American Sign Language 1 Guided Study

In this course, students are introduced to the fundamentals of American Sign Language (ASL) and Deaf Culture. Students develop both expressive and receptive signing skills, beginning with fingerspelling and numbers, then continuing with basic vocabulary. Students are also introduced to ASL grammar, discovering that it is a fully independent linguistic system, distinct from American English. Finally, students master the basic conversational and cultural behaviors necessary to hold a beginning-level conversation in ASL.

Completion of this course requires regular access to a laptop or desktop computer with working microphone and webcam, as well as a reliable internet connection.

This Guided-Study course is an opportunity for students to work individually with a teacher-mentor in a subject areas with low or inconsistent partner school demand. The course includes both synchronous and asynchronous elements, with sequenced activities and regular weekly deadlines designed to help the student keep on track and encourage and support the development of productive time management skills. In addition, the student meets one-to-one with their teacher for individualized coaching sessions. Course materials, emphases and summative projects can be tailored to accommodate student interests and school requirements.