Foreign Language
Department
AMERICAN SIGN
LANGUAGE 121
|
Quarter |
SPRING Quarter 2010 |
Credits: |
5 |
|
Title |
ASL 121-C |
Item #: |
1432-C |
|
Session Hours |
10:30-11:20
a.m. Daily |
Room: |
L221 (Mailbox
: R230) |
|
Instructor |
Michael A.
Cooper |
Email: |
|
|
Office Hours |
Appointment/Email. |
ASL 121-C |
Total of 51
classes |
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
ASL 121 is a five credit,
transferable, college level, language course. It is an introduction to
American Sign Language (ASL) and the community of people who use it. As a
second language, ASL 121 also covers fundamental issues of basic human
language, grammar and conversation. Above all, it is a class that
requires your attendance, involvement, and practice if you plan to
succeed. Success in this class will bring you valuable skills that will
enrich your life significantly, by introducing you to a unique, diverse, rich
culture that coexists throughout
ASL 121 OBJECTIVES:
At the end of this course
students will be able to:
1. Demonstrate
understanding of fundamental definitions of Deaf Culture and knowledge of the
Deaf Community through interactions and written work.
2. Demonstrate knowledge of
basic issues common to American Deaf Culture, its history and values, through
written work (reports, tests, group work and videos). Also identify
elements of Deaf Culture that are different from or similar to their own and
identify elements of Deaf family life that are different from or similar to
their own family lives.
3. Explain and illustrate the
substrates of a natural language as opposed to artificial languages or codes.
4. Demonstrate knowledge and
comprehension of fundamental ASL language functions, grammatical structures and
general principles of human language functions that apply not only to ASL but
also to various natural languages. (Grammatical Elements – noun, verb,
adjective, adverb, pronoun, preposition, subject, object, topic, comment)
5. Demonstrate knowledge and
comprehension of the rules governing the use of finger-spelling and ASL numbers
by correct responses and translations in conversations and exams and correct
application in conversations and expressive assignments.
6. Translate ideas from ASL to
English and English to ASL and demonstrate their skill through quizzes, exams,
class presentations and interactions.
7. Recognize and understand
correct use of ASL through daily practice of core vocabulary by correct
responses, translations and application in classroom conversation, receptive
exams and expressive assignments.
8. Gain a general knowledge of
grammatical constructs, rules, and functions of American Sign Language and
demonstrate this knowledge through usage, responses, translations and
application in classroom conversation, receptive exams and expressive
assignments.
REQUIRED MATERIALS:
SIGNING NATURALLY-STUDENT WORKBOOK
(by
Cheri Smith, Ella Mae Lentz and Ken Mikos) – Please
bring this book to class everyday.
1001 Uses of ASL Signs
DVD/workbook, Vol.1 (by
Deaf Culture Log Paper – This log paper is for you to
document all deaf culture events. The Deaf Culture log paper is posted on
the ASL 121-C class webpage for you to print out. It is your responsibility
of checking upcoming Deaf Culture events at the ASL 121-C class website.
For more information, please feel free to contact the ASL Club President. I will announce
her email address in the class first week of class.
Four Scantron Test
Quizzes and #2 pencil for
the Culture Book/Grammar Quizzes
Earplugs- Will be distributed to class
Stapler: For
you to staple your reports.
RECOMMENDED MATERIALS:
Random
House Webster’s American Sign Language Dictionary (Hardback Edition) – a good Sign Language Dictionary
Quick
Study: Academic: “New” American Sign Language by BarCharts,
Inc. For more information, go to www.quickstudy.com (Good “Study Guide” for ASL
121)
Websites
to check out for additional information:
http://www.asl.ms http://www.deafread.com
http://www.handspeak.com http://www.deafvideo.tv
http://commtechlab.msu.edu/sites/aslweb/browser.htm http://www.youtube.com
http://www.hsdc.org http://www.asl.pro
GRADING:
|
A |
96% |
Your grade is a numerical
reflection of the effort and dedication that you invest toward your learning
of this subject and your ability to apply what you have learned. You
are the only person responsible for your grade. The sum of all of your
work points comprises this numerical value that is your grade. As per BC
policy, you will receive a letter grade after the completion of the
quarter. This letter grade is assigned as an equivalent to your total
earned numerical points. You must have no less than 60% of all possible
points to receive a passing grade in this class. You must achieve a minimum
of a C grade to transfer to the next level of ASL. There is a total of 1110 points possible for this quarter. Your
grade will be a fraction of that number. |
|
A- |
90% |
|
|
B+ |
87% |
|
|
B |
83% |
|
|
B- |
80% |
|
|
C+ |
77% |
|
|
C |
73% |
|
|
C- |
70% |
|
|
D+ |
67% |
|
|
D |
63% |
|
|
D- |
60% |
POSTING ON BOARD:
I will
be posting all assignments/guidelines/syllabus all on the ASL 121-C class
website. I will explain to class on how
you can create your own student email account and use that account to access to
all of my documents/assignments. When
you have successfully access to my ASL 121-C class website, I would like for
you to write a brief introduction of yourself on the Discussion Board.
10 points = Introduction
of yourself= Discussion Board
TESTS:
We
will be covering Units 1 through 4 in Signing Naturally Student
Companion. The tests will be from Signing Naturally Student Companion and BC’s
1001 Uses of ASL DVD disk and workbook.
There will be four tests. There
will be no make-up tests.
Topics
of Each Chapter (From Signing Naturally Workbook)
Unit
1 = Introducing Onself
Unit
2 = Exchanging Personal Information
Unit
3 = Discussing Living Situations
Unit
4 = Talking about Family
4
tests = 50 points each= 200 points total for Tests
DEAF CULTURE PRESENTATION PROJECT
In this project, all students
are required to create a presentation using Microsoft PowerPoint software
regarding selected topics provided by the Instructor on Deaf
Community/Culture. The Instructor will post the selected topics and the
Deaf Culture Presentation project guidelines on the ASL 121-C website.
The instructor will also provide guidelines on how to use PowerPoint for
students who are not familiar with PowerPoint. There will be no make up for
this assignment.
1
Deaf Culture Presentation Project = 100
total points.
EXPRESSIVE PROJECT ASSIGNMENT
ASL requires a person to
practice their expressive signing skills. For this assignment, all
students are required to have an expressive skills project designed to help the
students utilize their expressive signing skills. For this project, the
students will be allowed to pick selected topics that the teacher will provide
in the guideline. The teacher will submit the assignment guidelines to
students. There will be no make
up for this assignment.
1 Expressive Signing
Assignment = 200 total possible points
FINGERSPELLING:
We
will have ten fingerspelling Quizzes. ASL 121
students are expected to master their fingerspelling
skills. Each fingerspelling quiz will consist
of ten points. There
will be no make-up quizzes.
10
Fingerspelling Quizzes = 10 points each quiz = 100
points total for Fingerspelling
CULTURE BOOK/GRAMMAR QUIZ:
We
will be using a new book called Signing Naturally Student
Companion Workbook.
The class will have four tests. Each test is worth 25
points.. I will post the study guides on the ASL 121-C class websites and will
inform to the class when the study guides are posted. There will be no makeup Culture
Quiz.
4
Culture Quizzes = 25 points each = 100 points total for Culture Quiz
DEAF CULTURE EXPERIENCE:
The best means of
mastering ASL and understanding the Deaf Culture is to attend Deaf Culture events
and use ASL. It is for this reason why I require you to have 4 Deaf
Culture contact experiences. The instructor will submit a detailed
guideline for how to succeed in your Deaf Culture contact experiences. For each
Deaf Culture contact you have acquired, please document this in your Deaf
Culture Log Paper and write a 2-
3 pages paper
documenting and detailing your experience with Deaf Community for this
quarter. The 2-3 pages paper will be typed and covers the entire Deaf
Community experiences you have acquired during this particular quarter. The
students also are required to submit proof of documentation (i.e. brochure,
business card, signatures, flyers, etc) that they have attended to the events. If it is not typed, I will return the
paper back to you. The instructor will
announce other upcoming Deaf Culture events in the class. The instructor
will also post upcoming Deaf Culture events in the ASL 121-C class website. The
deadline for the Deaf
Culture Log Paper and the 2-3-pages
report will be on the last day of the
course. Late papers will not be accepted. The teacher
will not accept Deaf Culture Report papers via email.
4 Deaf Culture Contact
Experiences = 100 points total for Deaf Culture Experience.
HOMEWORK PROJECTS:
Homework projects will be assigned to you as a take home
learning/practice experience. I will provide homework semi-weekly. Late work will
not be accepted. There will be no make-up
homework. Homework is
due at the beginning of the class. Homework projects pertain to the
topics we discuss during the course.. I prefer for you to submit to me the hard
copy, not to me via email. If you do not have printer, you can use a printer at
any computer that is available to students throughout
5 homework projects =
20 points each = 100 points total for Homework project
“AUTHENTIC” EARPLUG EXPERIMENT:
It
is the philosophy in the ASL Program Department and the Deaf Community that
students learn ASL the best way by being “culturally” immersed in the culture
that they are learning.
For
this reason, I require all students to wear earplugs for the first three
weeks of school so the students can acquire “authentic” experiences on what it
feels to have reduced hearing. Earplugs
also can help prevent noise distractions.
With less noise distractions will enriches the learning environment.
Earplugs
can be purchased from the Bellevue College bookstore. It is yours to wear the earplugs for the next
three weeks. In case if you do lose your
earplugs, it is your responsibility to purchase a new earplug.
In
case if you have medical reasons that
prevent you from wearing an earplug, please notify me about that and please
submit me a doctor’s note stating that you have medical reason for not wearing
earplugs.
Within
three weeks of our earplug adventure, I require for all of the students to
write a paper detailing your experiences, comments, thoughts on this earplug
adventure. Please type one to two page
papers.
I have good news J J J : If you want to wear earplugs for the rest of
the quarter (after 1st three weeks),
I will award 25 free points for simply
wearing earplugs to each class.
Please
keep in mind, I will be checking all of your ears for each class during the
first three weeks of the quarter: 1) At
the beginning of the class, 2) after break ends, and 3) when the class
ends. If I see a student not wearing
earplug, I will deduce 2 points for each
time the student will not wear earplugs in the first three weeks.
Also,
when each class session ends, always remember to remove your earplugs for
safety reasons.
1 “Authentic Earplug Experiment” Report = 100
points
CLASS PARTICIPATION/ATTENDANCE:
Your attendance is required if
you are to succeed in any sign language class. ASL 121 is no
exception. Your attendance will be recorded and your percentage of
attendance will be added to your final grade. 100 percent attendance will
earn 100 attendance points. If you are not able to show up the class, you
are required to inform me via
email. My email address is mcooper@bellevuecollege.edu. If there is an emergency,
page me at 206-393-7366. Please page only if you have
an emergency; otherwise email to my work email address. If the student arrive
class late, I will give a warning and if the student is late repeatedly, I will
count the excessive tardiness as an absence. If the student leaves during the
class unless for valid reasons, I will count this as an absence.
Total maximum
attendance points = 100 points for perfect attendance
ASL TUTORING:
We do have ASL tutoring for
all ASL students . For more information, please check out at www.bellevuecollege.edu/tutoring.
ASL 121-C CLASS WEBSITE:
It is the Student’s responsibility to
check the class website frequently for resources and class materials.
www.bellevuecollege.edu/artshum/materials
Click on SPRING Quarter 2010
Click on World Languages
Click on American Sign
Languages
Click on ASL 121-C (Cooper, M)
NO VOICES/NO CELLULAR PHONES:
ASL is best mastered if the
students turn off their voices because by not using voices will enable the
students to develop better receptive ASL skills. This is the reason why I
prohibit students to use voices at all times. You can use your voice only
during the break. Whispering is not allowed. You are expected to assist
your classmates and facilitate their effective learning by letting them wrestle
with their own questions. Whispering answers to them do not help
them learn anything .I will give 2 warnings to
students who use voice during class. For 1st warning, I will
give a verbal warning and write the warning on paper and if the students use
voice for 2nd time again, I will ask the student to please leave the
class for the day.
Students are not permitted to
use cellular phones during the class for the reason that cellular phones do
disrupt the class.
STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT:
All Bellevue College
students are required to adhere to BC Policy on Student Code of Conduct. If you are uncertain of what
is the BC Policy on Student Code of Conduct, please go to http://www.bellevuecollege.edu/catalog/policies/studentcode.asp or go to BC Student Services
Department to obtain the 2009-2010
ACCOMMODATION/ACCESSIBILITY:
If you require accommodation
based on a documented disability, emergency medical information to share, or
need special arrangements in case of emergency evacuation, please make an
appointment with me as soon as possible. You will find that Bellevue C
College has many resources for its students with learning differences or
disabilities have many options for developing strategies that for academic
success.
If you would like to inquire
about becoming a DRC student, you may call 564-2498 or go in person to the DRC
(
INCLEMENT WEATHER INFORMATION:
In case of inclement weather,
check the status of BC opening/closing by going to web: http://status.bcc.ctc.edu or call (425) 401-6680 to obtain
recorded message regarding the status of BC opening/closing. In case of the
inclement weather on the day when the class is taking the test, the test will
be postponed till the next class.
You also can have the status information be downloaded to your mobile
cell phone. For more information on that, feel free to contact me.
ASL CAN BE FUN!!!!!!!!!!!:
American Sign Language is said
to be one of the most beautiful languages in the world. It literally is
an art. It is a visual-spatial language which enables you to express
yourself in 3-D. In ASL, it is very natural for students to make
mistakes. By learning from mistakes students to master ASL much faster
than they would by trying to avoid them. Learning ASL also can be
fun! We will have lot of group activities and play games. J J J J
Monday, May
31, 2010 (Memorial Day Holiday)
|
|
MONDAY |
TUESDAY |
WEDNESDAY |
THURSDAY |
FRIDAY |
|
1ST week |
April 5 FIRST DAY OF ASL 121 J J BEGIN UNIT 1 |
6 |
7 |
8 START OF EARPLUG EXPERIMENT Posting on Discussion
Board Due BY 5pm (10 points) |
9 Fingerspelling Quiz #1 (10 points) |
|
2nd week |
12 Homework #1 Due (20 points) |
13 |
14 |
15 |
16 Fingerspelling Quiz #2 (10 points) |
|
3rd week |
19 |
20 Signing Naturally Test #1 (Unit 1) (50 points) |
21 BEGIN UNIT 2 |
22 |
23 Fingerspelling Quiz #3 (10 points) Culture Book/Grammar Quiz #1
from Unit 1 (25 points) |
|
4th week |
26 Homework #2 Due (20 points) |
27 |
28 |
29 LAST DAY OF REQUIRED EARPLUG EXPERIMENT |
30 Fingerspelling Quiz #4 (10 points) |
|
5th week |
MAY 3 “Earplug” Experiment Report Due (100 points) |
4 |
5 Signing Naturally Test #2 (Unit 2) (50 points) |
6 BEGIN UNIT 3 |
7 Fingerspelling Quiz #5 (10 points Culture Book/Grammar Quiz
#2 from Unit 2 (25 points) |
|
6th week |
10 Homework #3 Due (20 points) |
11 |
12 |
13 |
14 Fingerspelling Quiz #6 (10 points |
|
7th week |
17 Presentation Project Due (100 points) |
18 |
19 |
20 |
21 Fingerspelling Quiz #7 (10 points) |
|
8TH week |
24 |
25 |
26 |
27 Signing Naturally Test #3 (Unit 3) (50 points) |
28 Fingerspelling Quiz #8 (10 points) Culture Book/Grammar Quiz #3 from Unit 3 (25 points) |
|
9th week |
31 NO CLASS |
JUNE 1 BEGIN UNIT 4 Homework #4 Due
(20 points) |
2 |
3 |
4 Fingerspelling Quiz #9 |
|
10th week |
7 ASL Expressive Group Due (200
points) |
8 |
9 Homework #5 Due
(20 points) |
10 Fingerspelling Quiz #10 (10 points) |
11 Signing Naturally Test #4 from Unit 4 (50 points) |
|
11th week |
15(LAST DAY OF COURSE) Culture Book/Grammar Quiz #4
from Unit 4 (25 points) Deaf Culture Log Paper and
Deaf Culture Log Paper and Deaf Contacts Report Due (100 points) |
16 OPTIONAL PICK UP PAPERS AT L221 SAME TIME AS YOUR CLASS |
17 |
18 |
19 |