Engage in a variety of ASL exchanges of learned material to socialize and to provide and obtain information at an advanced proficiency level

Standards Alignment

• TEKS.114.38.01A primary
  engage in a variety of ASL exchanges of learned material to socialize and to provide and obtain information at an advanced proficiency level;
• TEKS.114.38.01B primary
  demonstrate an in-depth understanding of ASL such as stories, commands, and instructions when dealing with familiar and unfamiliar topics;

Lesson Overview

This lesson enables Grade 12 students to engage in advanced American Sign Language (ASL) exchanges to socialize and provide or obtain information. Students will demonstrate an in-depth understanding of ASL through stories, commands, and instructions on both familiar and unfamiliar topics, building proficiency in expressive and receptive communication without voice.

Learning Objectives

• Engage in a variety of ASL exchanges using learned material to socialize and provide or obtain information at an advanced proficiency level.
• Demonstrate an in-depth understanding of ASL stories, commands, and instructions when discussing familiar and unfamiliar topics.

Success Criteria

• Students can participate in ASL conversations that include social exchanges and information sharing with accuracy and fluency.
• Students can comprehend and respond appropriately to ASL stories, commands, and instructions on various topics.
• Students demonstrate confidence in using expressive and receptive ASL skills without voice.

Prerequisite Knowledge

Students should have prior knowledge of ASL vocabulary, grammar, and basic conversational skills at an intermediate level, including familiarity with common ASL stories, commands, and instructions.

Key Vocabulary

• American Sign Language (ASL)
• Expressive communication
• Receptive communication
• Proficiency level
• Social exchange
• Information exchange
• Commands
• Instructions
• Stories
• Facial expressions
• Non-manual signals

Materials and Resources

• Video clips of ASL conversations including stories, commands, and instructions
• ASL dictionaries or glossaries
• Worksheets with ASL vocabulary and sentence structures
• Technology for video recording and playback
• Visual aids illustrating facial expressions and non-manual signals

Teacher Preparation

• Prepare video examples of advanced ASL exchanges demonstrating social and informational communication.
• Review key ASL vocabulary and structures related to stories, commands, and instructions.
• Set up technology for recording student ASL exchanges for feedback.
• Prepare guided practice prompts and cultural context notes for discussion.

Detailed Lesson Notes

Understanding Advanced ASL Exchanges

Advanced ASL exchanges involve using expressive and receptive skills to communicate complex ideas, socialize, and share information fluently without voice. This includes the use of facial expressions and non-manual signals to convey tone, emotion, and grammatical information. Students should be able to handle both familiar and unfamiliar topics, adapting their signing to context and audience.

Expressive and Receptive Communication Skills in ASL

Expressive skills refer to the ability to produce ASL accurately and fluently, including vocabulary, grammar, and non-manual markers. Receptive skills involve understanding ASL when others sign, including interpreting stories, commands, and instructions. Both skills are essential for effective communication and require practice with varied materials and real-life scenarios.

Using ASL to Socialize and Exchange Information

Social exchanges in ASL include greetings, small talk, sharing experiences, and responding to others. Information exchanges involve asking and answering questions, giving instructions, and narrating stories. Advanced proficiency means students can manage these exchanges smoothly, using appropriate vocabulary and cultural norms.

Interpreting Stories, Commands, and Instructions in ASL

Stories in ASL often include role shifts, classifiers, and spatial referencing to convey narrative elements. Commands and instructions require clear, direct signing with appropriate facial expressions to indicate urgency or politeness. Understanding these forms helps students respond accurately and engage meaningfully in conversations.

Common Misconceptions and Challenges

A common misconception is that ASL is a direct word-for-word translation of English; instead, ASL has its own grammar and syntax. Another challenge is underestimating the importance of facial expressions and non-manual signals, which are crucial for meaning. Students may also struggle with unfamiliar topics, requiring strategies for clarification and asking questions.

Worked Examples

Classroom Activity

Practice signing with a partner, focusing on clarity, facial expressions, and appropriate vocabulary.

Guided Practice

Independent Practice

1. Foundational: What is one way facial expressions help in ASL communication?
2. Developing: Describe how you would use ASL to greet a friend and ask about their day.
3. Application: Sign a short ASL exchange where you give a command to a classmate and then respond to their question about it.
4. Analysis: Compare how stories and commands differ in ASL in terms of structure and facial expressions.
5. Challenge: Create and perform an ASL exchange on an unfamiliar topic that includes socializing, giving instructions, and telling a short story. Reflect on the strategies you used to communicate effectively.

Independent Practice Teacher Answer Key

1. 1. Facial expressions help show emotions and clarify the meaning of signs.
2. 2. I would sign a greeting like 'HELLO' or 'HI' with a smile, then sign 'YOU DAY HOW?' with appropriate facial expressions to ask about their day.
3. 3. The student signs a clear command such as 'PLEASE SIT DOWN' with a serious facial expression, then responds to a question like 'WHY?' by explaining the reason using ASL grammar and expressions.
4. 4. Stories use role shifts, classifiers, and varied facial expressions to show characters and emotions, while commands use direct signs with firm facial expressions and body language to indicate authority or urgency.
5. 5. The student produces a fluent exchange incorporating facial expressions, clarifying questions, and appropriate ASL grammar to handle the unfamiliar topic, and explains using strategies like asking for clarification and using context clues.

Guiding Questions

• How do facial expressions change the meaning of signs?
• What strategies help you understand unfamiliar ASL topics?
• How can you use ASL to socialize effectively?
• What are the differences between telling a story and giving a command in ASL?
• How does understanding Deaf culture improve your ASL communication?

Common Misconceptions

• ASL is just English signed word-for-word, but it has its own grammar and syntax.
• Facial expressions are optional in ASL; in fact, they are essential for meaning.
• Commands in ASL are always aggressive; they can be polite or firm depending on context.

Differentiation

Assessment

• Observe student participation in guided ASL exchanges and provide immediate feedback.
• Use questioning to check understanding of ASL grammar and cultural context.
• Review student notes and reflections on ASL communication strategies.
• Sign a short ASL exchange that includes a greeting, a command, and a question.
• Explain how facial expressions change the meaning of a sign in ASL.
• Perform a recorded ASL conversation demonstrating social and informational exchanges on an unfamiliar topic.
• Write a reflection on how understanding Deaf culture influences ASL communication.

Answer Guide

• What expressive features are important in ASL storytelling?
  Answer: Role shifts, spatial referencing, facial expressions, and non-manual signals are important to convey characters and emotions.
• How do you show a command in ASL?
  Answer: By using direct signs combined with firm facial expressions and body language to indicate urgency or authority.
• Why is it important to understand Deaf culture when communicating in ASL?
  Answer: Because cultural norms influence how signs are used, the meaning of expressions, and appropriate social interactions.

Real-Life Application

Ask students to teach a family member or friend a simple ASL greeting and command, then share their experience and any challenges they faced.

Homework or Home Connection

• Ask students to teach a family member or friend a simple ASL greeting and command, then share their experience and any challenges they faced.

Lesson Summary

In this lesson, students practiced engaging in advanced ASL exchanges to socialize and exchange information. They developed expressive and receptive skills by interpreting and producing stories, commands, and instructions on familiar and unfamiliar topics. Emphasis was placed on the importance of facial expressions and cultural understanding to communicate effectively in ASL at an advanced proficiency level.

Teacher Notes

Use the exact standards alignment and retrieved-source provenance stored with this enrichment.

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