Skagit Valley College

Catalog Course Search Details

 Course Title:   Am Sign Language I

 Title Abbreviation:   AM SIGN LANGUAGE I

 Department:    ASL&

 Course #:    121

 Credits:    5

 Variable:     No

 IUs:    5

 CIP:    230601

 EPC:    n/a

 REV:    2018


 Course Description  

An introduction to conversationally relevant signs, finger spelling, grammatical principles of American Sign Language (ASL), cultural background and information relating to the deaf community and American Sign Language.

 Prerequisite  

Prerequisite: Grade of 2.0 or higher in ENGL 097, or AESL 098, or appropriate test score.

Additional Course Details

Contact Hours (based on 11 week quarter)

Lecture: 55

Lab: 0

Other: 0

Systems: 0

Clinical: 0


Intent: Distribution Requirement(s) Status:  

Academic Humanities  

Equivalencies At Other Institutions

Other Institution Equivalencies Table
Institution Course # Remarks
N/A

Learning Outcomes

After completing this course, the student will be able to:

  1. Understand basic differences between American Sign Language syntax and structure and its English translation
  2. Acquire and perform basic vocabulary in conversational settings.
  3. Understand and use appropriate facial expressions and body language in conjunction with conversational vocabulary.
  4. Learn through visual instruction only (experiencing use of signs).
  5. Basic understanding of deaf culture and community interaction
  6. Discuss issues and problems faced by the deaf community in a hearing world.

General Education Learning Values & Outcomes

Revised August 2008 and affects outlines for 2008 year 1 and later.

2. Critical Thinking

Definition: The ability to think critically about the nature of knowledge within a discipline and about the ways in which that knowledge is constructed and validated and to be sensitive to the ways these processes often vary among disciplines.

Outcomes: Students will be able to . . .
2.1 Identify and express concepts, terms, and facts related to a specific discipline.
2.8 Describe how one’s own preconceptions, biases and values affect one’s response to new and ambiguous situations.

3. Communication

Definition: Understanding and producing effective written, spoken, visual, and non-verbal communication.

Outcomes: Students will be able to . . .
3.5 Recognize, comprehend, and use non-verbal behaviors appropriate to a given context.
3.6 Recognize, comprehend, and use visual communication appropriate to a given context.
3.7 Adapt communication to diverse audiences and media.

4. Community & Cultural Diversity

Definition: Recognizing the value of human communities and cultures from multiple perspectives through a critical understanding of their similarities and differences.

Outcomes: Students will be able to . . .
4.1 Identify and express concepts, terms, and issues associated with the diverse perspectives of race, social class, gender, sexual orientation, disabilities, and culture.
4.2 Understand, value and respect human differences and commonalities as they relate to issues of race, social class, gender, sexual orientation, disabilities and culture.
4.4 Demonstrate effective communication across differences in human communities and cultures.
4.5 Adapt to and function effectively in communities and cultures different from one's own.

6. Individual Awareness & Responsibility

Definition: Understanding, managing, and taking responsibility for one’s learning and behavior in varied and changing environments.

Outcomes: Students will be able to . . .
6.3 Apply successful organizational strategies of planning, goal setting, prioritizing, resolving conflict, and managing time to specific goals and/or projects.

10. Technology

Definition: Understanding the role of technology in society and using technology appropriately and effectively.

Outcomes: Students will be able to . . .
10.3 Use technology appropriate to the context and task to effectively retrieve and manage information, solve problems, and facilitate communication.

Course Contents

  1. ASL characteristics/concepts/syntax-distinguishing features/English counterparts
  2. Finger spelling and number formation techniques and palmer orientation
  3. Deaf culture, etiquette, history of ASL, deaf education past present
  4. Current issues, misconceptions about the deaf. Deaf differences, values and traditions
  5. Vocabulary introduced in sign topics: Pronouns, verbs, adverbials, adjectives, and idioms, nouns, proper sign placement, movement, and orientation. Introduction to classifier predicates, determiners.
  6. Nonmanual markers, including facial expression/body shifting in conjunctions with ASL conversation, temporal aspects of directionality