THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK THE COLLEGE OF STATEN ISLAND Department of World Languages and Literatures American Sign Language Program ASL 112--AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE I Instructor: Russell S. Rosen, Ph.D. Office: 2S--210 Email: Russell.Rosen@csi.cuny.edu Hours: Mondays and Wednesdays, 10:30-12:00 COURSE DESCRIPTION American Sign Language 112 is a first 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 introducing oneself, exchanging personal information, talking about surroundings, where you live, your family and various activities, giving directions, describing others, making requests, talking about family and occupations, attributing qualities to others, and talking about routines. In addition, students will be presented with readings on ASL and Deaf community and culture. 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 be able to 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 the importance of the Deaf community in the lives of people who are deaf and hard of hearing. REQUIRED TEXTS Smith, C., Lentz, E.M. & Mikos, K. (2008). Signing Naturally: Student Set--Level One, Units 1-6. Berkeley, CA: Dawn Sign Press. ISBN: 978-1-58121-210-5 Ballin, A. (1930). A deaf mute howls. Washington, DC: Gallaudet University Press. ISBN 978-1-56368-073-1
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 a combination of TWO Deaf 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-219. 3. 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 4. 6. Midterm Examination 7. Final Examination 8. Language Competency Test (LCT)
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 email 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-vocal environment. If students are caught chatting vocally 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.
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 email. 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).
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 are the similarities and differences between deaf and hearing people? Discuss about their experiences growing up and living in society. Explain why there are similarities and differences between them. 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.
Final Grade Breakdown: Class Attendance and Participation: 15% Homework Assignments: 10% Video Assignments: 20% Research Paper: 10% Midterm Examination: 20% Final Examination: 20% LCT: 5% Grading Scale: 96-100 = A 91-95 = A- 86-90 = B+ 81-85 = B 76-80 = B- 71-75 = C+ 66-70 = C 60-65 = D
TOPICS OF STUDY January 29 INTRODUCTION and UNIT 1: INTRODUCING ONESELF Scope of course Course requirements Homework #1: Biographic information: greetings, names, gender, pronouns, age Number Read Introduction, pp. v-ix. Strategies for Learning ASL, pp. 4-5. Take American Deaf Culture Quiz Complete the Unit 1 video-interactive activities Complete and hand-in Unit 1 Worksheet: 1.2-1.3, 1.5-1.9, 1.11. Complete and hand-in Unit 1 Review: Monologues 1-3. Biographic information: height, weight, clothing, color. Video assignment #1: Dialogue and Q/A with classmates about your names, gender and age. February 5 and 9 UNIT 2: EXCHANGING PERSONAL INFORMATION Homework #2: Biographic information: nationality, ethnicity, and religion Biographic information: educational level: grade level, class group (freshman, sophomore, junior, senior) Biographic information: hearing status and communication mode and preferences (deaf/hearing, speak/sign) Deaf biographic information: onset of deafness, communication preferences, nationalities and ethnicities Complete the video-interactive activities. Complete Unit 2 Insights: Monologues 1-2 Complete and hand-in Unit 2 Worksheet: 2.2, 2.4-2.10. Complete and hand-in Unit 2 Review: Autobiographies 1-3 Video assignment #2: Dialogue and Q/A with classmates about your nationality, religion, ethnicity, hearing status, and educational level..
February 19--FILM SCREENING Petrie and Rees, Love is Never Silent. February 26 and March 4--UNIT 3: DISCUSSING LIVING SITUATIONS Homework #3: Video assignment #3: Types of lodgings: house, apartments, etc. Living with people at home Residence addresses and telephone numbers Places: city, state, country/nation Map of residence location: street, numbers, city/village, state Means of transportation: walk, bus, ride, subway/train, etc. Directions to home: where (spatial location). Directions to home: how and means of transportation. Complete the video-interactive activities. Complete and hand-in Unit 3 Worksheet: 3.1, 3.4-3.5, 3.7-3.13, 3.15. Complete and hand-in Unit 3 Unit Review Dialogue and Q/A with classmates about where you live, your address and telephone numbers, means of transportation, and directions to home from school.
March 11--Midterm Examination Units 1-3. We meet in the Media Lab room in 2S-114 for the video. March 18 and 23--UNIT 4: TALKING ABOUT FAMILY Homework #4: Video assignment #4: Creating a Family: birth, raise, date, marry, wedding. Family: members, relationships, names and ages Family: family member s activity: job, school, home Family: family members origin places of birth and moves Family: family members roles and responsibilities Family: common family activities. Complete the video-interactive activities. Complete and hand-in Unit 4 Worksheet: 4.1-4.3, 4.5, 4.7-4.9, 4.11-4.14. Complete and hand-in Unit 4 Unit Review Dialogue and Q/A with classmates about your family members names, relationships to you, ages, birthdates, birthplaces, migrations, wedding dates, and employment and other activities. Discussion of readings #1: Ballin, Chapters 1-12. April 1--FILM SCREENING Holcomb, See what I mean: Differences between deaf and hearing cultures.
April 8 and 15--UNIT 5: TELLING ABOUT ACTIVITIES Homework #5: Video assignment #5: Clock time, day, week, month, year Leisure time: after school and weekends Leisure times: holidays and vacation Special occasions: family occasions Special occasions: religious and ethnic occasions Complete the video-interactive activities. Complete and hand-in Unit 5 Worksheet: 5.1-5.9. Complete and hand-in Unit 5 Unit Review Dialogue and Q/A with classmates about your activities after school, weekends, holidays, vacations, family occasions, and special occasions. Discussion of readings #2: Ballin, Chapters 13-20. May 6 and 13--UNIT 6: STORYTELLING Examination: Homework #6: Video assignment #6: Narrative structures Role shifts in narratives Entrances and exits Maintaining spatial agreement Story cohesion Unit 6 Quiz--Dialogue and Q/A with classmates. Complete the video-interactive activities. Complete and hand-in Unit 6 Worksheet: 6.13-6.16. Videotape yourself signing a story of your choice. Discussion of readings #3: Ballin, review of Chapters 1-30.
May 20 Final Examination Units 4-6. LCT: COURSE FINAL EXAMINATION Signed examination: Units 1-6