AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE LEVEL 102
Seattle Central Community College
 

COURSE SYLLABUS
 

Credits:                   5
Day / Time:             Mondays/Wednesdays 6:30 - 9:00 p.m.,  Room 1114
                                              Lab:  Mondays, Room 1129
                                  Tuesdays/Thursdays  6:30 - 9:00 p.m.,  Room 1114
                                             Lab:  Tuesdays, Room 1129
Instructor:              Barbara Bernstein Fant
Office:                      BE 1118
Office Hours:         5:30 - 6:00 pm or by appointment
Phone:                    CSDVRS Toll Free Dail 1-800-
E-mail:                     bbernstein@sccd.ctc.edu
Website:                 http://seattlecentral.edu/faculty/bbernstein


Prerequisites:
To be eligible for ASL 102 you must meet one of the following conditions: (1) Successful completion of ASL I (ASL 101) with a 2.0 or better; (2) completion of an equivalent course at another campus; (3) demonstration of an equivalent proficiency in ASL, or (4) permission of instructor.

Course Description:
This is the 2nd level of ASL instruction. Emphasis is on expanding (1) grammatical understanding of ASL, (2) functional application of ASL, (3) vocabulary and (4) understanding and appreciation of the Deaf culture and Deaf community.

Required Textbooks and Materials:
1.  Signing Naturally Level 1 Workbook and Videotext, Smith, Lentz and Mikos.   ISBN: 0-915035-20-0
2.  Deaf Again, Drolsbaugh.  ISBN: 0-9657460-0-3
3.  ASL 101 - 103 Core Vocabulary Videotape/Directory
4.  Two 60-mins videotapes

Course Goals: 
During this quarter students will be asked to demonstrate (1) receptive and expressive accuracy in and/or (2) knowledge of each of the following grammatical, functional, and cultural components of ASL:

Grammatical Components
Core vocabulary – SN Units 6 - 9
Verb types - plain, inflecting, spatial
Numbers - Cardinals 1 to 99,999 / Ordinals / Time / Money / Ranges / Height
Number Incorporation - Age / Time / Money / Pronouns / O'clock /
Sentence Structures - Object-subject-verb / classifier predicates / Conditional sentences / Topicalization / Modals
Determiners / Pronouns / Possessives
Lexicalized Fingerspelling

Functional Components
Telling about activities                        
Giving opinions                                   
Giving directions
Negotiating a signing environment      
Describing characteristics       
Offering assistance     
Making requests / suggestions                       
Asking for clarification             
One-handed signing   
Accepting and declining offers            
Getting attention                     
Confirming and negating      

Cultural Components
Meeting others for the first time Name signs
Assistive devices
Keeping each other informed
Cross-cultural communication
Deafness-  Primary causes / modes of communication / navigation and guiding

 Teaching Methods:

People learn in many different ways and so in class we will use a variety of instructional styles including brief lectures, modeling, demonstrations, lab activities, small and large group activities, props, pictures, Power Point slideshows, videotapes, and websites.

ASL Zone:  ASL classes are taught in sign language thus using your voice will be discouraged.  Students will be allowed to use their voices to ask questions, receive clarification, etc. only at instructor's discretion.

Course Website: Many of the lectures and class activities will include the use of Power Point slideshows and web-enhanced instruction. You will have access to the lecture notes and class activities along with additional class information, special announcements, related links to other web sites. You will be expected to check my ASL 102 website regularly for updates.


 Assignments:

Skill Enhancement Exercises (30% of your skills)
You earn homework points by fully completing each assignment.  Homework points will total between 550 - 790 points in activities along with 50 points of extra credit (optional).  The skill enhancement exercises are listed below:

Receptive Translations (200 - 240 points): To improve your receptive skills you will translate at least 6 ASL narratives into written English. In order to receive full credit for each ASL narrative you will need to create a rough mental map in lab; then type the final English translation in on the due date. Each assignment will be 40 points and the breakdown is as follows: Your lab attendance and rough mental map (10 points); your typed translation (20 points); and a self- assessment (10 points).

Expressive Narratives   (80 - 120 points): This quarter more attention will be given to the development of your expressive skills. You will sign and record on videotape two to three narrative stories (40 points each).  The first narrative will be a copy-sign assignment. Your second or third narrative story will also be used as an evaluation for your grade.  Further details on instructions and point breakdown for each narrative can be found in my Course Resources web page.

Signing Naturally Workbook Units 6 - 9, including CR 1-6 (50 points) and Homework Sentences (20 - 80 points): The workbook exercises will allow you to review the vocabulary and practice the grammar and language functions introduced in the classroom. This quarter we will cover the material in Units 6 – 9 and Cumulative Review 1-6 (10 points per unit).  You will also be given from two to four homework sentences assignments based on specific grammatical and functional components that you will be learning this quarter.

