True or False ASL is a universal language Sign language was created by hearing people Sign language has no order or structure Sign language is slower than spoken language

Cont… There is a written form of sign language Sign language does not use slang Sign language has regional signs ex: pop/soda

Introductions

Sheri Cook

Deaf Family

Deaf cousins

CHICAGO

oral manual Indiana School for the Deaf Bell School in Chicago

Northern Illinois University Northern Illinois University

Deaf Volleyball Team at NIU

Camp Lions Adventure Wilderness Program

Wisconsin School for the Deaf

Janesville, Wisconsin Murphysboro, Illinois

John A. Logan College John A. Logan College SIU Southern Illinois University

Erica Pancoast

School  Graduated Mt. Vernon High School-1997 Mt. Vernon Township High School

 Graduated Illinois State University-2002  Bachelors-Industrial Technology

Disney Internship

Jeld-Wen Windows & Doors

Went back to ISU Bachelors-Deaf Education

Arizona School for the Deaf & Blind

Attended Eastern Illinois University Master’s Degree-Educational Administration

My Family

Nephew Avery, Niece Camryn, Niece Rylie

Who are you and why are you taking ASL?

EP’s Classroom Expectations  Be on time and prepared  Participate  Be Respectful  Complete all work

Grading  Participation/Class work  Video Conversations  Quizzes  Assignments

Syllabus We will go over this tomorrow

Required Recommended address in order to send you your recorded signed dialogues

Materials we will use in class

Sheri Cook’s website for review and information shericook.wordpress.com

DIRECT METHOD Focus on the target language (ASL) without relying on the student’s native language.

No Voicing from the Instructor  Foster the development of ASL receptive skills in the students.  Young children learn their native language by first hearing or seeing the language used around them for many months or years.  Their receptive skills (their understanding) are developed first before their expressive skills (their production). RECEPTIVE BEFORE EXPRESSIVE

No Voicing from the Instructor  Avoid confusion of ASL and English.  If the teacher signs and talks at the same time she will not be modeling the structure of ASL since one cannot sign ASL and speak English at the same time.

We will focus very little on fingerspelling skills during the first semester of ASL.

Why?

 “First, fingerspelling demands fine visual perception and fine motor skills, signing does not.” Beginning signers do not have this skill.  “Second, the eyes and body need a period of adjustment before being able to handle fingerspelling effectively and efficiently.” American Sign Language – The Original Green Books, p. 37 American Sign Language – The Original Green Books, p. 37

Goals for this semester  Readiness Activities  Structured ASL Activities  Dialogues and Conversational Activities

Readiness Activities: Training the Eyes and Body  It’s important to develop visual and motor skills needed for ASL.  ASL requires the use of the face, hands and body in ways which are strange and uncomfortable for many hearing people.  The readiness activities will help “loosen up” the students.

Structured ASL Activities Students will be exposed to complete meaningful sentences…  Simple questions-answer dialogue  Vocabulary learning will be centered around objects and actions  Shift to common situations, settings and experiences of everyday life.

Dialogues and Conversational Activities  Use of sentences in a conversational format  Learn certain conversational behaviors in ASL which are different than conversational behaviors in English.  Focus on one main grammatical ASL feature in each dialogue.

Strategies for learning American Sign Language (ASL)

Strategies for Learning American Sign Language 1. Follow all conversations whether they are between the teacher and class, teacher and student, or student and student.

Strategies for Learning American Sign Language 1. Follow all conversations whether they are between the teacher and class, teacher and student, or student and student. 2. Focus on the signer’s face, not hands. eye contact while in a signed conversation. 2. Focus on the signer’s face, not hands. Don’t break eye contact while in a signed conversation.

Strategies for Learning American Sign Language 1. Follow all conversations whether they are between the teacher and class, teacher and student, or student and student. 2. Focus on the signer’s face, not hands. eye contact while in a signed conversation. 2. Focus on the signer’s face, not hands. Don’t break eye contact while in a signed conversation. 3. Develop active listening behaviors, i.e., nodding, responding with “huh?,” “wow,” “really?” Your teacher may stop to repeat information because you do not nod to indicate you are following along. This is not teacher / student behavior – it is cultural. Listeners have very active roles in signed conversations.

4. Participate as much as possible by adding comments, agreeing, or disagreeing, etc. The more your participate, the more you will retain what you learn. Don’t worry about mistakes. They are a part of the learning process.

5. Try not to worry about a sign you missed. Work on getting the gist of the conversation. If a particular sign pops up over and over, and you haven’t a clue to its meaning, then ask the teacher. Try to avoid asking your classmate for a quick English translation. You would lose out on valuable communication experiences that can strengthen your comprehension skills.

6. Leave English (and your voice) outside the door. Try not to translate in your head as you watch someone sign. Don’t worry about memorizing, as repetition and context will help you acquire the language. Do you have any questions or concerns? Do you have any questions or concerns?

IcebreakerIcebreaker If you could vacation anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?