ASL Unit 1 and 2 Study Notes

Unit 1 Overview for ASL Conversation Skills

Purpose of the Assignment

  • Introduce ASL students to Deaf culture and facilitate conversation skills.
  • Engage in practical tasks that reinforce vocabulary, grammar, and cultural understanding.

Task Description

  • The student is tasked with answering several questions about themselves in ASL after meeting a new Deaf friend.
  • The student must respond to given prompts using learned ASL skills.

Specific Questions to Address:

  • Greeting:

    • Sign a greeting to open the conversation.

  • Name Introduction:

    • Respond to "What is your name?" with the correct ASL format:
    • Example: Sign "ME NAME" followed by fingerspelling your name.

  • Well-Being Inquiry:

    • Respond to "How are you?" utilizing non-manual signals to indicate well-being (e.g., facial expressions).

  • Learning Location Question:

    • Respond to "Where are you learning ASL?"

  • Teacher Inquiry:

    • Respond to "Who is your ASL teacher?"

  • Teacher's Deafness Status:

    • Respond to "Is your ASL teacher Deaf or hearing?"

  • Farewell Sign-Off:

    • Sign a farewell to close the conversation.

Skills Emphasized in Unit 1:

  • Vocabulary: Inclusion of essential signs and terms relevant to introductions and personal information.
  • Fingerspelling: Using fingerspelling for proper names and unique terms.
  • Nonmanual Signals: Non-manual cues, such as facial expressions indicating emotions or reactions, for successful communication.
  • Conversational Skills: Engaging in appropriate dialogue, understanding turn-taking, and maintaining eye contact, especially relevant in Deaf communication contexts.

Unit 2 Mastery Assessment

Assignment Instructions

  • Apply knowledge from Unit 1 and Lesson 7.1 addressing Deaf culture and community rules.
  • Prepare for a Deaf social event, focusing on informing a hearing friend about appropriate behaviors and expectations.

Scenario Description

  • The student plans to attend a Deaf social event for the first time and is bringing a friend who does not understand Deaf culture.

Prompt Requirements

  • Discuss how to prepare the friend and share the following information:

Cultural Comparisons

  • Similarities and Differences:
    • Identify key aspects that differ between Deaf and hearing cultures.
    • Recognition of shared values, such as community and belonging, contrasted with communication methods.

Social Behavior Rules

  • Deaf vs. Hearing Community Behavior:
    • Explain the social etiquette specific to the Deaf community, such as visual attention, the importance of clear sightlines, and appropriate conversational interruptions.

Strategies for Communication

  • Conversational Regulators:
    • Familiarize with gestures or signals that prompt smoother interactions and responses.
    • Discuss the importance of patience and using visual cues in conversations.

Anticipated Questions

  • Questions from Deaf Individuals:
    • Discuss common queries posed by Deaf persons that may relate to hearing individuals, such as inquiries regarding sign language knowledge or understanding of Deaf culture.
    • Prepare responses to these questions, ensuring clarity and appropriateness.

Submission Guidelines

  • Submit assignment once the video is recorded and confirm by clicking "Submit." Files should not exceed 2.75 GB. Ensure that familiarity with ASL concepts is adequately demonstrated in the video responses.