Welcome to American Sign Language Level 1 (ASL 1)

This 30-week, 1 1/2-hour class is for high school students in grades 9-12 as an introduction to basic American Sign Language. Students will study the five parameters of signing: hand shape, palm orientation, movement, location, and expressive/non-manual markers.  Students will build basic conversational vocabulary, ASL sentence structure, and syntax.  This course also covers Deaf Culture and the daily life of the Deaf. The course goals are for students to demonstrate basic ASL skills and communicate using everyday conversational signs.  

What it is:

-American Sign Language is a fully recognized language with its own grammatical structure, syntax, and Deaf slang.

-A beautiful, expressive language that incorporates facial expression, body language, and gestures to communicate concepts within its sign system.

Common Myths about ASL:

-ASL is a collection of signed vocabulary that follows English word order or visual English.

-All Deaf people around the world use ASL.

The curriculum is online and created by Deaf professor Bill G. Vicars. See Lifeprint.com

In Tennessee, ASL can count as a foreign language credit, but students should confirm this with their schools or colleges. Most homeschool umbrella schools require two years of a language to graduate high school. ASL level 2 will be offered next year to satisfy this requirement.

Class Homework requirements:  Weekly fingerspelling practice along with 15–30-minute daily review, at-home activities to reinforce classroom learning, and quizzes. 

You may ask, “Is my child a good fit for ASL?”

If your child is creative, inquisitive, and likes a challenge, this class is a great fit. However, if your child has trouble maintaining eye contact or has an attention deficit, ASL may be difficult to learn. If you aren’t sure, feel free to message me, and we can talk about it.  

Students must have internet access, as some activities are online.

Tuesday

Time: 2:25 - 4:05
Grades: 9-12
Cost: $425
Supply Fee: $95 (covers curriculum access, copies, and resource access)
Tutor: Emily Gourley