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?