Springfield College

Introduction to Manual Communication/Deaf Culture

Spring 2017
Instructor: Brittainy Basinski Credit: 3 Semester Hours
E-Mail: bbasinski@springfieldcollege.edu Class Meeting Time: Wednesday,
Phone: (860) 471-6149 (text only) 5:00- 7:30 PM
Office Hours: by appointment Class Location: Locklin Hall
Room #105

Course Description:
This course, which is intended for students who have no or minimal American Sign Language
(ASL) skills, focuses on communication in the work environment. ASL at Work 1a includes
some of the ASL vocabulary, grammatical principles, and cultural protocols that students need to
function at the basic level in both work and social conversations. Students learn to (1) talk about
when activities occur, (2) make requests, (3) discuss the weather, (4) discuss schedules and
events, and (5) discuss health and how they feel.

Required Course Textbooks/Materials:

Newell. W., Sanders, C., Holcomb, S., Caccamise, F., & Peterson, R. (2009).
ASL at Work Student Text. San Diego, CA: DawnSignPress.

Newell. W., Sanders, C., Holcomb, S., Caccamise, F., & Peterson, R. (2009).
ASL at Work Video Materials. San Diego, CA: DawnSignPress.

(DVD- try to find DVD case for DVD to take good care of it. You do not want to leave it back of
the student textbook. Otherwise, you will have to pay another DVD. You will need the DVD for
your homework assignments.)

Additional Readings/Resources List and Instructional Tools/Website:

The instructor reserves the option to assign additional readings relevant to
material being discussed in class. The instructor will either provide or help locate
the readings.

YouTube Videos (ASL THAT! )

www.dailymoth.com
http://ideafnews.com
www.d-pan.com
http://www.deafweekly.com/current.htm
http://deafnewstoday.blogspot.com
Web Resources
http://www.handspeak.com/word/
http://www.signingsavvy.com/browse-letter
http://laits.utexas.edu/aslonline/

http://www.planeteyeth.com
http://www.spreadthesigns.com
http://www.sign2me.com
http://asl.ms/
Online Sign Dictionary
http://commtechlab.msu.edu/Sites/aslweb/browser.htm
www.lifeprint.com
www.signingsavvy.com
Fingerspelling practice
Receptive practice: http://www.asl.ms/
Expressive practice: http://www.jal.cc.il.us/ipp/fingspell/
Gallaudethttp://simplythebest.net/fonts/fonts/gallaudet.html (free download)
Deaf Newspaper
http://www.deafnewspaper.com/ (stories in ASL and cultural information)
Deaf Life Magazine
http://www.deaflife.com

Course Goals:
1. To continue developing basic conversational fluency in ASL using appropriate
vocabulary, grammar, and conversational behaviors.

2. To continue developing basic knowledge of ASL linguistic structure.

3. To increase understanding of Deaf Culture, Deaf Community, and the value of ASL in Deaf
Culture.

4. To increase understanding of various perspectives on the life experiences of

Deaf people (cultural, linguistic, educational, medical, social, and political) and how these
various perspectives interact with each other and impact Deaf people and their language.

Course Objectives:
The student who successfully completes this course will:
To demonstrate comprehension and expression at a basic level within a conversational
format by producing one - to three- sentence responses and asking appropriate questions
for leisure activities, discussing plans, sharing personal information, making request and
weather.

To demonstrate comprehension and expression of commonly fingerspell words, names,

places, and abbreviations.

To receive and express the numbers 61 to 100.

To demonstrate in writing and through classroom interaction increased knowledge of

(a) the linguistic structure of ASL, (b) Deaf culture, and (c) the Deaf community.

Course Content:
Unit 6: Sharing Personal Information
Unit 7: Where People Live
Unit 8: Time and Activities
Unit 9: Asking for Assistance
Unit 10: Discussing Weather

Course Requirements:
This course requires your active participation by engaging in pair and group dialogue. Daily
preparation includes completed workbook assignments, watching each unit video and completing
assigned readings. At the end of each unit, students will be tested based upon receptive and
expressive skills. To encourage your out-of-class preparation, in-class activities, including small
group exercises are required. Your participation in these activities is evaluated. Your daily
attendance is mandatory. The expressive midterm and final exam for both classes will be
explained in full detail on the first day of class so you will be able to prepare appropriately for it.

