American Sign Language Minor

Students will be introduced to advanced language and vocabulary development with special emphasis placed on sentence construction and expressive skills. The course will provide further development of conversational techniques and use of ASL in normal everyday situations such as the location of items around the home, complaints, making suggestions and requests, and exchanging personal information through life events. This course will also expand the study of Deaf cultural issues. Prerequisite: ASL 125. Must pass with a C- or better to continue in 225. (3 units; Fall)

This course will introduce students to the art of hand shape storytelling and legends within the Deaf community. This section will include the grammatical use of ASL in sign movements conveyed and modified in the language, how and when to use facial movements; and how body, head and eye movements are used in phrasing and agreement. In this section, students will learn to sign everyday information through description and identification of things and talking about weekend events. Class emphasis will be on expressive and receptive skills. Prerequisite: ASL 215. (3 units; Spring)

An interdisciplinary introduction to the concepts, issues and literary genre of the DEAF-WORLD. This course emphasizes the Deaf community as a cultural linguistic people group and the centrality of ASL, heritage and traditions, and values in this community. From a literary and theoretical view, the course locates the field of Deaf Studies within the broader field of Disability Studies by analyzing intersections and differences between the two. (3 units; As offered)

This course offers a comparative analysis of linguistic properties and tendencies of American Sign Language and English. General topics of study include an overview of the historical evolution of sign languages, leading into contemporary thought on phonology, morphology and syntax of ASL. Students will also explore regional and dialectical linguistic variations that occur within sub-communities such as Black, Hispanic and Asian Deaf communities. Prerequisite: ASL 225. (3 units; As offered)

This course explores the history, traditions and issues of Deaf American culture from its 18th century European origins to contemporary multicultural USA. Utilizing a multilayered approach to learning-lecture, readings, case study, film study, contextual experience and classroom debate-students will analyze the complex web of influences and issues-linguistic, political, economic, educational, religious, medical and social-that form what we commonly refer to as "culture." (3 units; As offered)

Demographic and congregational studies suggest that only a fraction of the deaf population has been effectively evangelized in their own primary language. Students will learn practical methods of communicating the gospel to the deaf population using a cultural-linguistic model for deaf ministry. (3 units; Fall/Spring)

To be an effective interpreter one needs high levels of skill in the languages being interpreted. This course is full of challenging exercises with videotaped source materials that make ASL skills strong and flexible and prepares students to move on to more advanced skills. Helpful theoretical introduction for each topic, study questions and comprehension sections called "Get to Know the Signer," make these materials a thorough, powerful learning tool. Prerequisite: ASL 225. (3 units; As offered)