ONONDAGA COMMUNITY COLLEGE DEPARTMENT OF MODERN LANGUAGES ASL 212 Course: Deafhood: Moving Beyond Deaf Culture Classroom: Semester: Schedule: REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS: Ladd, P. (2003). Understanding deaf culture: In search of deafhood. Clevedon, England: Multilingual Matters, Ltd. Professor: Rebecca Dadey, MS Office: M-308C Office hours: Phone numbers: (315) 282-5210 Email: dadeyr@sunyocc.edu Web site: www.sunyocc.edu MODERN LANGUAGES DEPARTMENT M-308 Ph: 498-2305 The mission of the OCC Modern Languages Department is to enable students to acquire a better appreciation of other languages and cultures. Accordingly, the Department supports the College s mission by enabling students to acquire skills needed to live, work and thrive in our global community. To this end the Modern Languages Department, Offers instruction in Chinese, French, German, Italian, Spanish as well as American Sign Language. Provides courses that fulfill the foreign language requirement for the AA in Humanities degree at OCC, SUNY General Education purposes, and New York State teacher certification. Promotes a fuller understanding of the differences and similarities among global communities through course work, community involvement and study-abroad opportunities. Fosters critical thinking through linguistic analysis and the comparison of diverse cultures. Prepares students for further study and professional careers requiring competence in foreign language and the understanding of other cultures. 1
SYLLABUS ASL 212 Deafhood COURSE DESCRIPTION AND PLACEMENT: The course provides students with a new, deeper perspective on Deaf people who use American Sign Language (ASL) and their culture. Deafhood is a recent term coined by Paddy Ladd to encompass the brotherhood that is evident in many Deaf cultures around the world, including American Deaf culture. The course is based on a cultural model as an alternative to the pathological model, and analyzes the history of the Deaf community in historical terms of colonialism and anthropological terms of language, culture, education, arts, social rules, and values. Prerequisite is ASL 202 or equivalent with permission of instructor. LEARNING OBJECTIVES: At the end of a semester of study, students will: Understand the central concepts of American Deaf culture and community. Understand and apply tenets of Deafhood to American Deaf culture. Identify similarities and differences of their own culture and American Deaf culture. Describe and give examples of demographic, social, educational, and cultural changes important to Deafhood and American Deaf culture. Use cultural information and research to promote further learning about Deafhood, American Deaf culture, and ASL. Apply effective communication techniques and cultural knowledge in the Syracuse Deaf community. METHODOLOGY Through the integration of different skills of receptive (reading signs) and expressive (signing ones own thoughts) as well as the introduction of important cultural concepts, students will learn to communicate in the target language in progressively more involved daily life situations. Students will also use visuals and technology to share and discuss cultural and historical concepts relating to Deafhood. 2
EVALUATION AND GRADING Your final grade will be based on the following: Participation 20% Homework 20% Formal Evaluations 40% Final Exam (comprehensive) 20% SCALE: 94-100 A 84-86 B 74-76 C 90-93 A- 80-83 B- 70-73 C- 87-89 B+ 77-79 C+ 64-69 D Below 64 F ATTENDANCE AND PARTICIPATION (20 %) Attendance in this course is required and, therefore, inconsistent attendance will negatively impact your participation grade. Note that although class attendance is important, it is not the same as class participation. Your daily class participation grade will be based on the students daily level of preparedness, engagement in the learning process, participation, spontaneous volunteering, use and quality of the target language, and respect for others and for the culture being learned. HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS (20%) Reflection papers, Deaf culture information contributions, and other homework assignments are due on assigned dates as outlined in syllabus. FORMAL EVALUATIONS (40%) A term paper critiquing a book or movie and a PowerPoint presentation on a selected topic will be used as formal evaluations and are due on assigned dates as outlined in the syllabus. FINAL EXAM (20 %) Written Exam ACADEMIC RULES STUDENT RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES AT OCC - Rules: Visit Http://students.sunyocc.edu/academics or find them in your Student Handbook - Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities: See Student Handbook - Academic Integrity: See Student Handbook 3
SUCCESS IN LANGUAGE LEARNING Your success in this class depends on your effort to: Take a class that better matches your level of proficiency in the language. Be in class all of the time and for the entire class time. Take full responsibility over your learning experience. Actively, independently and enthusiastically engage in the learning process. Make positive and enriching contributions to the class. Be organized and pay attention to detail. Consistently do assigned homework and study: Practice the four skills: listening, reading, writing and speaking. Drill yourself. Turn in homework on time. Perform well on tests and other assessment tools. Participate in cooperative learning opportunities. Celebrate every small progress you make (don t be hard on yourself). Be respectful of the language and cultures being learned. Be respectful of all classmates and of your instructor. Get help in a timely manner form any of the Resources below. LANGUAGE RESOURCES Your Student Materials: Use it to review material. Your Professor: Stop by his/her office during office hours, or make an appointment. Peer Study Groups: Start your own or ask your instructor for assistance. ANGEL: Learning Management Suite of tools. Computer Lab: Academic Computing Center, Helpdesk, Internet Cafes. Coulter Library: Course materials are on reserve in the Media counter. Books, movies and other are also available at the Library. Content Tutoring Center: You do not need a referral and the service is free of charge. Disabilities Services Office: If you require special accommodations for this class, visit the DSO in Gordon Student. In addition, please see your professor to discuss your individual circumstance concerning this course. Study Skills Center: Learning Strategies Assistance. Writing Skills Center: Daytime, night-time and online tutoring. 4
