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Students explore the language and culture of the Deaf community in the United States. See below for course offerings.

Introductory American Sign Language

Designed to introduce students to American Sign Language, American Sign Language courses enable students to communicate with deaf persons through finger spelling, signed words, and gestures. Course topics may include the culture of and issues facing deaf people.

American Sign Language 1

Designed to introduce students to American Sign Language, American Sign Language 1 courses enable students to communicate with deaf persons through finger spelling, signed words, and gestures. Course topics may include the culture of and issues facing deaf people.

In middle schools, this course is typically divided into two parts and taken over two years as level 1A and level 1B. Students must successfully pass 1A in order to enroll in 1B. Credit will be awarded at the end of successful completion of both levels 1A and 1B. To receive 1.0 credit for a level 1 language, 1A and 1B must both be completed successfully prior to leaving 8th grade.

American Sign Language 2

American Sign Language 2 courses build upon skills developed in American Sign Language 1, extending students’ ability to understand and express themselves in American Sign Language and increasing their vocabulary and speed. Typically, students learn how to engage in discourse for informative or social purposes and to comprehend the language when signed slowly.

Honors American Sign Language 3

American Sign Language 3 courses focus on having students express increasingly complex concepts while showing some spontaneity. Comprehension goals for students may include attaining more facility and faster understanding when viewing the language signed at normal rates and conversing easily within limited situations.