Master ASL – Level One! (W/ DVD)

Master ASL – Level One!

Master ASL! is an American Sign Language curriculum that supports the communicative competence approach to language learning and teaching.

The Student Textbook contains 10 units with more than 1,500 sign illustrations, plus full color photographs and other illustrations used to elicit student communication. Each unit includes lessons in the following areas:

Language and Structure:

• ASL Up Close: highlights important functions of ASL structure
• Eyes on ASL: presents basic rules of signing in ASL
• Accent Steps: tips and advice to help improve ASL skills
• Expression Corner: exposes students to ASL idioms and useful phrases and expressions

Deaf Culture:

• Deaf Culture Notes: relevant aspects of Deaf culture related to the topic at hand
• Focus: in-depth examinations of important issues in the Deaf World
• Deaf Culture Minute: brief cultural tidbits to help students understand Deaf culture
• I Want to Know: answers common questions students have about ASL and Deaf culture

Comparison and Reflection:

• Journal activities: opportunities to analyze and reflect on ASL, Deaf culture, and the Deaf experience
• Exposure to Deaf art and writing by Deaf authors

Features include:

• Knowledge of grammar, vocabulary, and sentence structure
• Ability to use language appropriately within various social settings and to interact in culturally appropriate ways
• Discourse competence which is the ability to initiate and sustain communication
• Strategies to identify, repair, and avoid communication breakdowns

The Student videos are an essential component of the Master ASL! curriculum. The videos are important to help students apply what they’ve learned in class to their homework and out-of-class practice exercises. It includes narratives for the student to view, memorize and repeat or record themselves performing. All the signs that are illustrated in the text are also presented in full motion on the Video Vocabulary portion.