IN THIS COURSE, you’re going to learn to sign question and answer dialogues using verbs, pronouns, days of the week, and places around town. We’ll explore over forty-five (45) targeted vocabulary signs necessary for forming sentences, questions, and mini-dialogues. Throughout the course, we’ll do review and testing to check your ability to sign correctly and understand what is signed to you.

*** This course is designed to INCLUDE complete beginners without any prior knowledge of ASL. Previous ASL skills are welcome but NOT required.

IN THIS COURSE:

• Students will learn to sign ten (10) days of the week: MONDAY, TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY, FRIDAY, SATURDAY, SUNDAY, YESTERDAY, TODAY, TOMORROW.

• Students will learn and understand thirty (30) signs for common places around town.

• Group 1 places: AIRPORT, BAKERY, BANK, BAR, BOOKSTORE, CAFE, CHURCH, CLINIC, COURTHOUSE, DOWNTOWN

• Group 2 places: GAS STATION, GROCERY STORE, GYM, HARDWARE STORE, HIGH SCHOOL, HOME, HOSPITAL, HOTEL, LIBRARY, MALL

• Group 3 places: MUSEUM, PARK, PET STORE, PHARMACY, POST OFFICE, RESTAURANT, SCHOOL, STORE, WORK, ZOO

• Students will learn to sign question and answer dialogues including appropriate facial expressions and head movements for “YES/NO” questions.

• Students will use the targeted vocabulary to sign complete statements, questions, and mini-dialogues.

• Students will race a timer to help improve their proficiency as they sign vocabulary, sentences, and dialogues.

• Students will learn signs individually to ensure comprehension, correct hand shape, and hand position.

• Students will be tested on their ability to sign and recognize ALL material taught in the course.

AFTER TAKING THIS COURSE:

• Students will be able to correctly sign and understand days of the week and places around town.

• Students will be able to sign over forty-five (45) targeted vocabulary words.

• Students will be proficient signing complete statements, questions, and mini-dialogues.

• Students will have a strong understanding of how to communicate “YES/NO” questions.

• Students will feel more confident as they continue improving their ASL skills.

QUESTIONS:

What is the main focus of this course?

• This course focuses on learning the necessary skills to sign question and answer dialogues using verbs, pronouns, days of the week, and places around town. Students will learn lots of vocabulary, how to sign statements and questions, and ultimately how to sign question and answer dialogues.

Do I need to have prior knowledge or experience with ASL before taking this class?

• No. This course is designed to include complete beginners without any prior knowledge of ASL. All necessary signs are taught step by step in the course.

Will this course test me on what is taught?

• Yes. This course contains multiple review and testing sections where students have the opportunity to demonstrate their ASL signing and recognition skills.

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR:

• Hello! My name is Michael. When I was three years old, my younger brother became sick with spinal meningitis. In the process, my brother became deaf with an almost complete hearing loss. This difficult situation provided a unique opportunity for my family and I to become fluent in American Sign Language (ASL). My brother was not sent away to a deaf or hard of hearing school. He grew up with us, his hearing family, and we were active in the deaf community.

• As a police officer and federal investigator, I often used ASL to communicate with and interpret for witnesses, victims, and perpetrators. I decided to create ASL courses because it’s a useful and practical skill to have. Like learning any language, it opens your mind and creates the ability to communicate with a whole new group of people.