American Sign Language I - DEAF 160 Mondays and Wednesdays, 10:00 -11:40

Instructor: Nick Zerlentes! Classroom: ED 1130! Email: nicholas.zerlentes@csun.edu Office Hours: By appointment only

csun

FALL 2013

Course description: This is a beginning course in American Sign Language (ASL) where students will cover basic vocabulary and grammatical structures to develop everyday conversational skills. Students will also learn about the cultural and linguistic behaviors within the Deaf community.

Required textbook: Signing Naturally Student Workbook & DVD, Units 1-6, by Smith, Lentz, and Mikos (2008).

Course Expectations:
All classroom activities are conducted in signs or with gesture. Writing and reading in English is restricted to instructions provided for activities and information on Deaf culture and ASL grammar. Using voice (and mouthing) will NOT be tolerated in the classroom for two reasons: 1. It is culturally inappropriate to talk with voice without signing in front of a Deaf person. 2. It distracts students from maximizing their language learning in a completely visual environment.

Course Outcomes:
Students will begin to develop functional, literary, and conversational competence in ASL in the following areas: 1.Learning to introduce oneself 2.Exchanging personal information 3.Talking about ones surroundings 4.Explaining and describing where one lives 5.Telling about ones family 6.Using appropriate ASL grammatical features 7.Using culturally appropriate behaviors

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The classroom is a strictly no-voice environment. Cell phones and other electronics must be turned to an off/silent/vibrate position during class. If you are expecting an important call, please have your conversation outside of the classroom.

Grading
Moodle Discussions
Students will be sharing their thoughts and experiences on Moodle throughout the semester for the following assignments: 1. Deaf culture film (And Your Name is Jonah) 2. Deaf for a day 3. Deaf event Each student must post a paragraph (at least 5 sentences) AND respond to at least two other students posts. Post: 10 points Two responses: 5 points Possible total points: 45 (15 points per assignment)

Receptive Tests
Students will take two tests in class. Test #1 will cover Units 1-3 and some of Unit 6. Test #2 will cover Units 4, 5, and some of Unit 6. Each test is worth 40 points. Possible total points: 80

Important Info.
Grading scale
250 - 225 points: A 224 - 200 points: B 199 - 175 points: C 174 - 150 points: D +/- will be determined based on effort and participation Points will be deducted for excessive voicing (and mouthing) during class.

Expressive Assignments
The first assignment will be done individually and via video in the ASL Lab. The second will be a group presentation in the classroom. Each assignment is worth 20 points. Instructions for each assignment will be provided later. Assignment #1: Dream Family Assignment #2: Childrens Story

ASL Lab
Instructions for creating a video in the lab will be provided later. It is important that you follow the instructions carefully because you will be using the lab often in future ASL and Deaf culture courses.

Receptive Quizzes
All quizzes will be taken via Moodle. Quizzes will be timed and are to be completed within a timeframe of 24 hours before the due date. A total of 3 quizzes will be taken on the following units: Unit 1, 2, and 4. Each quiz is worth 20 points. Possible total points: 60

Total possible points: 40

Students w/ Disabilities
If you need accommodations, please register with the Disability Resources and Educational Services (DRES) in Bayramian Hall or the National Center on Deafness (NCOD). Please feel free to discuss any accommodations with the instructor.

Attendance/Participation
Since one cannot acquire ASL by simply reading a textbook, attendance is mandatory. Roll call will be done at the beginning of each class. More than 3 absences will affect your final course grade. Total possible points: 25

COURSE TOTAL POINTS: 250