Sign Language Course

Lesson 1 • Linguistic Structure of Sign Language

Introduces phonology, morphology, and syntax as they apply to signed languages. Demonstrates that sign languages are fully structured natural languages.

Lesson 2 • History and Cultural Context

Traces the origins of signed languages and the Deaf community's cultural identity. Establishes why cultural respect is inseparable from language learning.

Lesson 3 • The Manual Alphabet

Teaches fingerspelling as a foundational tool for spelling names and unfamiliar words. Connects fingerspelling to broader vocabulary-building strategies.

Lesson 1 • Family and Relationships

Covers signs for family members, relationships, and describing people. Builds vocabulary for personal storytelling and introductions.

Lesson 2 • Time, Days, and Schedules

Introduces temporal vocabulary including days, months, and time expressions. Enables students to discuss schedules and plan interactions.

Lesson 3 • Greetings and Introductions

Teaches signs for meeting, greeting, and parting in social contexts. Forms the first complete interaction loop students can practice independently.

Lesson 4 • Colors, Adjectives, and Descriptors

Teaches color signs and descriptive adjectives used to modify nouns. Enables richer, more precise descriptions in conversation.

Lesson 1 • Yes/No and Wh- Questions

Covers the non-manual markers and sign placement that form questions. Enables students to gather information and confirm understanding.

Lesson 2 • Negation and Affirmation

Teaches negative signs and head-shake incorporation for denial and refusal. Pairs negation with affirmation signs for complete expressive range.

Lesson 3 • Topic-Comment Sentence Structure

Explains the topic-comment order that underlies signed sentence grammar. Contrasts this structure with spoken-language word order to prevent interference errors.

Lesson 4 • Tense and Temporal Sequencing

Explains the time-line concept and how tense is marked spatially and lexically. Enables students to narrate events in chronological order.

Lesson 1 • Facial Grammar Fundamentals

Identifies the grammatical roles of eyebrows, eyes, and mouth in signed sentences. Distinguishes grammatical facial expressions from emotional ones.

Lesson 2 • Body Posture and Role Shifting

Teaches how body lean and shoulder shift indicate character or perspective changes. Enables students to portray multiple characters in a single narrative.

Lesson 3 • Intensity and Degree Modulation

Shows how movement size, speed, and facial intensity modify adjective and verb meaning. Students express degree without additional lexical signs.

Lesson 1 • Depicting Verbs and Size-Shape Specifiers

Introduces depicting verbs that show action and size-shape specifiers for object contours. Expands descriptive precision beyond basic classifiers.

Lesson 2 • Complex Spatial Narratives

Integrates all classifier and spatial grammar skills into extended descriptive passages. Students produce and comprehend multi-element spatial stories.

Lesson 3 • Movement Classifiers for Vehicles and People

Focuses on classifiers depicting motion paths of people and vehicles. Students narrate movement events with directional accuracy.

Lesson 4 • Classifier Predicate Categories

Categorizes classifiers by semantic function: whole entity, surface, instrument, and body. Provides a systematic framework for selecting the correct classifier.

Lesson 1 • Strategies for Visual Attention

Trains the eye to track the signer's face, hands, and body simultaneously. Establishes efficient visual scanning habits that reduce comprehension fatigue.

Lesson 2 • Understanding Classifiers in Context

Practices interpreting classifier predicates from video and live signing. Connects visual input to spatial meaning without translation into spoken language.

Lesson 3 • Comprehension at Natural Signing Speed

Exposes students to authentic signing samples at native speed. Builds tolerance for ambiguity and strategies for requesting clarification.

Lesson 1 • Healthcare and Emergency Communication

Teaches signs for medical appointments, symptoms, and emergency situations. Addresses high-stakes communication where accuracy is critical.

Lesson 2 • Educational and Instructional Settings

Prepares students to sign in classroom and tutoring environments. Covers instructional vocabulary and strategies for explaining concepts visually.

Lesson 3 • Professional and Workplace Signing

Covers vocabulary and register appropriate for workplace interactions. Prepares students to communicate in meetings, interviews, and team settings.

Lesson 4 • Community and Service Interactions

Addresses signing in stores, transportation, and community services. Builds confidence for independent navigation of public environments.

Lesson 1 • Narrative and Storytelling Techniques

Develops skills for constructing engaging signed stories with plot, character, and tension. Integrates classifiers, role shifting, and prosody into unified narratives.

Lesson 2 • Register Variation and Code Switching

Explores formal, informal, and contact signing registers and when to use each. Prepares students to adapt signing style to audience and context.

Lesson 3 • Cohesion and Discourse Markers

Introduces signs and non-manuals that link ideas and signal discourse structure. Enables students to produce organized, easy-to-follow extended signing.

Lesson 4 • Self-Monitoring and Fluency Building

Provides tools for identifying and correcting personal signing errors. Establishes a self-directed practice framework for continued improvement.