This self-paced course, expertly curated by linguist Prof Anne Baker, introduces you to conversational SASL, delves into aspects of Deaf culture and enriches both your personal and professional life.
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This self-paced course, expertly curated by linguist Prof Anne Baker, introduces you to conversational SASL, delves into aspects of Deaf culture and enriches both your personal and professional life.
This self-paced course, expertly curated by linguist Prof Anne Baker, introduces you to conversational SASL, delves into aspects of Deaf culture and enriches both your personal and professional life.
Join us as we learn about Deaf culture and gain a deeper understanding of its impact on Deaf and non-Deaf communities. Then move on to learning SASL fundamentals and how to form basic sentences for meaningful interactions with Deaf people. Throughout this gradual introduction of SASL structure, the main objective will be to facilitate communication.
The flexible, self-paced approach lets you tailor your learning to suit your schedule. Content is structured into the following four comprehensive, segmented lessons to help you plan your learning effectively:
- Orientation and greetings: This lesson emphasises the visual nature of sign languages and covers attentive observation, sign production, and greetings vocabulary. Using the narratives of two SASL educators, it also offers insights into Deaf culture.
- Introduction and self-expression: In this lesson, you will enhance your conversation skills with fingerspelling, sign names, and family and hobby vocabulary. You will also explore the concept of hearing privilege.
- Numerals, days, appointments and interpreters: Learn scheduling and appointment signs, and gain a better understanding of the vital role of interpreters in facilitating communication between the Deaf and hearing communities.
- Descriptive skills and literary appreciation: This lesson will teach you SASL signs for describing people. A look at SASL literature will offer you further insight into Deaf culture.
Each lesson is subdivided into sections, along with estimated timeframes to aid your study planning. We recommend adhering to the suggested sequence for optimal learning. Moreover, although you will be completing the course in your own time, we encourage you to maintain a consistent learning pace, as this facilitates memory retention and maximises your progress.
All course materials are provided in English with SASL video content. The SASL videos feature individual signs and brief sentences to hone your comprehension skills. You will also practise sign replication, ideally recording yourself while signing and comparing it to the video.
At the end of each lesson, a “Test yourself” section affords you an opportunity to gauge your progress.
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Learning objectives
- By completing the exploring south african sign language and deaf culture course, you will:
- Acquire basic sasl skills to understand and engage in simple conversations;
- Learn to observe and use sasl as a visual language, focusing on hand and facial expressions;
- Master sasl greetings, learn how to enquire about deaf or hearing status, and share basic personal information in introductory conversations;
- Learn how to spell your name using fingerspelling, and to understand others’ spelling;
- Learn to convey basic information about family and hobbies in sasl;
- Gain the skills to make appointments using sasl, incorporating time, days of the week, and months;
- Learn to describe individuals in a simple, straightforward manner in sasl;
- Receive explanations of additional sasl structural aspects as needed, such as constructing negative sentences, forming questions and creating plurals, which will enable adaptive learning;
- Develop a deeper appreciation of sign languages, particularly sasl, and the experiences of the deaf community;
- Develop empathy for, and awareness of, the challenges faced by deaf people due to hearing prejudices;
- Learn about the role and functioning of interpreters in conversations between deaf and hearing people; and
- Be exposed to deaf community literature, including artistic stories and poems in sasl, while gaining insight into its contextual use.
- By completing the exploring south african sign language and deaf culture course, you will:
- Acquire basic sasl skills to understand and engage in simple conversations;
- Learn to observe and use sasl as a visual language, focusing on hand and facial expressions;
- Master sasl greetings, learn how to enquire about deaf or hearing status, and share basic personal information in introductory conversations;
- Learn how to spell your name using fingerspelling, and to understand others’ spelling;
- Learn to convey basic information about family and hobbies in sasl;
- Gain the skills to make appointments using sasl, incorporating time, days of the week, and months;
- Learn to describe individuals in a simple, straightforward manner in sasl;
- Receive explanations of additional sasl structural aspects as needed, such as constructing negative sentences, forming questions and creating plurals, which will enable adaptive learning;
- Develop a deeper appreciation of sign languages, particularly sasl, and the experiences of the deaf community;
- Develop empathy for, and awareness of, the challenges faced by deaf people due to hearing prejudices;
- Learn about the role and functioning of interpreters in conversations between deaf and hearing people; and
- Be exposed to deaf community literature, including artistic stories and poems in sasl, while gaining insight into its contextual use.
Good to know
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Activities
Organize Course Materials and Resources
Show steps
Stay organized by creating a central repository for your course materials.
Show steps
-
Create a dedicated folder or notebook for course materials.
-
Download or print handouts, readings, and other resources provided by the instructor.