Quizzes:
There will be frequent and sometimes weekly quizzes covering material presented throughout the
course. Missed quizzes may not be made up.

Attendance/Participation:
This is an interactive course. Class attendance and participation are mandatory and worth 10% of
your final grade. Attendance will be taken during each class period. You must remain for the
entire class to receive credit. You will be allowed one absence for illness or emergency (you
need to contact me via e-mail, text or voicemail and notify me prior to your absence). Your final
grade will drop 3 points for each additional absence. Certain situations are recognized as
College-excused absences from class, including:

Participation in an athletic activity approved by the athletic director and on file in the
dean of students office.
Participation in a scheduled curricular or co-curricular activity approved by the
appropriate dean or vice-president and on file in the dean of students office.
Observation of religious holidays.

Instructors should excuse absences of the above nature if the student follows the guidelines listed
below. If possible, the instructor should allow the student to make up the class work or complete
an alternative assignment. A student who anticipates absences of this nature:

Must provide his or her instructors with a list of dates of expected absences by the end of
the first week of class and discuss with each instructor the impact of such absences. If the
instructor deems that the absences will interfere with the students ability to successfully
complete the objectives of the course, the student must seek to reduce the absences or
withdraw from the course.
Should arrange in advance of the absence for make-up of any work that will be missed.
Should notify the instructor as soon as possible in the event of a sudden change of schedule
(for example, participation in a game rescheduled due to rain or joining a team mid-season)

and provide documentation if requested. Again, impact of the absence(s) must be- discussed
with the instructor. (Springfield College Academic Policy)

Homework Assignments:
Homework will be assigned throughout the course of the semester and may consist of additional
readings, reflections, and/or internet sign language assignments.
Late assignments will only be accepted if notification of an extension is requested by student and
approved by professor via email prior to the assignment due date. Once approved, late
assignments will be reduced by 10% of the total grade for each day assignment is late. If a
student misses a Moodle due date, they will be locked out of the Moodle assignment and
required to email the assignment to the professor. Any assignment not turned in by the time it is
graded or handed back to students will receive an automatic 0.

Midterm:
The midterm is scheduled for March 8th, 2017

Expressive Final Project:

You will rehearse and present a project to demonstrate your expressive sign skills. You will also
be required to translate from English to ASL, creating a written ASL gloss of your project.

Written/Expressive/Receptive Final Exam:

We will follow Springfield Colleges final exam schedule. Our exam will be held on Wednesday,
April 26th, 2017.

Evaluation/Assessment:
Periodic quizzes will evaluate for knowledge and competency in the areas of ASL receptive
skills, ASL history, Deaf culture, the Deaf community, and ASL linguistic structures. The
midterm and final expressive evaluation will be one on one with your instructor.

Grading:
Class Participation/Attendance 10%
Unit/Workbook Assignment 10%
Expressive Final Project 10%
Quizzes 10%
Midterm Exam 30%
Final Exam 30%

Total: 100%

GRADE % Average GPA POINTS

A 94-100 4.0 658-700 Outstanding Work
A- 90-93 3.7 630-657 Excellent Work
B+ 87-89 3.3 609-656 Very Good Work
B 84-86 3.0 588-608 Good Work
B- 80-83 2.7 560-587 Better Than Satisfactory
C+ 77-79 2.3 539-559 Satisfactory Work
C 74-76 2.0 518-538 Adequate Work
C- 70-72 1.7 490-517 Passing
D+ 67-69 1.3 469-489 Passing, but Unsatisfactory
D 63-65 1.0 441-468 Passing, but Unsatisfactory
D- 60-62 0.7 4 20-440 Passing, but Unsatisfactory
F 59 or less 0.0 <420 Failure

For more detail on calculating your grade throughout the semester, please see the document
posted on Moodle. You should be able to take your grades handed back, calculate averages for
each area, then calculate the grade according to its weighting above.