DEAFHOOD: MOVING BEYOND DEAF CULTURE COURSE GUIDELINES AND REMINDERS E-MAIL: I will send E-mail messages/reminders to the entire class occasionally. If you do not read your OCC mail, make sure you ask that the messages be forwarded to your preferred address by calling 498-2997 or go to Coulter Room 214. ANGEL: I store much of the course information, power point presentations, hand-outs, homework assignments, grades and other course information on ANGEL under our course number. It is imperative that you visit our ANGEL page daily as any homework updates or important reminders will be posted there. INSTRUCTIONAL METHOD: The class will be conducted primarily in ASL. No voicing will be used except for specific times put aside by your instructor. During this total immersion language experience you need to pay careful attention to what is being communicated by both instructor and classmates. Do not panic if you do not understand everything immediately. Try to understand the meaning through context. COURSE MANAGEMENT: 1. Attendance in every class period is mandatory. As mentioned in the syllabus, inconsistent attendance will negatively impact your grade and result in a lowered letter grade. The participation grade will be based on students daily level of preparedness, engagement, spontaneous volunteering, use and quality of the target language and respect for others and for the culture being learned. (See participation rubric for more detailed expectations). Your daily participation grade will be based on a 5 point system and graded as follows. on time, fully engaged and participating 5 points late or leave early, but fully engaged and participating 4 points partially engaged and participating 3 points late or leave early and partially engaged and participating - 2 points not engaged, participating, or absent 0 points 2. If you miss class, it is your responsibility to get information from ANGEL and your lab group. You need to be prepared for each class. 3. If you know you will be late for a class or are sick, call or email your instructor before class starts. 4. Late homework/project assignments will not be accepted. Each assignment will be graded and determined by level and quality of performance. 5. There will be no make up quizzes or exams. In the event of a documented emergency the day of an exam, your professor may decide whether the justification is appropriate and allow you to take a make-up exam at the end of the semester providing your attendance is outstanding and you have not missed any other quizzes or exams. ADDITIONAL COURSE ACTIVITIES & GUIDELINES: Students are expected to perform various out of class assignments to fulfill the requirement of this course. These assignments are: Reflection Essay (Total Possible Points: 100) Explain your thoughts on the following questions: Do you believe that people have culture that is different from others? Do you believe that cultural difference between people affect the society we live in? Do you believe that cultural bias exists among people? If so, how serious is it? Have you experienced cultural bias against Deaf people? If so, explain. 5
Power Point Presentation (Total Possible Points: 100) Students will give a 15-20 minute Power Point presentation on a selected topic relating to American Deaf culture from a topic list provided by the professor. A critical analysis of the topic using course terminology and concepts is expected and required. More information will be given. Term Paper (Total Possible Points: 100) Students will type a 3-5 page term paper critiquing either a videotape/film or book relating to Deaf culture and/or ASL. The critique must include a Deafhood cultural analysis and follow APA format. A minimum of three sources are to be used. A brief showing of the videotape/film or book in class is expected. Contributions of Deaf Culture-related information (Total Possible Points: 100, or 20 points each) Students will bring in five (5) pieces of cultural information that is relevant and practical to class topics. Information such as direct quotes from a Deaf person, a reference to a website or blog/vlog, a cartoon illustration, or even newspaper/magazine articles can be used. Each student will present 2-3 minutes on the piece he/she brought in. Deaf Community Events (Total Possible Points: 100 each) Students will attend four events in the Deaf community (i.e.: Deaf Coffee at Panera Bread, Deaf play or lecture, After School Program for D/HH children), and write a onepage summary/analysis of each event using cultural information/facts learned in class. The instructor will provide information about various opportunities/events available. After attending an event, you are required to type up a two page reaction of your experience describing your opinions, feelings, and insights. Include: Name of the Deaf Community Event. When the Event occurred. What was the purpose of this event? Describe the people who attended. What did you observe? How did it make you feel? How did the Deaf make you feel? What thoughts and feeling did you have toward this event? (before and after) What did you learn from this experience? Apply what you have learned in class to your experience at this event using course terminology. LANGUAGE RESOURCES: ASL Tutoring Lab room 110, Monday to Thursday from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm and Friday from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm. Sign Language and fingerspelling practice tapes are available in the Media Center Websites: o Online Sign Dictionary at - http://commtechlab.msu.edu/sites/aslweb/browser.htm o o Other online dictionaries www.lifeprint.com, www.signingsavvy.com Fingerspelling practice - Receptive practice - http://www.asl.ms/ Expressive practice -http://www.jal.cc.il.us/ipp/fingspell/ o Gallaudet Font - http://simplythebest.net/fonts/fonts/gallaudet.html (free download) o Deaf Newspaper - http://www.deafnewspaper.com/ (stories in ASL and cultural information) 6