 "Deaf Again" and Deaf Culture Videos  (100 points): You will read the "Deaf Again" text as well as watch videotapes related to the Deaf President Now protest at Gallaudet University (the DPN anniversary is the beginning of March) .  You will have questions to respond to and they must be typed.  Questions for the Deaf Culture Videos and "Deaf Again" text are in my Class Resources web page. The "Deaf Again" responses are worth a total of 60 points and each video is worth 10 points.  Some reading materials will be also given on the Deaf-blind community and if time permits, a speaker from that community will be brought in towards the end of the quarter.

 Deaf Community Contact Hours (100 points): 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. You will be expected to engage in 5 hours of activities during the quarter. Check the ASL/ITP Lab bulletin board next to Room 1129 for various Deaf Cultural events.  Community Contact Activities instructions can be found in my Course Resources web page.

 Extra Credit (50 points maximum) – If you find that you have fallen behind in your assignments you can earn up to 50 points in "extra credit" exercises. The instructor must approve all extra credit exercises BEFORE you begin them. Extra credit activities can include additional community contact events; receptive translations; additional Deaf Culture Videos and/or other Deaf Culture textbooks.  See the "Extra Credit Assignments" link in my Course Resources page for further details.
 Note:  Extra credit  will only be applied to the Skills Enhancement portion of your grade.
Late Assignments Marked Down: It is important that your work is turned in on time. You will not be able to earn full credit for late homework unless there are extenuating circumstances AND you have discussed your circumstances with me in advance. I have e-mail thus use it to communicate with me.
Evaluation and Grading:

Skill Enhancement Exercises (30%): Your  710+ points of homework will account for 30% of your overall grade. Remember that the effort you put into these activities will influence the remaining 70% of your grade.

Final Receptive Translation (25%): Your receptive skills will be evaluated from a receptive translation taken during the final exam week.

Vocabulary, Fingerspelling and Numbers (15%): At the end of each SN unit (CR 1-6  not included),  you will be given quizzes to assess your ability to recognize vocabulary, finger-spelling and numbers and on grammar taught up to that point.  Your grade will be determined by averaging all quiz scores. There are no make-up quizzes - these quizzes are given live. 

Expressive Skills (30%): Your expressive skills will be evaluated in two ways: 1) your second or third narrative story from your homework (15%) and; 2) a final spontaneous dialogue in the lab (15%).

Make-up assignments and tests: Work turned in late will receive reduced points unless you have extenuating circumstances AND you contact me prior to the assignment due date.  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.

Grading: Your grade will be determined in the following manner:

                        A      3.5 -  4.0           90 - 99%
                        B      2.5 – 3.4           80 - 89%
                        C      1.5 -  2.4           70 - 79%
                        D      0.5 -  1.4           60 - 65%
                        F      Below 0.4        Below 59%
 

 Definition and Consequences of Cheating and Plagiarism

The students are expected to conduct themselves with integrity.

Cheating:  Acquiring answers during an examination that are not one’s own through deceit, fraud or duress.

Plagiarism:  To take and use as one’s own writings or ideas of another person without providing the appropriate citation to the source.

Both of these actions will be considered as not completing the assignment and no grade or 0.0 will be entered. 

Course Expectations:

To build a supportive and conducive environment for learning, the following expectations are brought forth:

Instructor Expectations of Students:
1. I expect you to show up and arrive on time for class. This will allow the class to stay organized and not become disrupted. Arriving late will distract other students and me.

2. I expect you to arrive on time to the class and prepared for the planned activities. This means having your homework completed and turned in on time, bringing your blank videotape to lab/class on assigned days and being prepared to participate fully in class activities.

3. I expect that you will not use your voice during class. ASL is a very challenging language to learn. It is particularly difficult not to "think" in English.  Please respect your classmates and instructor to keep "VOICE OFF" environment and a signing one free of English interference.  In Deaf Culture it is considered as rude attitude using your voice without signing in the presence of a Deaf person.  You could either write notes to each other if you must or SIGN when talking to someone else in the ASL classroom.

4. There will be no make-up tests unless you have are extenuating circumstances and have made prior arrangements with your instructor.

Student Expectations of Instructor:
I can't pretend to know what your expectations of me might be, but as a student you can expect the following from your instructor:

1. That I will come to class organized and prepared for the day's lesson.

2. That all assignments will be returned as promptly as possible so that you can receive feedback in a timely manner.

3. That I will be available to students just after class or during office hours or by appointment.

4. That I will create (with student help) a supportive, flexible and cooperative learning environment so that we can all have fun while learning this fascinating language.

Accommodations:
If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability, if you have emergency medical information to share with your instructor, or if you need special arrangements in case the building must be evacuated, please make an appointment with me as soon as possible.   If you would like to speak to someone about support services or other questions related to accommodations, please contact the Disabled Student Services office at SCCC, BE1147, at 206.587.4183.

 

Updated January 5, 2008