Conversational ASL 2: Expanding Communication and Fluency

In this 10-week course, we will continue to build on the basic ASL concepts you've already learned and practice using our new language in a practical sense.  

To begin, we will review some basic information and a few rules. This class will move on to words and concepts we use daily and incorporate them into sentences and conversations.  We will practice our new skills and endeavor to keep our voices off 50% of the time.  We will sign about different activities, the weather, basic numbers, your family, describing people, and giving directions, as well as learn more about Deaf Culture and Etiquette. 

We will also bring back the trimester-long project to translate one of your favorite songs into ASL!   

Below is a brief overview of our Curriculum by week:

Week 1: Review of ASL Basics
•⁠  ⁠Content: Brief review of ASL basics, including fingerspelling, numbers, and foundational vocabulary.
•⁠  ⁠Objective: Ensure students have a strong foundation and are comfortable with basic signs and expressions.

Week 2: Expanding Vocabulary
•⁠  ⁠Content: Introduction of more complex vocabulary related to everyday situations (e.g., food, health, travel).
•⁠  ⁠Objective: Enhance students' sign vocabulary and understanding of context-specific signs.

Week 3: ASL Grammar & Sentence Structure
•⁠  ⁠Content: A deeper exploration of ASL grammar, including facial expressions, body language, and sentence structure.
•⁠  ⁠Objective: Develop the ability to create more complex sentences and convey meaning through non-manual markers.

Week 4: Descriptive Classifiers
•⁠  ⁠Content: Introduction to descriptive classifiers used to describe people, objects, and settings.
•⁠  ⁠Objective: Improve descriptive signing and visualization skills.

Week 5: Expressing Time & Tenses
•⁠  ⁠Content: Learning how to express time, dates, and tenses in ASL.
•⁠  ⁠Objective: Equip students with the tools to communicate past, present, and future events.

Week 6: Deaf Culture & Community
•⁠  ⁠Content: Deeper dive into Deaf culture, history, and etiquette.
•⁠  ⁠Objective: Provide cultural context to language learning and foster respectful communication with the Deaf community.

Week 7: Complex Conversations
•⁠  ⁠Content: Practice complex dialogues, including asking and answering detailed questions.
•⁠  ⁠Objective: Enhance conversational skills with a focus on fluid, natural communication.

Week 8: Storytelling in ASL
•⁠  ⁠Content: Introduction to storytelling techniques in ASL, including the use of space, expression, and pacing.
•⁠  ⁠Objective: Develop skills to narrate stories and relay information in a compelling way.

Week 9: Practice & Peer Feedback
•⁠  ⁠Content: Students practice signing in pairs or groups, followed by peer feedback sessions.
•⁠  ⁠Objective: Encourage collaborative learning and refinement of signing skills.

Week 10: Final Assessment & Review
•⁠  ⁠Content: Comprehensive review of all materials covered, followed by a final assessment (Your favorite song!)
•⁠  ⁠Objective: Evaluate progress, address any lingering questions, and reinforce learned skills.

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This course structure is designed to build on foundational knowledge, introduce more complex concepts, and foster a deeper understanding of both the language and the culture.