Provides basic Sign Language skills for professionals working with Deaf people.
Emphasis is on learning basic grammar and information relating to Deaf Culture.
It consists of a preparatory phase to attune students to communication in the manual-visual mode, followed by instruction and practice in vocabulary, sentence structure, elementary conversation, and literature. In addition, the course provides a survey of various issues raised by examining ASL and the Deaf community. Discussion of regional and ethnic sign variations, and social, political and educational institutions of the Deaf community. Interaction with members of the Deaf community in both directed and non-directed activities will be featured. This course emphasizes building conversational skills with a focus on current issues in American Deaf culture and community, and topics of general interest.