Students will be expected to participate in class using entirely American Sign Language. The method of instruction utilized in this course will be lecture, class discussions, demonstrations, individual and small group work as well as large group instruction. Worksheets, role playing and expressive activities will be prepared to reinforce the information, vocabulary and skills presented. The use of specific audio-visual materials, games, stories and video-taping individual students for peer-teacher evaluation will supplement classroom instructions. Assignments ALL ASSIGNMENTS ARE DUE AT THE BEGINNING OF CLASS including all videos, papers, and YouTube links to instructor s submissions. If assignments are handed-in after 10 minutes, it will be considered as a late assignment. Late assignments will be reduced to a letter grade and 5 points will be deducted every class day it is late. Notes and information from the lecture or upcoming events will occasionally be on Blackboard or sent to you by your instructor. It is your responsibility to print out the notes and documents. Classroom Decorum All cellphones, smartphones, and pagers must be turned-off or set to vibrate. If a student needs to answer personal calls, he/she must leave the classroom. Texting and phone usage is prohibited during class sessions. If student use phone or texting during class, the student will be instructed to leave the classroom and return for the next class session. If this occurs, it is students responsibility to obtain class notes and handouts from classmates. Classroom is a NON-verbal environment. If students are caught chatting verbally in class and not signing, he/she will be asked to leave. We insist on maintaining a signing environment at all times inside and outside of classrooms. If a Deaf person comes to class for any reason, no talking will be tolerated under any circumstances. All communication must be expressed through sign language. RESPECT AND DECENCY IS REQUIRED FROM ALL STUDENTS AT ALL TIMES. FAIL- URE TO ACT IN A RESPECTFUL AND DECENT MANNER WILL RESULT IN IMMEDI- ATE DISCIPLINARY ACTION. As a college student, it s his/her responsibility to inform the instructor of any situations that may affect his/her performance or fall behind in assignments. No considerations will be given after the fact.

4 Academic Integrity In compliance with the College s policy on academic integrity, cheating, plagiarism, or obtaining an unfair advantage is prohibited. The instructor retains the right to: (1) Issue a failing grade for the assignment, (2) Issue a failing grade for the course, and/or remove the student from the course if a student has violated this policy. Reading from a script provides the student with an unfair advantage and will result in the aforementioned actions. Finally, American Sign Language is a doing language. Students who rely solely on studying class materials will not progress at the same rate as students who take an active part in the Deaf community. Fieldtrips to Deaf community events are a mandatory requirement of this course. DESCRIPTION OF REQUIRED PAPERS AND VIDEOS Requirements for Video Presentations After the camera starts, please count to 5 prior to performance. If a student doesn t count to 5, recording may not be viewed in its entirety. Remember to count to 5. Solid color skin-contrasting clothing should be worn (NO stripes, plaids, flowers, etc.) Lighting must be bright enough to see facial expressions and hand movements. No shadows or lighting from behind. Be aware of the signing parameters-make certain no signs are outside, above or below the camera s view. Choose a plain and solid background. It is the student s responsibility to present assigned videos on DVD s, Blackboard, Dropbox or YouTube links to instructor s . The submitted video should have only the assignment you want to be graded. Preview your video to make certain it meets all the requirements. Prior to video submissions, students are required to verify his/her performance in order to meet the requirements on the evaluation sheets. POINTS WILL BE DEDUCTED FOR MISSED REQUIREMENTS FROM THE EVALUATION SHEET. If students are reading during recordings or edits his/her recording, this would RESULT IN AU- TOMATIC FAILURE (ZERO).

5 Requirements for Research Papers Each student is required to write ONE (1) research paper using information from book readings, film showing, and attendance at Deaf community events and ASL club meetings to answer the following question: What is a community? What are the characteristics, including demographics, hearing abilities, language used, and organizations of the people in the American Deaf community? In what locations are the Deaf community found? How is the Deaf community similar to the hearing community? Explain why there are similarities. How is the Deaf community differ from the hearing community? Explain why there are differences. Research papers need to be double spaced, in 12-pt. Times New Roman, and no more than 2-3 pages in length. To become aware of Deaf community events: (1) Become friends on Facebook with the ASL club at CSI. On Facebook, search for: ASLClub CSI (ASL Club At CSI). (2) Become friends on Facebook with the Staten Island Club of the Deaf (SICD). The SICD is open to the public (hearing people) on the first Friday night of each month. They also host various events for the Deaf and hearing communities. (3) Subscribe to DEAFNYC.com. Many deaf events around the tri-state area are posted in this website. (4) Check out Handson.org and click on Cultural Calendar for upcoming events. Portfolio of Student Work The acquisition of expressive and receptive language skills is something that happens over an extended period of time. As you progress through each level of American Sign Language, your skills will develop. To that end, it is recommended that students save all of their work, including essays and videos, so that you can reflect upon your own progress.

