Faculty

SGNL-1401 American Sign Language (ASL) I

Antonia Holcomb

Credit Fall 2025

Section(s)

SGNL-1401-006 (23528)
LEC RGC ONL DIL

LAB RGC ONL DIL

LEC W 5:00pm - 6:25pm RGC RG10 1315.00

LAB W 6:25pm - 7:20pm RGC RG10 1315.00

SGNL-1401-008 (23530)
LEC DIL ONL DIL

LAB DIL ONL DIL

Course Requirements

Course Description

This course is an introduction to the basic skills in production and comprehension of American Sign Language (ASL). It includes the manual alphabet and numbers. Develops conversational ability, culturally appropriate behaviors and exposes students to ASL grammar. (4-3-2) This is a 4 credit hour course with 3 lecture hours each week and 2 laboratory or activity hours each week. This course requires significant time outside of class.

Course Rationale/Objectives

The purpose of this course is to support students in developing the study habits and language-learning strategies needed for success in American Sign Language. Students will review and practice course content through a variety of activities, which may include lectures, small group work, electronic media, visits to the ASLIT Lab, and participation in Deaf community events.

Students will be encouraged to practice both comprehension and production skills in order to build confidence and achieve a positive learning experience. Active participation, whether in class or online, is expected of all students.

Prerequisites

None. However, students must earn a grade of “C” or higher in this course to fulfill the prerequisite for SGNL 1402: American Sign Language II.

Readings

Required Texts/Materials

TWA Innovations (2025). TRUE+WAY ASL Textbook Units 1 – 5 (4th edition).

First, go to ACC Blackboard → open your ASL course. Find the link in either the Announcements or the Start Here/Syllabus folder.

Holcomb, T. (2012). Introduction to American Deaf Culture. New York: Oxford University Press. [electronic or paperback]
- Available for purchase or rent at the ACC Bookstore or from online retailers (e.g., Amazon, Oxford University Press, etc.).

Course Subjects

Instructional Methodology: Hybrid course

Students in a hybrid course will cover the same material as in a traditional or distance-learning classroom setting. This format requires strong self-discipline, the ability to use ACC Gmail, navigate Blackboard, access the TRUE+WAY ASL textbook, view online lecture videos, and work confidently with personal computers and the internet. Instruction is delivered through a combination of asynchronous online learning and scheduled real-time class meetings (synchronous sessions).

Students are expected to:

Attend all scheduled in-person class meetings and actively engage in class activities
Watch online lecture videos, review slides/lecture notes, and view required films
Complete all assignments by the posted deadlines

It is the student’s responsibility to utilize the ACC–ASLIT Learning & Tutoring Lab and schedule appointments as needed. Overall, students are responsible for managing their own learning and progress.

Student Learning Outcomes/Learning Objectives

Program Learning Outcomes

The ASL and Interpreter Training (ASLIT) program’s learning outcomes align with the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) and the Texas Board for Evaluation of Interpreters (BEI). A complete list of the ASLIT’s program learning outcomes can be found here.

Course and Student Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

Vocabulary Development
1. Identify and recall vocabulary introduced in Units 1–5 of the TRUE+WAY ASL (TWA) Textbook.
2. Apply targeted vocabulary from class activities and videos in both expressive and receptive contexts.
Grammatical Features
1. Use content-specific commands, questions, and statements in ASL.
2. Participate in short dialogues in ASL as presented by the instructor.
Conversational and Communication Skills
1. Demonstrate comprehension by applying conversational strategies such as attention-getting techniques and turn-taking signals.
2. Comprehend and respond to short narratives and stories in ASL presented by the instructor, Deaf ASL users, or course videos.
3. Produce short, content-specific conversations in ASL.
Cultural Awareness
1. Understand key aspects of Deaf Americans, ASL, and its history through readings, lectures, films, and course materials (TRUE+WAY ASL and Introduction to American Deaf Culture).
2. Compare and contrast similarities and differences between Deaf and hearing cultures.

General Education Students Learning Outcomes

As part of the Core Curriculum, students completing this course will demonstrate competence in the following areas:

Civic and Cultural Awareness: Analyze and critique competing perspectives in a democratic society; compare, contrast, and interpret differences and commonalities among peoples, ideas, aesthetic traditions, and cultural practices.
Critical Thinking: Gather, analyze, synthesize, evaluate, and apply information effectively.
Personal Responsibility: Identify and apply ethical principles and practices; demonstrate effective learning strategies, creative thinking, and accountability for personal actions.
Interpersonal Skills: Interact and collaborate with others to achieve common goals.
Written, Oral (Sign), and Visual Communication: Communicate effectively by adapting to purpose, structure, audience, and medium.
Technology Skills: Use appropriate technology to retrieve, manage, analyze, and present information.