American Sign Language Dictionary
Keywords:
Sign Language, Deaf, Hearing Impaired, Sign Language Education.
Site Overview:
The Sign Language Dictionary online is a wonderful resource for anyone wanting to learn about sign language. There are several facets to this site, one of which is the American Sign Language Dictionary. Each letter of the alphabet is demonstrated with easy-to-follow directions for imitation. Specific categories also include American Sign Language numbers, culture and language and stories.
Goals and Objectives:
This is an introduction to sign language and letter formation. After viewing this site, the student will have basic knowledge of letter and number formation. Upon further study, a student may learn to spell words and form sentences using standard American Sign Language practices.
Research:
(Source: World Book Encyclopedia CD-ROM 1999, American Sign Language Dictionary web site.)
Author's note: I have used the terms hearing impaired and deaf interchangeably. Deaf is defined as those with no hearing at all, and hearing impaired is defined as those who have varying degrees of deafness.
Sign language is a wonderful way for enabling the hearing impaired to communicate with those who have normal hearing. It also allows them to communicate with those who are deaf or hearing impaired. Many people use American Sign Language (ASL), which is based on ideas to express words, instead of just learning to sign each specific letter for each word. Some words and ideas do not have a specific “sign” so there is a “manual alphabet” called a finger alphabet that can be used to spell out the particular word; for example, someone's name. These letters can be used with gestures for specific words.
There are many schools that use what is called “total communication”. This means that every form of communication including sign language, lip reading and oral
speech can be used as needed to share information. Those who are deaf can do almost any type of work with the proper training.
Unknown to many people is the fact that sign language changes depending on spoken language. In other words, some countries have an entirely different sign language. In these cases, many may use gestures, pictorial signs or other ways to communicate.
Lesson Plans and Site Navigation:
1. Go to the American Sign Language Dictionary Home Page http://dww.deafworldweb.org/asl/. Read the introduction and welcome.
2. One option is to take the newcomers tour, or skip it and go to number 3.
3. Go to the American Sign Language alphabet. By clicking on each letter, you will be shown the letter in sign language including a demonstration on how to form the letter.
4. Practice forming each letter of the alphabet.
5. If desired, move onto the numbers in sign. Practice forming the numbers.
6. Look for the answers to the “scavenger hunt questions” under the “Categories” section.
Scavenger Hunt Questions:
Grades K-3:
1. How old do you have to be to learn sign language?
2. Demonstrate the signs for baby, book, eat and home.
3. When learning sign language, what is the most important thing to remember?
4. Why is the look on your face important when doing sign language?
5. Is it better to learn to do sign language very fast?
6. What are the sign letters of your name? Learn and practice this.
Grades 4-8:
1. Why are babies taught sign language?
2. Look up and demonstrate five different signs that would be advantageous to teach babies. Why did you select these?
3. Why are facial expressions important?
4. What advantages can you see in using sign language in your own life, no matter what your hearing ability?
5. What are the sign letters of your name? Learn and practice this.
6. How can you gain speed in signing?
Grades 9-12:
1. What advantages do you see in teaching children sign language regardless of their hearing loss?
2. Demonstrate five or more signs that you would use to teach a baby. Be ready to defend your choices
3. Why would the term "hearing impaired" be preferable to using the term "deaf"?
4. Why might your facial expression help in communicating with the hearing impaired?
5. How can you increase your speed in signing?
6. What is the ultimate goal in learning to use sign language?
Additional Activities:
· Make a sign language book. Place the letter of the alphabet and a drawing of the sign that goes along with it.
· Make a sign language video. Once you learn how to make the letters of the alphabet, you can demonstrate these by saying the letter and then showing the sign.
· Watch a movie or television program with the volume turned off. How does this change your enjoyment of watching the program? Adjust the volume a little higher, but not so that you can hear it clearly. This simulates what a person with partial hearing may experience. Discuss this experience.
Volunteer at a school for the hearing impaired. Perhaps ask for permission to observe first.
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· Research people who have overcome the obstacles of being hearing impaired including Thomas Edison, Beethoven, and Helen Keller as well as others. Write a one page report making sure to include the following: When he/she became aware of their problem, what did he/she do to overcome their difficulty? Who (if anyone) was instrumental in helping him/her overcome any obstacles?
· Brainstorm and come up with some recreational activities that may interest the hearing impaired. List these activities. Be ready to defend your answers. Rate them from 1-10 in the order of most to least favorite.
· Think of some road signs that would be beneficial for the hearing impaired. Do you think these are valuable even for those who do not have a hearing loss?
· Research "lip reading," and discuss how this has impacted the hearing impaired world. When was this first method used and by whom? When was this method introduced in the United States? Is this method still used today?
· Research current technology (telecommunication devices) that help the hearing impaired do things they may not otherwise do, such as watch television, hear the phone ring, speak on the phone, or hear the doorbell. What other advances have been made?
· Research the medical aspects of those who are hearing impaired. What is the name of the specialist who works with the hearing impaired? What are the parameters set to identify those who may need hearing aids? Are those who wear hearing aids considered hearing impaired? Why or why not?
· Most people realize dogs are used to help the blind, but many do not realize they are also used for the hearing impaired. Research and discuss how this might be a valuable asset.
· Research special schools for those with a hearing impairment. How young do children have to be to attend those schools? Are any hearing impaired children home schooled? Why might this be an advantage?
· What are some job opportunities for those who are hearing impaired? Does this impairment necessarily restrict their effectiveness? Why or why not.
· What are the specific foundations set up for those who are hearing impaired? In your research, include private as well as publicly funded.
· Research Alexander Graham Bell. He was a teacher to the hearing impaired but is known as the inventor of the telephone. In Bell's day, a specific way of teaching these children was used. What was it, and compare it to the present educational system.