Introduces the Deaf culture and the Deaf community, focusing on its history, traditions, values, and characteristics. Provides a survey of Sign language structure, history, and usage, as well as information about the contributions of Deaf persons to American society.
Goals, Topics, and Objectives
ASL-130 is designed to increase students' knowledge of, and experience with, the Deaf culture and the Deaf community, introducing students to the Deaf community as a linguistic and cultural minority and its role in the larger society.
- Membership in Deaf culture/community
- Deaf vs. mainstream American culture
- History of American Sign Language
- History of Deaf culture
- Historical and contemporary issues of Deaf culture/community
- Local Deaf community
- Interacting with the Deaf community
- Deaf culture
- Contributions of Deaf Americans
- Terminology and technology used by the Deaf
Upon successful completion of this course, students should be able to:
- Identify criteria for membership in Deaf culture/community
- Compare and contrast American mainstream culture with Deaf culture
- Demonstrate knowledge of the history of American Sign Languages and its roots in Old French Sign Language
- Describe social, educational, and cultural changes in local, national, and international Deaf culture
- Demonstrate knowledge of the historical and contemporary issues that impact the Deaf culture and the Deaf community
- Apply cultural knowledge of Deaf culture to the local Deaf community
- Describe the impact of Deaf culture as it relates to the roles of various professionals interacting with deaf groups and members of the Deaf community
- Analyze aspects of Deaf culture (behavior, values, beliefs, and etiquette) that differ from the student's own culture, giving specific examples that illustrate these differences
- Identify significant contributions made by Deaf Americans to American society
- Identify current terminology and technology used by the Deaf
Note: A grade of C- is not transferrable and is not accepted by some programs at HFC.
Assessment and Requirements
Assessment of academic achievement will be identified and implemented by the class instructor. Methods will include, but not be limited to:
- Participation
- Weekly/regular quizzes
- Homework assignments
- Chapter/unit tests
- Midterm/final exam
All sections of this level will use a textbook (and any accompanying materials) selected by the course coordinator and approved by the World Languages Committee.
Outcomes
- Social Sciences
- Civil Society and Culture - U.S. and Global
- Humanities