General Information

• Name: Conversational ASL
• Discipline: American Sign Language (AM)
• Units (Credits): 4
• Schedule History: See when this course was offered over the last three years.
• Transfer Information: Courses with numbers 100 to 299: This course is designed to apply toward a WNC degree and/or transfer to other schools within the Nevada System of Higher Education, depending on the degree chosen and other courses completed. It may transfer to colleges and universities outside Nevada. For information about how this course can transfer and apply to your program of study, please contact a counselor.
• Academic Division: Communications and Fine Arts

Prerequisites and Recommended Courses

• Prerequisites: AM 147

Course Outline

I: Catalog Course Description

Focuses on the natural use of American Sign Language. Appropriate use of ASL grammar and vocabulary in conversational situations is stressed. Students master appropriate pragmatics, use of facial expressions, space, fingerspelling and classifiers, simultaneously for conversational fluency.
Note: Non-transferable for a NSHE baccalaureate degree. Non-applicable towards an AA or AS Degree.

II: Course Objectives

Upon completion of this course, student will incorporate the following skills into their conversational and conventional signing skills:

• Conversational fluency, accurate ASL grammar and appropriate ASL pragmatics
• Appropriate use of fingerspelling.
• Use of Sociolinguistic cues used during conversational ASL.
• Combining all five domains of ASL language in fluent signed output.
• Participation and conversation with various Deaf/HH people.
• Understanding the importance of cultural traditions, diversity and ethics in the modern world.
• Acquiring effective and efficient learning skills, including the location and evaluation of information.

III: Course Linkage

Linkage of course to educational program mission and at least one educational program outcome.

• Communication - Students will leave the course with fluency in American Sign Language which will enhance their ability to communicate with members of general society that are Deaf and/or users of American Sign Language.
• Analysis - During the course of AM 215, students will enhance their ability to conversationally master American Sign Language from a linguistic, as well as cultural perspective.
• Personal Development - Throughout the course students will be demonstrating applied knowledge, personal skills development in both languages and apply current research to their daily professional and personal interactions.
• Community Commitment - Students in this course will be asked to participate in many cultural and community events, thus demonstrating their enhanced knowledge of the Deaf Community and its corresponding language, American Sign Language.