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…Cont…
•There is a written form of sign language
•Sign language does not use slang
•Sign language has regional signs ex: pop/soda
IntroductionsIntroductions
Sheri CookSheri Cook
Deaf FamilyDeaf Family
Deaf cousinsDeaf cousins
CHICAGOCHICAGO
Northern Illinois UniversityNorthern Illinois University
Deaf Volleyball Team at NIU
Camp Lions Adventure Wilderness ProgramCamp Lions Adventure Wilderness Program
Wisconsin School for the DeafWisconsin School for the Deaf
Janesville, Wisconsin
Murphysboro, Illinois
John A. Logan CollegeJohn A. Logan College John A. Logan CollegeJohn A. Logan College
SIU Southern Illinois University
Erica PancoastErica Pancoast
SchoolSchool
Graduated Mt. Vernon High School-1997Graduated Mt. Vernon High School-1997
Mt. Vernon Township High School
Graduated Illinois State University-2002Graduated Illinois State University-2002 Bachelors-Industrial TechnologyBachelors-Industrial Technology
Disney InternshipDisney Internship
Jeld-Wen Windows & DoorsJeld-Wen Windows & Doors
Went back to ISUWent back to ISUBachelors-Deaf EducationBachelors-Deaf Education
Arizona School for the Deaf & BlindArizona School for the Deaf & Blind
Attended Attended Eastern Illinois UniversityEastern Illinois University
Master’s Degree-Educational Master’s Degree-Educational AdministrationAdministration
My FamilyMy Family
Nephew Avery, Niece Camryn, Niece RylieNephew Avery, Niece Camryn, Niece Rylie
Who are you and why are you taking ASL?
EP’s Classroom ExpectationsEP’s Classroom Expectations
Be on time and prepared Be on time and prepared
ParticipateParticipate
Be RespectfulBe Respectful
Complete all workComplete all work
GradingGrading
Participation/Class workParticipation/Class work
Video ConversationsVideo Conversations
QuizzesQuizzes
AssignmentsAssignments
SyllabusSyllabus
We will go over this tomorrowWe will go over this tomorrow
Required
Recommended
Email addressin order to send
you your recorded signed
dialogues
Materials we will use in class
Sheri Cook’s website for Sheri Cook’s website for review and review and
informationinformation
shericook.wordpress.comshericook.wordpress.com
DIRECT METHODDIRECT METHOD
Focus on the target language (ASL) Focus on the target language (ASL) without relying on the without relying on the
student’s native language.student’s native language.
No Voicing from the InstructorNo Voicing from the Instructor
Foster the development of Foster the development of ASL receptive skills in the students.ASL receptive skills in the students.
Young children learn their native language by Young children learn their native language by first hearing or seeing the language used around first hearing or seeing the language used around
them for many months or years. them for many months or years.
Their receptive skills (their understanding) are Their receptive skills (their understanding) are developed first before their expressive skills developed first before their expressive skills
(their production).(their production).
RECEPTIVE BEFORE
EXPRESSIVE
No Voicing from the InstructorNo Voicing from the Instructor
Avoid confusion of ASL and English. Avoid confusion of ASL and English.
If the teacher signs and talks at the same If the teacher signs and talks at the same time she will not be modeling the structure time she will not be modeling the structure
of ASL since one cannot sign ASL and of ASL since one cannot sign ASL and speak English at the same time.speak English at the same time.
We will focus very little on We will focus very little on fingerspelling skills during fingerspelling skills during the first semester of ASL.the first semester of ASL.
Why?Why?
““First, fingerspelling demands fine visual First, fingerspelling demands fine visual perception and fine motor skills, signing does perception and fine motor skills, signing does not.” Beginning signers do not have this skill.not.” Beginning signers do not have this skill.
“ “Second, the eyes and body need a period of Second, the eyes and body need a period of adjustment before being able to handle adjustment before being able to handle fingerspelling effectively and efficiently.”fingerspelling effectively and efficiently.”
American Sign Language – The Original Green Books, p. 37American Sign Language – The Original Green Books, p. 37
Goals for this semesterGoals for this semester
Readiness ActivitiesReadiness Activities
Structured ASL ActivitiesStructured ASL Activities
Dialogues and Conversational Dialogues and Conversational ActivitiesActivities
Readiness Activities:Readiness Activities:Training the Eyes and BodyTraining the Eyes and Body
It’s important to develop visual and motor skills It’s important to develop visual and motor skills needed for ASL.needed for ASL.
ASL requires the use of the face, hands and ASL requires the use of the face, hands and body in ways which are strange and body in ways which are strange and
uncomfortable for many hearing people.uncomfortable for many hearing people.
