American Sign Language

Outcomes & Performance

The mission of American Sign Language at Lakeland is to provide students with a foundation in American Sign Language (ASL) and basic issues of concern to the Deaf community, while strengthening knowledge and communication skills. Furthermore, the program broadens students' appreciation and understanding of Deaf culture, history and language to enable students to:

1. Facilitate effective communication with Deaf persons in informal settings in teaching, human services or health care;
2. Enhance their credentials for employment opportunities which do not require interpreter certification but do assign value to skills in ASL and knowledge of Deaf culture;
3. Earn the academic qualifications for entry into advanced studies at universities offering sign language programs;
4. Enter an interpreter training program, after which they may sit for a certification examination, sponsored by the national licensing organization.
5. Partner with organizations and clubs relevant to the Deaf community.

1. Promote respect and awareness for Deaf culture, identity, traditions, history, values, literature, norms and language.
   1. Identify and demonstrate communication practices that show respect for Deaf culture, traditions, history, values, literature, norms, and language in a variety of settings.
   2. Discuss research and cultural practices related to history, language, daily living patterns, societal structure, institutions and value systems of Deaf people.
   3. Explain and define Deaf literature using in-depth understanding and experiences with major authors and themes.
   4. Describe and explain Deaf culture and community from a variety of perspectives.
   5. Collaborate with others in developing informational materials and partnering with local Deaf events.
2. Demonstrate confident and effective communication skills and strategies in ASL and English.
   1. Effectively interpret messages effectively in ASL and English.
   2. Effectively convey messages in ASL and English.
   3. Demonstrate effective interpersonal skills.
   4. Demonstrate effective interpersonal skills.
   5. Employ ASL with confidence in a manner considered culturally appropriate by native ASL signers.
   6. Demonstrate a proficiency in communicating with ASL as is evidenced by an American Sign Language Proficiency Interview (SLPI) rating of advanced high.
3. Be able to locate, analyze and synthesize information.
   1. Identify information sources and assess source quality in terms of reliability, credibility, accuracy.
   2. Evaluate sources and materials for argumentative thoroughness, fairness and reasoning.
   3. Distinguish between facts and opinions.
   4. Demonstrate critical thinking through analysis and synthesis.
   5. Present positions and information with support from multiple sources and perspectives.