6 Final Grade Breakdown: Class Attendance and Participation: 20% Homework Assignments: 10% Video Assignments: 20% Research Paper: 10% Midterm Examination: 20% Final Examination: 20% Grading Scale: = A = A = B = B = B = C = C = D

7 TOPICS OF STUDY Session 1--INTRODUCTION Course overview Course requirements Review of ASL 112 Sessions 2, 3, 4 and 5--UNIT 7: DESCRIBING PEOPLE AND THINGS Homework #1: Video assignment #1: Describing other people, clothing, articles Descriptive classifiers: parts of head Descriptive classifiers: height and weight Descriptive classifiers: body type Descriptive classifiers: style/pattern of clothing items Describing person, clothing, accessories Numbers Complete the Unit 7 video-interactive activities Complete and hand-in Unit 1 Worksheet: , 7.4, , 7.12 Dialogue and Q/A with classmates about your and other people s face, body, clothing, and jewelries. Discussion of readings #1: Padden and Humphries, Chapter 1.

8 Sessions 6, 7, 8, and 9--UNIT 9: DESCRIBING PLACES Map: Inside building architectures Inside building: Describing and telling locations. Inside building: Giving directions where and how. Map: Neighborhoods, communities and buildings. Neighborhoods: Describing and telling locations. Neighborhoods: Giving directions: where and how. Describing a Place: Restaurant. Telling and giving time. Homework #2: Complete the Unit 9 video-interactive activities Complete and hand-in Unit 1 Worksheet: 9.1, 9.3, 9.7, , 9.14 Video assignment #2: Dialogue and Q/A with classmates about locations of home neighborhood and, at CSI, directions from the ASL classroom to different rooms and buildings. Discussion of readings #2: Padden and Humphries, Chapter 2. Session 10--FILM SCREENING Philibert, In the Land of the Deaf.

9 Sessions 11, 12 and 13--UNIT 8: MAKING REQUESTS AND ASKING FOR ADVICE Homework #3: Video assignment #3: Making requests Giving reason/complaint for requests Acknowledging requests Agreeing with conditions Asking for advice Complete the Unit 8 video-interactive activities Complete and hand-in Unit 1 Worksheet: 8.1, , Videotape yourself signing two stories: one story that involves requests, reasons for requests, acknowledging requests, and another story involves you offering assistance and accepting/declining offer. Discussion of readings #3: Padden and Humphries, Chapter 3. Session 14 Midterm Examination Units 7, 8, and 9.

10 Sessions 15, 16, 17, and 18--UNIT 10: GIVING OPINIONS ABOUT OTHERS Homework #4: Video assignment #4: Giving opinions about persons tendencies Personal likes and dislikes Personal qualities and characteristics Describing people s qualities and characteristics Asking/telling about personal qualities of oneself and others Asking/telling opinion about people. Confirming, qualifying, and contradicting opinions. Complete the Unit 10 video-interactive activities Complete and hand-in Unit 1 Worksheet: 10.2, 10.4, 10.7, Dialogue and Q/A with classmates about your and other people s tendencies, qualities and characteristics. Discussion of readings #4: Padden and Humphries, Chapter 4. Session 19--FILM SCREENING Claussen, Waldleitner and Wobke, Beyond Silence. Sessions 20, 21, 22, and 23--UNIT 11: DISCUSSING PLANS AND GOALS Homework #5: Video assignment #5: Discussing knowledge, abilities and plans Asking for opinions Making and cancelling plans Discussing personal goals Complete the Unit 11 video-interactive activities Complete and hand-in Unit 1 Worksheet: 11.1, , Dialogue and Q/A with classmates about plans, goals and activities. Discussion of readings #5: Padden and Humphries, Chapter 5.

11 Sessions 24, 25, 26, and 27--UNIT 12: STORYTELLING Homework #6: Video assignment #6: Storytelling techniques in ASL Story: The Tailor. Story: One fine day. Fables Complete the Unit 12 video-interactive activities Complete and hand-in Unit 1 Worksheet: 12.1 Videotape yourself telling a story on a topic of own choice. Discussion of readings #6: Padden and Humphries, Chapter 6. Session 28 Final Examination. Units 10, 11 and 12