The readiness activities will help “loosen up” the The readiness activities will help “loosen up” the students.students.
Structured ASL ActivitiesStructured ASL Activities
Students will be exposed to complete meaningful Students will be exposed to complete meaningful sentences…sentences…
Simple questions-answer dialogueSimple questions-answer dialogue
Vocabulary learning will be centered around Vocabulary learning will be centered around objects and actionsobjects and actions
Shift to common situations, settings and Shift to common situations, settings and experiences of everyday life.experiences of everyday life.
Dialogues and Conversational Dialogues and Conversational ActivitiesActivities
Use of sentences in a conversational formatUse of sentences in a conversational format
Learn certain conversational behaviors in ASL Learn certain conversational behaviors in ASL which are different than conversational which are different than conversational
behaviors in English.behaviors in English.
Focus on one main grammatical ASL feature Focus on one main grammatical ASL feature in each dialogue. in each dialogue.
Strategies for learning Strategies for learning American Sign Language American Sign Language
(ASL)(ASL)
Strategies for Learning American Sign LanguageStrategies for Learning American Sign LanguageStrategies for Learning American Sign LanguageStrategies for Learning American Sign Language
1. 1. Follow all conversations whether they are between the Follow all conversations whether they are between the teacher and class, teacher and student, or student and teacher and class, teacher and student, or student and student.student.
Strategies for Learning American Sign LanguageStrategies for Learning American Sign LanguageStrategies for Learning American Sign LanguageStrategies for Learning American Sign Language
1. 1. Follow all conversations whether they are between the Follow all conversations whether they are between the teacher and class, teacher and student, or student and teacher and class, teacher and student, or student and student.student.
2. 2. Focus on the signer’s face, not handsFocus on the signer’s face, not hands. . Don’t break eye contact eye contact while in a signed conversation. while in a signed conversation.
Strategies for Learning American Sign LanguageStrategies for Learning American Sign LanguageStrategies for Learning American Sign LanguageStrategies for Learning American Sign Language
1. 1. Follow all conversations whether they are between the Follow all conversations whether they are between the teacher and class, teacher and student, or student and teacher and class, teacher and student, or student and student.student.
2. 2. Focus on the signer’s face, not handsFocus on the signer’s face, not hands. . Don’t break eye contact eye contact while in a signed conversation. while in a signed conversation.
3.3. Develop active listening behaviorsDevelop active listening behaviors, i.e., nodding, , i.e., nodding, responding with “huh?,” “wow,” “really?” Your teacher may responding with “huh?,” “wow,” “really?” Your teacher may stop to repeat information because you do not nod to stop to repeat information because you do not nod to indicate you are following along. This is not teacher / indicate you are following along. This is not teacher / student behavior – it is cultural. Listeners have very active student behavior – it is cultural. Listeners have very active roles in signed conversations.roles in signed conversations.
4.4. Participate as much as possible by adding comments, Participate as much as possible by adding comments, agreeing, or disagreeing, etc.agreeing, or disagreeing, etc. The more your participate, The more your participate, the more you will retain what you learn. Don’t worry about the more you will retain what you learn. Don’t worry about mistakes. They are a part of the learning process.mistakes. They are a part of the learning process.
4.4. Participate as much as possible by adding comments, Participate as much as possible by adding comments, agreeing, or disagreeing, etc.agreeing, or disagreeing, etc. The more your participate, The more your participate, the more you will retain what you learn. Don’t worry about the more you will retain what you learn. Don’t worry about mistakes. They are a part of the learning process.mistakes. They are a part of the learning process.
5.5. Try not to worry about a sign you missedTry not to worry about a sign you missed.. Work on Work on getting the gist of the conversation. If a particular sign pops 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 up over and over, and you haven’t a clue to its meaning, then ask the teacher. ask the teacher. Try to avoid asking your classmate for a Try to avoid asking your classmate for a quick English translation.quick English translation. You would lose out on valuable You would lose out on valuable communication experiences that can strengthen your communication experiences that can strengthen your comprehension skills.comprehension skills.
6.6. Leave English (and your voice) outside the door.Leave English (and your voice) outside the door. Try not to translate in your head as you watch Try not to translate in your head as you watch someone sign. Don’t worry about memorizing, as someone sign. Don’t worry about memorizing, as repetition and context will help you acquire the repetition and context will help you acquire the language.language.
Do you have any questions or concerns?Do you have any questions or concerns?
IcebreakerIcebreakerIcebreakerIcebreaker
If you could vacation anywhere in the If you could vacation anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?world, where would it be and why?
If you could vacation anywhere in the If you could vacation anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?world, where would it be and why?