Technology Integration: Language Learning (ASL)
According to Massachusetts statute MGL Chapter 71, Section 2B (1989): "American Sign Language shall be recognized as a standard, independent language with its own grammar, syntax, vocabulary, and cultural heritage. Courses in ASL may be taught for the purpose of contributing to a greater understanding of the social and cultural dimensions of the language, and to encourage and enable increased interaction between hearing persons and deaf and hard of hearing persons in society. School Committees may credit such courses toward the satisfaction of foreign language requirements."
Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks for Foreign Languages:
Interpersonal Communication Standard: "Students of modern languages will converse in a language other than English to provide and obtain information, express feelings and emotions, and exchange opinions."
Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks for Foreign Languages:
Interpersonal Communication Standard: "Students of modern languages will converse in a language other than English to provide and obtain information, express feelings and emotions, and exchange opinions."
Internet Integration:
The website Start ASL offers a multimedia online course in with lessons about ASL, and additional information related to Deaf culture & history, as well as information about careers for people fluent in ASL. The site also has a video-based ASL dictionary. Each lesson includes video clips showing each targeted sign, a video with 2 people having a conversation in ASL which incorporates the lesson's vocabulary, and a detailed breakdown of the grammar and structure of that conversation, as well as any cultural background needed to fully understand the content and flow of the observed discussion.
From Start ASL's website, here is the transcript (in bold) and translated text of the conversation and video clip from the first lesson (fs=fingerspelling):
A: HELLO MY NAME fs-CRIS. YOUR NAME WHAT?
"Hi, my name is Cris. What is your name?"
B: MY NAME fs-CHRISTINE. NICE MEET YOU.
"My name is Christine. Nice to meet you."
A: NICE MEET-you SAME
"Nice to meet you too."
From Start ASL's website, here is the transcript (in bold) and translated text of the conversation and video clip from the first lesson (fs=fingerspelling):
A: HELLO MY NAME fs-CRIS. YOUR NAME WHAT?
"Hi, my name is Cris. What is your name?"
B: MY NAME fs-CHRISTINE. NICE MEET YOU.
"My name is Christine. Nice to meet you."
A: NICE MEET-you SAME
"Nice to meet you too."
_The site's in-depth lessons are free (with ads) or available without ads
for $10/month. Alternatively teachers can pay $46/year to access the
course for their students. The course is in Moodle and teachers can, at a
higher subscription rate of $100/year, create a customized online
course for their own students.
Problem Statement
Students may not understand that language learning is about more than building vocabulary, that the structure of language conveys meaning.
Students may not understand what makes American Sign Language (ASL) a language, whereas Signed Exact English is not.
Students may not have an understanding of how history and culture are intertwined with language.
Students may not understand what makes American Sign Language (ASL) a language, whereas Signed Exact English is not.
Students may not have an understanding of how history and culture are intertwined with language.
Integration Strategy
This site can be used as a resource for teachers as they build their course and their individual lessons. The in-depth English explanations of the grammatical structures and syntax may be difficult for many students to process, but those explanations could be invaluable to teachers as key points that they can demonstrate and review. Teachers can introduce lesson vocabulary and grammar through an ASL-only demonstration. The site can be then displayed on an Interactive White Board for systematic explanation. Students can use the handouts provided on the website to study key ideas and can practice their signing at home or in class, accessing the site on their school laptops.
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Tool Based Software:
The Fingerspelling tool from Dr. Bill Vicars provides a systematic way to improve one's receptive ability to decode fingerspelling. A word or name is fingerspelled onscreen and the student types what letters they saw. The speed at which the words are displayed can be customized, up to the extraordinarily fast rate at which native-ASL speakers are able to use. The complexity of the vocabulary is also customizable (3-6 letters).
Here is a quick sample of how the tool works:
Here is a quick sample of how the tool works:
Problem Statement
In the absence of having sustained access to native ASL speakers, students may need additional practice in processing fingerspelled names and words at a more natural rate of signing.