Course Methodology:
This course uses the Direct Experience Method (DEM). This method is based on
the total immersion language teaching/learning method. The majority of the course will be
conducted in ASL only. During these immersion experiences, you must pay careful attention. Do
not panic if you do not understand everything immediately. Try to understand the meaning
through context. There will be a great deal of repetition. This will help you to understand.
Everything is contextualized, with instruction based on learned material.

Extended Responsibilities:
Learning ASL is similar to learning other languages. You should expect it to be challenging and
to require a lot of practice, memorization, critical thinking and developing skills in real
communication situations. You will need to practice outside of class to be successful, and it is
best to practice with others.

Language Policies:
All of the student are required to use ASL at all times. If the student is unable to express oneself
through ASL, then the student is allowed to use gestures, or written English. At no times are
students allowed to use spoken language. This is a course for student to learn how to
communicate using ASL, and learn about the language itself. The students need to communicate
drives the ability to learn a language. Students should be motivated to use ASL at all times. If at
any reason the student refuses, then the instructor has the right to ask student to leave the class. If
a student wants to meet with the instructor, and is really struggling to communicate, an ASL
interpreter can be arranged. The meeting may take place in person or through video relay.

Assignments:

Attached is the course outline that includes unit themes, assignments, homework, quizzes and
tests. Your instructor will notify you if any change takes place. All assignments are due before
the class begins that day. If you cannot make it to class, send the assignment electronically.
Failure to do so will result in a zero for that assignment.

Make-up work:
You are not allowed make-up work. You must be present for all of the in-class assignment,
quizzes, and tests. If there is a personal emergency (ie: death in family or emergency situations)
then you are responsible for contacting the instructor about making up work missed. You are
required to inform the instructor on the same day. In the event of an absence, it is the students
responsibility to contact another student (DO NOT ASK YOUR INSTRUCTOR) to get the
missed lecture notes and the new vocabulary words.

Student Code of Conduct:

The Student Code of Conduct can be found in the handbook. All students are expected to
comply.

Special Accommodations:
If you have special accommodations, please contact the Office of Students with Disabilities and
your instructor to make sure that s/he is aware of your situation. This must be completed four
weeks prior to the first class.

Academic Integrity:
Any student who violates the Academic Integrity codes as stated in the handbook will receive
academic disciplinary action. This may result in informing the Office of Student Conducts,
reducing grades, prohibited from college program, classes, and activities. For more information,
please see the student handbook.

Inclement Weather/Cancelled Classes:

Students will be notified by the Campus E-mail and text messaging as soon as the college
confirms that it will be closed. Students can also find out through the local news, or sign up for
the emergency notification on our website. Your instructor will send a mass email to the students
as well.

Academic Assistance:
A wide variety of academic assistance is offered through the Academic
Success Center. Students can receive a variety of services, such as tutoring through Writing
Support Services, Math-Science Support Services and the Content Tutorial Program. The
Academic Coaching Program is available to help students improve time management and study
skills. The Assistive Technology Program provides training in a range of assistive technology
software. The MTEL Assistance Program provides support for students preparing to take the
Communications and Literacy Skills portion of the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure.
The Conversation Partners Program provides support for non-native speaking students wishing
to improve linguistic skills in language such as English, Spanish, French, Chinese, and other
language as available. The Academic Success Center is located on the first floor of Hickory Hall,
room 109 and can be contacted at 413-748-3747 or ASC@spfldcol.edu. More detailed

description of its services can be found on its website:

http://www.spfldcol.edu/academic-success-center.

Accommodation Planning:
Springfield Colleges policy is as follows: If you have a documented physical, learning, or
psychological disability on record with the Academic Success Centers Learning Support
Services, or the corresponding campus individual in the School of Human Services, you may be
eligible for reasonable academic accommodations to help you succeed in this course. It is your
responsibility to request such accommodations in advance and to provide appropriate
documentation. Students on the main campus should contact the Director of Learning Support
services, who is located on the first floor of Hickory Hall, room 105, and can be contacted at
413-748-3768. Please let me know of your request as soon as possible so that I can work with
you and the Director to arrange for appropriate and reasonable accommodations.