Having completed Beginning ASL I & II (LANG 190 & LANG 191) and ASL and current issues (LANG 290), students interested in continuing their studies at a more advanced level should consider taking LANG 291. Upon successful completion of LANG 290, signers typically demonstrate adequate expressive and receptive communication skills when discussing familiar topics. However, they frequently resort to rephrasing and repetition when trying to express more complex concepts. This course addresses this gap by focusing on the review and introduction of new signed vocabulary, including multiple meaning words, spoken English idioms and Alternate sign choices used when conveying a concept in ASL. Class will be conducted in ASL and students will be required to speak only when "voicing" becomes an integral part of the lesson/activity. In addition to Sign vocabulary expansion, consistent attention will be paid to nonverbal grammatical features such as facial expression, eye gaze, clarity of signs, placement of signs in space, concept formations, ASL gestural alternatives, posture (expressive mode), and focus (receptive mode).
Student progress in ASL expressive and receptive skills will be assessed using Gallaudet University's Sign Communication Proficiency Criteria. Class work will include in-class participation, homework, presentations and a final project. |