-
Keep your materials organized and easily accessible.
Practice Basic Signs
Show steps
Refresh your knowledge of basic SASL signs to prepare for the course.
Show steps
-
Review the SASL Alphabet Fingerspelling.
-
Practice signing basic everyday signs.
Read Deaf World: A Historical Perspective
Show steps
Gain a deeper understanding of Deaf culture and history by reading this seminal work.
View
Inside Deaf Culture
on Amazon
Show steps
-
Read the book's Introduction: Identity and Difference.
-
Read Chapter 1: Sign Language and Deaf Culture.
-
Read Chapter 3: The Rise of Residential Schools for the Deaf.
-
Read Chapter 4: The Development of the Deaf Community in America.
Five other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all eight activities
Join a Virtual Study Group
Show steps
Connect with fellow learners and practice your SASL skills in a supportive environment.
Show steps
-
Search for online forums or social media groups dedicated to SASL learning.
-
Introduce yourself and express your interest in joining a study group.
-
Engage in discussions, ask questions, and share your knowledge with the group.
Follow SASL Learning Tutorials
Show steps
Enhance your SASL skills by following online tutorials that provide interactive lessons.
Show steps
-
Search for reputable online platforms offering SASL tutorials.
-
Select tutorials that cover topics relevant to the course, such as basic greetings and conversations.
-
Follow the instructions and practice the signs regularly.
Sign Language Shadowing Practice
Show steps
Improve your sign recognition and production through shadowing exercises.
Show steps
-
Find videos or live streams of people using SASL.
-
Watch attentively and try to shadow the signs you see.
Create a Mini Dictionary for Deaf Communication
Show steps
Create a simple dictionary of basic SASL vocabulary to aid comprehension and recall.
Show steps
-
Identify essential SASL vocabulary related to daily interactions, such as greetings, introductions, and basic questions.
-
Write out the signs, their meanings, and provide visual aids (e.g., images or videos) for each word.
-
Review and expand your dictionary regularly.
Record Yourself Signing
Show steps
Enhance your signing skills by recording yourself and analyzing your technique.
Show steps
-
Prepare a short script or conversation in SASL.
-
Record yourself signing the script using a video or audio recorder.
-
Play back the recording and evaluate your signing, focusing on accuracy and fluency.
Organize Course Materials and Resources
Show steps
Stay organized by creating a central repository for your course materials.
Show steps
- Create a dedicated folder or notebook for course materials.
- Download or print handouts, readings, and other resources provided by the instructor.
- Keep your materials organized and easily accessible.
Practice Basic Signs
Show steps
Refresh your knowledge of basic SASL signs to prepare for the course.
Show steps
- Review the SASL Alphabet Fingerspelling.
- Practice signing basic everyday signs.
Read Deaf World: A Historical Perspective
Show steps
Gain a deeper understanding of Deaf culture and history by reading this seminal work.
View
Inside Deaf Culture
on Amazon
Show steps
- Read the book's Introduction: Identity and Difference.
- Read Chapter 1: Sign Language and Deaf Culture.
- Read Chapter 3: The Rise of Residential Schools for the Deaf.
- Read Chapter 4: The Development of the Deaf Community in America.
Join a Virtual Study Group
Show steps
Connect with fellow learners and practice your SASL skills in a supportive environment.
Show steps
- Search for online forums or social media groups dedicated to SASL learning.
- Introduce yourself and express your interest in joining a study group.
- Engage in discussions, ask questions, and share your knowledge with the group.
Follow SASL Learning Tutorials
Show steps
Enhance your SASL skills by following online tutorials that provide interactive lessons.
Show steps
- Search for reputable online platforms offering SASL tutorials.
- Select tutorials that cover topics relevant to the course, such as basic greetings and conversations.
- Follow the instructions and practice the signs regularly.
Sign Language Shadowing Practice
Show steps
Improve your sign recognition and production through shadowing exercises.
Show steps
- Find videos or live streams of people using SASL.
- Watch attentively and try to shadow the signs you see.
Create a Mini Dictionary for Deaf Communication
Show steps
Create a simple dictionary of basic SASL vocabulary to aid comprehension and recall.
Show steps
- Identify essential SASL vocabulary related to daily interactions, such as greetings, introductions, and basic questions.
- Write out the signs, their meanings, and provide visual aids (e.g., images or videos) for each word.
- Review and expand your dictionary regularly.
Record Yourself Signing
Show steps
Enhance your signing skills by recording yourself and analyzing your technique.
Show steps
- Prepare a short script or conversation in SASL.
- Record yourself signing the script using a video or audio recorder.
- Play back the recording and evaluate your signing, focusing on accuracy and fluency.
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