This course is designed to develop conversational discourse and presentation skills in American Sign Language (ASL). It provides students with the foundational knowledge necessary to engage in ASL discourse in basic presentations, dialogues, and group settings. Students will expand their knowledge of ASL vocabulary and linguistic features; identify main ideas, supporting details, and transitions in ASL discourse; improve their ASL comprehension and expression; apply cultural interaction behaviors appropriate to given settings; deliver short presentations in ASL; and learn how to assess their ASL abilities and develop an ASL personal improvement plan.

ASL Includes linguistic features, cultural protocols and core vocabulary for students to function in basic ASL conversations that include ASL grammar for asking and answering questions while introducing oneself, exchanging personal information, talking about family, friends and surroundings, and discussing activities. This course is designed for students who have no knowledge of American Sign Language. Students must take placement exam if this is their first RIT class in Sign Language and they have some prior study of Sign Language.

This course expands the basic principles presented in ASL I. ASL II teaches students to use linguistics features, cultural protocols and core vocabulary to function in basic ASL conversations that include ASL grammar for giving directions, describing, making request, talking about family, occupations and routines, and attributing qualities to others.

Students will develop receptive and expressive skills needed to converse about familiar topics using a series of discrete sentences. Students will learn vocabulary, grammar, and cultural protocols for communicating at a Novice-Mid to Novice-High ASL level as defined by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages.

Students will develop ASL receptive and expressive skills needed to communicate discrete paragraphs composed of connected sentences. At the end of the semester, students will achieve effective communication by using vocabulary, grammar, and cultural protocols for conveying details about familiar topics at a Novice-High to Intermediate-Low level as defined by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages.