A M E R I C A N

S I G N L A N G U A G E I
L A N G U A G E A C Q U I S I T I O N I N S T I T U T E / / L E S S - C O M M O N L Y - T A U G H T - L A N G U A G E S - C E N T E R

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KENNETH J. DE HAAN, M.A., M.S.

F A L L 2 0 1 4 / / M O N D A Y & W E D N E S D A Y / / 4 C R E D I T S

Communications: KenDeHaan@gmail.com Homework & Movies: KDeHaan13@gmail.com

Office Hours: By Appointment

COURSE PURPOSE & OUTCOMES:

This course is designed for students of American Sign Language I (ASL) to learn introductory vocabulary &
structure to communicate with people who use American Sign Language; to develop & identify signs,
classifiers & gestural abilities as a base for ASL. Give students the opportunity to gain knowledge about
the Deaf Community as a part of the human diversity. Encourage students to provide an accessible
environment when interacting with Deaf people. As a result upon completion of this course, students will,
Demonstrate basic linguistic competency in ASL. Students will produce, identify & express
grammatically meaningful sentences in the target language.
Demonstrate basic conversational competency in ASL. Student will produce, identify & express
structurally meaningful phrases in the target language.
Develop cultural awareness & sensitivity of the Deaf community. Identify the importance of ASL
& the emergence of the Deaf community as a result. Students will be exposed to authentic &
valid environment with ASL usage. Topics include, but are not limited to history, technological
advancement, socio-political issues & controversies.

REQUIRED TEXTS:
Smith, C., Lentz, E. M., & Mikos, K. (2008). Signing naturally: [student workbook, units 1-6]. San Diego,
CA: DawnSignPress.

ISBN: 1581212100

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Holcomb, T. K. (2013). Introduction to American deaf culture. New York: Oxford University Press.
ISBN: 0199777543

P I T T B O O K S T O R E C O U R S E P A C K A G E : A M E R I C A N S I G N L A N G U A G E Q U I C K
R E F E R E N C E

SUPPLEMENTAL:

A S L S I G N S & V A R I A T I O N S :
H T T P : / / W W W . P O L Y G L O T . P I T T . E D U / W E B / A S L Q R E F / I N D E X . H T M L

TEACHING METHODS:
Every classroom consists of a heterogeneous group of students, which requires constant
measurement & adjustment to fit the needs of students. Dominant teaching methods in classroom
will consist of but are not limited to,

Notional-Functional Approach, EX: Direct students in the target language to write down

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their names on paper & place it on their desk. The professor will demonstrate a sentence
by signing, HELLO IX-ME NAME KENNY (F/S) & point to his own name card. Then
proceed to inquire from students, NAME IX-YOU WHAT (WH-Q).

Total Physical Response, EX: The professor will direct students in the target language to
model & physically respond to given commands.
Communicative Language Teaching, EX: Apply units to relative conversational settings.
Interaction will involve both students and the professor.

GRADING ALLOCATION:

Assignment
Language
Attendance & Participation
ASL
Electronic Digital Portfolio
ASL
Deaf Culture Events
ASL
ASL Summary Report
ASL/English
Quiz
ASL/English
Midterm
ASL/English
Final Exam
ASL/English




*To enroll into ASL 2, a letter grade of C or better is required.
**Refer to Pitt Grading Policy for numeric details.

Weight
20%
10%
5%
10%
20%
15%
20%
Total: 100%

ATTENDANCE & PARTICIPATION (10% EACH):

Due to the nature of the course, it is important to follow ASL skills & readings discussed in class. Students
who have poor attendance or miss class exercises tend to struggle with their ASL skills. Therefore,
attendance in this course is mandatory. All students are expected to attend & participate in class on a
regular basis. Upon missing the 4th class during the duration of the course, a letter grade will be
deducted. Upon the 6th absence, the student will fail the course for the semester. There is no distinction
made between excused & unexcused absences. This policy will be strictly enforced: If you miss class, do
not email me to find out what youve missed. Refer to the syllabus & check the blackboard (Refer to PEER
NETWORK below). Although an occasional absence may be unavoidable, please inform & check with the
instructor. Students are responsible for the materials covered & the assignments given on the day of
his/her absence. In some cases, you may be required to use the resources in the Language Media Center
(CL-G17) for completing your assignments. There will be discussions, class exercises, & readings based
upon issues related to signing & Deaf culture. It is strongly recommended to form study groups plan on
getting together before and/or after class to practice, the more the better. It is also strongly encouraged
to attend & participate in ASL club as social interaction will further your ASL acquisition.
Indicators of Exemplary Performance include the following:
Attended to every class on time, did not linger after breaks or leave early.

 Highly motivated to learn, actively engaged in course activities, & did not participate in side
conversations.
Always prepared, motivated to begin, complete independent tasks & completed all assignments
on time.
Communicated appropriately / visually at all times, cooperated with both teacher & peers.
Motivated to participate in or volunteer for activities, clearly enjoyed being in class.

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Please turn off all cell phones or place them on vibrate. If you must take a call, do so in the hall.
ELECTRONIC DIGITAL PORTFOLIO (5% EACH):

All students will develop 2 digital movies in the language lab during the session. The instructor will
announce the criteria of the EDP activities. Students are required to develop digital movies in ASL for
formative assessment & improvement. The instructor will provide feedback & suggestions to improve
students signing skills.
ASL EVENTS (2.5% EACH):

Each student is required to participate in two ASL Events & show proof of attendance. Acceptable forms
of proof are tickets and/or receipt (Adm. Fee / Purchased at an Event) or ask a Deaf person to sign their
name on a note of whom you interacted with at an event. Write a 1-2 page summary of the event & your
experiences, thoughts. Please hand in your 2 ASL Events summaries on the last day of class. Students may
elect to write an assignment assigned by the professor for a deducted grade. This should be viewed as an
enjoyable activity in which provides a richer experience in interacting with the Deaf outside of the
classroom. I will do my best to keep you abreast of current Deaf Events in the community. You may also
refer to the two links below in finding a Deaf event to attend.
Off-campus events: 100% - 95%.
On-campus events: 95% - 90%.
Assignment by professor: 85% - 80%.

PGH Deaf Events or PGH Deaf Club

ASL SUMMARY REPORT (10%):

Each student is required to read the book, Introduction to American Deaf Culture by Tom K. Holcomb.
There are several topics on Deaf Culture & Deaf History from the book in which we will place extra
emphasis on. A rubric with a grading criteria & instructions will be provided in advance via the
Blackboard. This is required in developing a digital movie in ASL, focusing on select topics from the book.
Please check the Media Language Centers schedule in advance at MLC Schedule to produce in your time.
QUIZZES (10% EACH):

Throughout the course, two quizzes will be provided to assess the following, finger spelling, vocabulary,
classifiers, mouthing & ASL sentence structure. Quizzes are designed to assess students receptive skills.
There may be unannounced Knowledge Assessment (quiz). Students are encouraged to practice these
skills with a partner to prepare for these quizzes.
MIDTERM (15%):

The midterm includes vocabulary, finger spelling, sentence structure, classifiers, mouthing & aspects of
Deaf Culture. This assessment will utilize the units learned, classroom information & books/articles read

up to the date of the midterm. By attending all classes, completing the readings, & participating in the
class discussions, will help you to be best prepared.
FINAL EXAM: RECEPTIVE & EXPRESSIVE (10% EACH):

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The final examination is broken down into two parts, expressive & receptive. The final exam includes
vocabulary, finger spelling, sentence structure, classifiers, mouthing & aspects of Deaf Culture (receptive),
& telling a story in the target language for assessment (expressive). Guidelines for expressive will be
provided in advance. By attending all classes, completing the readings, & participating in the class
discussions, will help you to be best prepared for the examinations.

COURSE POLICIES:

COMMUNICATION & ACCOMMODATION:

Students in ASL 1 will develop sensitivity to the communication needs & the instructor will provide an
accessible environment in the classroom. Students are required to sign and/or gesture to accommodate
& provide accessible environment for everyone (Deaf & hearing) in the classroom. Dont be afraid to use
natural gestures or as a last resort, write down information if necessary, but DO NOT use spoken English
in the classroom. Speaking in the presence of Deaf people who do not hear what you are saying is
equivalent to whispering in front of someone or to make rude gestures when another persons back is
turned. It is rude & simply unacceptable. I encourage you to expand your ability to comprehend &
produce a visual language - not to use voice. If you do not understand the instructor, raise your hand &
ask for clarification. If you repeatedly speak in the classroom, you will be asked to leave & meet with the
instructor outside of classroom time.
RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS:

If you need to miss class due to a religious holiday anytime during the semester, the University requires
that you let me know about your planned absence as soon as possible. Absences for religious holidays
will not be held against you, & you will be allowed to make up all work you missed due to your absence.
SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS:

If you have a disability for which you are or may be requesting an accommodation, you are encouraged to
contact me & Disability Resources & Services, 216 William Pitt Union, (412) 648-7890, as early as possible
in the term. DRS will verify your disability & determine reasonable accommodations for this course.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY & PLAGIARISM:

Cheating & plagiarism will not be tolerated. A violation will immediately be reported & a minimum
sanction of a zero score will be imposed. Please read & get acquainted with the Universitys policies, it is
your responsibility. Click on the following link, Academic Integrity then click on INDEX, click on A, &
read ACADEMIC INTEGRITY.
PEER NETWORK:

Each student is responsible for getting access to & understanding what is expected of each
assignment. Please form a network with your peers. If you need information about assignments or class
schedule, refer to your course Blackboard, syllabus & ask other classmates to learn about what youve
missed.
ACADEMIC ASL & ENGLISH:

We will communicate using academic ASL & English, which is a specialized type of discourse for academic
settings. Use only academic ASL & English in the classroom & especially during video assignments
throughout the course. Using written ASL terms in your typed, written work or English-based signing in
your video work is not acceptable.

COURSE SCHEDULE:

* S N a ssignments o n a g iven d ate a re d ue b y n ext c lass. I ts d esigned t o h elp a pply w hat y ouve l earn & t o p repare f or t he
next c lass.

Schedule

Signing
Naturally

Comments

Assignments
Due

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Tentative
Dates
Aug. 25
(Week 1)

27

Sept. 1
(Week 2)
3

8
(Week 3)
10

15
(Week 4)
17

22
(Week 5)
24

- ASL Introduction

- Review Syllabus

- Unit 1

- Intro to Structure & the

Four Rules

- Deaf Culture:
Familiarize with
Attention Getting E-Journal rubric &

practice

- Introducing
Oneself: Getting
to Know You
- Colors & Numbers

- No Class

- Basic Skills
- Gangster
- Activities
- Classifiers
-Unit 2

- Gestuno
- Unit 1: Intro to
Classifiers

- Unit 2 Contd
- Review
- Mouthing

- Go to the PC Lab,
Robert Henderson
Language Media Center
at G-17

- Exchanging
Personal
Information
- Unit 2
- Numbers
- Practice
Mouthing Activity

- T he M anual A lphabet

- C lassifiers
- F ingerspelling

- H andshapes

Labor Day
Enjoy!
Purpose of
Classifiers
E-Journal

Read: 5
Parameters o f
ASL P osted o n B B

Read S N: U nit 2 ,
Field Q uestions
on p g. 8 8 & 9 1
Read S N: U nit 2

Follow P rovided
Instructions f or
your L ab
Assignments &
Review C L
Handshapes +
How t o G loss
Worksheet
Posted o n B B

Fingerspelling
Game & A ctivity

Read SN:
Introduction, pg. V
XIV

Read SN: Unit 1,
Field Questions on
pg. 7 & 27
Read S N: U nit 1 ,
Field Q uestions
on p g. 1 1, 1 6, &
32

Read: p g. 7 0 7 6

Lab W ork: D ue
Sept. 2 4
1. G angster
2. C omic
Demonstration
3. C annon
4. C ookie S hape
5. Q uick
Reference B ook
(mouthing)
Practice F /S
CL/Handshape
(paper):
Due S ept. 2 9

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Read S N: U nit 3 ,
Field Q uestions

Lab w ork:
Gangster, C omic
Demo, C annon,
Cookie S hape,
Mouthing D ue
Recommended:
Start R eading
Introduction t o
American D eaf
Culture

Review U nits f or
Quiz # 1 o n O ct. 2

CL/Handshape
(paper) D ue

29
(Week 6)

- U nit 3
- U nit 1 , 2 & 3 R eview

Oct. 1
6
(Week 7)

- Q uiz # 1
- A nswers t o Your
Questions

- R eview M ovie C riteria
- S urrogate & M ental
Space
- Comic
- Review General to
Details & Discuss Movie
Scripting

- Go to the MAC Lab,

Robert Henderson
Language Media Center
at G-17

14
(Week 8)

15

20
(Week 9)
22

- U nit 4
- F acial E xpressions
- U nit 4 c ontd

- N umbers
- D iscuss L iving
S ituations

- N umbers

C heck B B f or
Cannon L ab
Answer K ey

E-Journal

Unit 1 , 2 & 3
Check B B f or C L
Lab A nswer K ey

Discuss M ovie # 1
Hide & S eek

How t o W rite
Gloss

Practice S tory
Telling W ith Y our
Own D evice
Develop & Record
Your Own
Comic Movie
(Digital Movie #1)

Read M ovie # 1
Critique &
Prepare F or Y our
st
1 M ovie.

Prepare f or
Movie # 1

Movie # 1 D ue
Oct. 2 0

Read S N: U nit 4 ,
Field Q uestions
Facial E xpression Movie # 1 D ue
Practice & T alk
About F amily
Family T ree
Lab W ork: D ue
Activity
Oct. 2 7
Aquarium

27
(Week 1 0)

- M idterm ( Unit 1 -4)

- Go to the MAC Lab,

Robert Henderson
Language Media Center
at G-17

- D eaf C ulture & O ur

Lifestyle

Discuss M ovie # 2 Aquarium D ue

Do G round &
Figure L ab W ork,
Due N ov. 3

Review: U nit 1 -4.
Form a S tudy
Group & P repare
for t he M idterm

Read M ovie # 2
Criteria &
Prepare

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- G round & F igure

(Basic)

- U nit 1 4 R eview:
Vocabulary
Finger-spelling
Numbers
Classifiers
Mouthing
Ground-Figure

29

Nov. 3
(Week 11)

10
(Week 12)

- U nit 5

12
17
(Week 13)

- U nit 5 c ontd
- U nit 6
- U nit 4 , 5 & 6 R eview

Introduction t o
American D eaf
Culture: H ow t o
Make a
Summary R eport
in A SL
E-Journal

Movie # 2 D ue

Prepare f or
Introduction t o
American D eaf
Culture M ovie
Read S N: U nit 5 ,
Field Q uestions

Digital M ovie # 2
Due N ov. 5

Ground & F igure
Lab D ue

- Q uiz # 2

Book R eport
Summary D ue

- M ovie: T he H ammer

Quiz U nit 4 , 5 &

6
Bring P opcorn!

- U nit 1 -6 R eview

Activities

Study, S tudy &

Did I M ention,
Study

Final E xam
Final E xam

Receptive

Expressive

Two D eaf E vents

Summary D ue

24
(Week 14)
Dec. 1
(Week 15)

19

Describing
Activities

Happy
Halloween!
Develop Your
Own Movie
(Digital Movie #2)

ASL
Conversations

Read S N: U nit 6 ,
Field Q uestions