ASL 101 - American Sign Language Level I Part A

3 Credits
Outline Effective Date: Academic Year 2025/2026
Revised Date: Aug 21, 2025
Date Approved: Aug 21, 2025

Lecture Hours: 45

Course Description:
In this course, students are introduced to American Sign Language (ASL), its culture, and to the community of Deaf persons who use this language. Students learn how to have basic conversations as well as use appropriate behaviours within the Deaf Community.

Rationale:
Individuals working with the Deaf community need to develop basic, practical communication and conversational skills. The content of this course provides the foundational knowledge and skills required to begin interacting with the Deaf community.

Prerequisites: None
Corequisites: None

Course Learning Outcomes:
A student who successfully completes the course will have reliably demonstrated the ability to use ASL to:

Exchange personal information
Describe an object or item visually
Discuss living situations
Demonstrate introductory skills in talking about family
Converse about activities
Demonstrate an introductory use of classifiers
Use numbers 1 - 100 when communicating
Fingerspell words

Required Resource Materials:
Lentz, E. M., Smith, C., & Mikos, K. (2018). Signing naturally student workbook. Units 1-6. ISBN: 978-1-58121-210-5

Optional Resource Materials:
Patrie, C. J., & Johnson, R. E. Fingerspelled Word Recognition through Rapid Serial Visual Presentation (RSVP). ISBN: 9781581210392

Conduct of Course:
This course has 45 hours of instruction that includes a combination of lectures, video clips, activities, group and individual practices, discussions, reviews, video-recordings, and skills practice sessions. Students are encouraged to practice outside of class.

Lessons are presented in context. Activities provide students with opportunities to engage in meaningful and exploratory conversations. Each unit builds upon the previous information.

This is an immersion course, which means students should not use their voices in class. The best way to learn ASL is to stop thinking and speaking in an oral language like English.

Regular attendance and participation in class are essential for success in any course. Openness to accepting and incorporating feedback regarding your ASL skills is important; this in turn will help contribute to your sense of confidence as you develop your skills and feel the excitement of learning a new language.

Absence for any reason does not relieve a student of the responsibility of completing course work and assignments to the satisfaction of the instructor. Students are responsible for catching up on any missed material. Students should exchange contact information with other students to keep up with any missed classes. More than two (2) absences may result in probation.

In cases of repeated absences due to illness, the student may be requested to submit a medical certificate.

Instructors have the authority to require attendance in classes.

Content of Course:
Unit One: Introducing Oneself

Unit Two: Exchanging Personal Information

Unit Three: Discussing Living Situations
Course Assessments:

Class Activities	10%
Progress Check 1	30%
Progress Check 2	30%
Progress Check 3	30%
Total	100%

Official final grades will be available on My Lakeland. Grades posted in D2L should be considered interim grades.
“Lakeland College is committed to the highest academic standards. Students are expected to be familiar with Lakeland College policies and to abide by these policies. Violations of these policies are considered to be serious and may result in suspension or expulsion from the College.”

Course Pass Requirements:
A minimum grade of C (60%) (2.0) is required to pass this course. In addition, Students must maintain a cumulative grade of C (GPA - Grade Point Average of 2.00) in order to qualify to graduate.

Letter	F	D	D+	C-	C	C+	B-	B	B+	A-	A	A+
Percent Range	0-49	50-52	53-56	57-59	60-64	65-69	70-74	75-79	80-84	85-89	90-94	95-100
Points	0.00	1.00	1.30	1.70	2.00	2.30	2.70	3.00	3.30	3.70	4.00	4.00

Students are responsible for monitoring their academic progress and requesting assistance as necessary.

Students who do not achieve the minimum passing grade are referred to the Registrar and placed on Academic Probation, and required to demonstrate successful completion of course goals, within a specified time period, prior to completion of the program.

Every effort has been made to ensure that information in this course outline is accurate at the time of publication. Lakeland College reserves the right to change courses if it becomes necessary so that course content remains relevant.

In such cases, the instructor will give students clear and timely notice of changes.

No part of this course outline may be reproduced in any form or resold without written permission from Lakeland College.

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Toll-free in Canada: 1 800 661 6490 E-mail: admissions@lakelandcollege.ca

Here at Lakeland College, we acknowledge that the land we gather on is the traditional homeland, hunting, and ceremonial gathering places of the First Nations, Métis and Inuit. The Plains Cree, Woodland Cree, Saulteaux, Blackfoot, Métis, Dene, and Nakota Sioux people have practiced their culture and languages on Treaty 6 and Métis Region 2 territories for generations and were the original caretakers of this land. Many First Nation, Métis and Inuit peoples call this land home today and have done so for millennia. We would like to acknowledge the history we have created together on this land, and to be thankful for the opportunity to walk together side-by-side in friendship, learning from our past, and promoting positive relationships for the past, present and future.