In order to build proficiency in the receptive skill of decoding fingerspelled names and words, students need to have the opportunity to observe and practice outside of the school day.
In order to build proficiency in the receptive skill of decoding fingerspelled names and words, students need to have the opportunity to observe and practice outside of the school day.
Integration Strategy
The teacher can use the fingerspelling tool as a quick review activity on the IWB, where students use individual response clickers (SMART response system, Promethean ActivExpression Learner Response devices, mobile devices with eClicker app or similar) to input their answers. Teacher can gradually increase the rate and complexity of the fingerspelled term. In the absence of students response devices, students can use individual whiteboards to write their guesses before the teacher and/or student reveals the correct answer. Students can then fingerspell the words themselves, increasing their rate and fluency over time.
The students can also access the program on their individual laptops at school and as part of their home study sessions.
The students can also access the program on their individual laptops at school and as part of their home study sessions.
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Instructional Software:
The software program, Rocket Sign Language, offers videos and game-based lesson reviews to help master ASL Each sign is displayed in video which can be played at half-speed in order to more closely observe the sign's formation. The program costs $49 to download (half the price of ordering the CD). There is a 6 day free trial available.
Here is Rocket Sign Language's product description/advertisement:
Problem Statement
Students may have difficulty accessing the visual language of ASL through text-based instruction.
Students may lack access to observing fluent ASL speakers.
Students may lack access to observing fluent ASL speakers.
Integration Strategy
The teacher can use Rocket Sign Language on the Interactive White Board to present structured lessons and then to play review games. The teacher can slow down the rate of signing in order to that students can analyze the individual components. The students can practice using the words/phrases/sentences with each other and having conversations in ASL.
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Productivity Software
Google+ Hangouts allows video conferencing of up-to-10 people, with more people able to observe the conversation. Google updated the program so that it is no longer the loudest person who gets the center spot , but rather the main speaker "takes the floor" by pressing shift +S, with all participants having their microphones on mute. (Here is an article describing the changes for ASL hangouts).
Here is a Google-produced introduction to Hangouts, not specific to how it could be used for learning ASL but giving a good idea of how it works in general:
Here is a Google-produced introduction to Hangouts, not specific to how it could be used for learning ASL but giving a good idea of how it works in general:
Problem Statement
Students may have difficulty practicing both expressive and receptive language skills when learning ASL as a reciprocal conversational partner may not be in the immediate environment.
Integration Strategy
Students can use Google+ Hangouts outside of school to have conversations with their peers in ASL, to practice targeted language skills, and to collaborate on class projects. Additionally, the teacher could use Google+ Hangouts to bring native ASL speakers into the classroom (virtually) to interact with students.
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More Resources
Check out these additional resources for further information and more ideas about integrating technology into the content area of Language Learning for ASL.
- The software program Visualize ASL offers an immersive approach to learning ASL, with no overlay of English. Video and review games are incorporated throughout the program.
- ASL University is a site (not an actual university) that contains many links and an online video ASL dictionary, as well as detailed explanations of ASL grammar. It also offers the manual alphabet as a downloadable font called Gallaudet True Font, available for Mac and Windows.
- Dawn Sign Press is a publisher (mostly printed materials, but a few CDs) of ASL learning materials, including the Signing Naturally series.
- There are now quite a few apps that are available for learning/practicing ASL. Here are just a few: Sign Language Idioms, Wiermans Family ASL 1, and Sign Language Dictionary. When looking at iTunes' apps, be aware that, while most of the apps are for ASL, some of them are for British Sign Language (BSL) and some are for Signed Exact English (SEE) Make sure you read the descriptions carefully.
- The National Technical Institute for the Deaf (at the University of Rochester) has some advanced materials available, including an in-depth video dictionary that includes inflections (the CD costs $49 or a 1-year online subscription costs $39). Check out the interesting article about how sign language affects cognition.
- SignLinking is a system for creating website links that are use ASL videos to hyperlink pages/sites. Watch how it works at SignLink Studio.