My Learning Plan
Learner Name: Susmita Adhikari | Semester: Spring 2021 |
Language: ASL | Course: SDLC 105 |
Where are you now? What can you do? What do you know?
Use the Levels of Competence document and the LinguaFolio® checklists to assess your current abilities in your language. For more information, see the SDLAP Wiki.
Interpersonal Communication
Beginning 0
Interpretive Listening
Beginning 0
Interpretive Reading
Beginning 0
Presentational Speaking
Beginning 0
Presentational Writing
Beginning 0
I have no prior experience in ASL
What is your ultimate goal? What is your goal for this semester?
What do you want to be able to do with this language at the end of this semester and in the future?
My ultimate goal is to be able to communicate with Deaf patient population without a medical interpreter. So, I am aiming for fluency in the long term. My goal for this semester is to be able to exchange greetings/farewells, introduce myself and my role, and explain basic registration procedures in a health care intake setting.
What tasks will you complete and what activities will you do this semester to meet your goals? How will you document and evaluate your progress?
Novice learners should consult the ‘Language Tasks’ page of the SDLAP Wiki and incorporate the required tasks in their learning. Be as specific as possible when planning activities, e.g., “I will watch YouTube videos to learn how to talk about the family.” or “I will consult a grammar text to learn about possessives.” Make sure you include some tasks that are relevant to your interests, e.g., “I will learn to understand soccer commentary.” or “I will learn to talk about the stock market.” Culture and language are, of course, inseparable. It is expected that all your language will be culturally appropriate and that every task will contribute to your cultural competence.
Task 1 | To learn how to fingerspell (alphabets and numbers) |
Type of Task | _X__ Interpersonal Communication _X__ Presentational Speaking |
What do I need to learn to complete this task? (goal) | I need to learn the signage for all the ASL alphabets and numbers. |
How will I learn? (learning activities and resources) | I will utilize a combination of resources: practice session with my language partner, YouTube videos on ASL alphabets and numbers, and the ASL textbook provided for this class. |
How will I document what I have learned? (artifacts) | I will reflect on my first impressions about how certain alphabets and numbers are signed and will post it to my language journal on Ning. I will also make a video on ASL alphabets and numbers and upload it to my ASL Google drive folder. |
How well can I accomplish this task? (self-assessment) | I think learning alphabets and numbers will be easy because it is more straightforward than learning how to form words and sentences. However, I expect it will be challenging to learn to fingerspell fast enough in order to form words. |
Task 2 | To learn how to exchange greeting and farewells |
Type of Task | _X__ Interpersonal Communication ___ Presentational Speaking |
What do I need to learn to complete this task? (goal) | I need to learn how to sign formal and informal greetings relevant to different settings and different times of the day. |
How will I learn? (learning activities and resources) | I will utilize a combination of resources: practice session with my language partner, YouTube videos and Gallaudet university’s videos on ASL greetings, and the ASL textbook provided for this class. I will also consult ASL greeting resources available in different independent websites: https://cudoo.com/blog/most-popular-sign-language-phrases-you-need-to-know/ https://www.handspeak.com/learn/index.php?id=70
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How will I document what I have learned? (artifacts) | I will write a reflection on my first impressions about how certain greetings and farewell words are signed and will post it to my language journal on Ning. I will also make a video on greetings and farewells and upload it to my ASL Google drive folder. |
How well can I accomplish this task? (self-assessment) | I expect it to be fairly easy to learn a limited amount of greetings and farewell signs that are most commonly used. Nibras (my classmate in ASL) and I will also quiz each other at the end of the task to simulate a peer review environment. |
Task 3 | To learn to introduce myself and elicit their response (name, where I am from, what I am studying etc.) |
Type of Task | __X_ Interpersonal Communication _X__ Presentational Speaking |
What do I need to learn to complete this task? (goal) | I need to use my knowledge of fingerspelling to sign proper nouns and try to expose myself to different ASL speakers and their introductions/ life as much as possible. |
How will I learn? (learning activities and resources) | I will mostly rely on practice sessions with my language partner and classmates, as well as watch online videos of people introducing themselves and talking about their lives and professions. |
How will I document what I have learned? (artifacts) | I will create a video of me introducing myself and upload it to my ASL Google drive folder. I will also try to interpret a YouTube video of someone introducing themselves and upload a reflection about how successful I was, to my language journal on Ning. |
How well can I accomplish this task? (self-assessment) | I expect learning to introduce myself will be easy whereas learning to interpret someone’s introduction will be hard. This is because introductions are not straightforward like alphabets or greetings- there can be so many different responses and words. So, this is something I will get better at, only with constant exposure and practice: either with other ASL speakers or through online videos. |
Task 4 | To learn how to ask medical emergency related questions (For example: “Where does it hurt”, “Do you have medical allergies?”) |
Type of Task | __X_ Interpersonal Communication _X__ Presentational Speaking |
What do I need to learn to complete this task? (goal) | I need to learn signage for different body parts and basic medical terminologies as well as questions. |
How will I learn? (learning activities and resources) | Along with the practice sessions with my language partner and YouTube videos, I have also identified a few online resources(videos and brochures) made specifically for paramedics and hospital staff: https://www.dummies.com/languages/american-sign-language/asl-how-to-sign-medical-and-hospital-terms/ https://www.cdss.ca.gov/cdssweb/entres/forms/English/pub391.pdf
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How will I document what I have learned? (artifacts) | I will create a video of all medical terminologies I learn and upload it to my ASL Google drive folder. |
How well can I accomplish this task? (self-assessment) | I think learning the terms and questions will be easier as there is a set of terminologies and questions that are most commonly used, but being able to interpret another person answer’s will be difficult if their answer deviates from the common answers that I will have learnt. |
Task 5 | To be able to identify and talk about family members (names, relationships, professions, something interesting) |
Type of Task | __X_ Interpersonal Communication _X__ Presentational Speaking |
What do I need to learn to complete this task? (goal) | I need to use my knowledge of fingerspelling to sign proper nouns and learn ASL signs related to family, relationships, emotions, house dynamics etc. |
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How will I learn? (learning activities and resources) | I will utilize a combination of resources: practice session with my language partner, YouTube videos on family-related ASL signs and the ASL textbook provided for this class. I will also consult family-related ASL resources available in different independent websites: https://www.signingsavvy.com/wordlist/family https://www.dummies.com/languages/american-sign-language/asl-how-to-sign-about-your-family-members/ https://www.handspeak.com/word/search/index.php?id=740 https://deafchildren.org/2020/06/asl-vocabulary-class/
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How will I document what I have learned? (artifacts) | I will reflect on my first impressions about how certain family-related words are signed and will post it to my language journal on Ning. Second, I will create an English script for family-related scenarios and make a video of me trying to explain that in ASL. I will upload these on goreact so that my instructor can give me feedback on it. |
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How well can I accomplish this task? (self-assessment) | I think learning the signs for family members and using fingerspelling for proper nouns will be easy, but being able to hold conversations and interpret responses will be hard. I can only get better at this task through constant exposure and practice, so it will be a part of my long term ASL learning goal. |
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| Task 6 | To learn how to give and/or ask for directions (for eg: bathroom, appointment room etc.) | ||
| Type of Task | __X_ Interpersonal Communication _X__ Presentational Speaking | ||
What do I need to learn to complete this task? (goal) | I need to learn direction-related ASL signs. For example: right, left, keep straight ahead, take left at first intersection, front, back etc. |
How will I learn? (learning activities and resources) | I will utilize a combination of resources: practice session with my language partner, YouTube videos on how to give directions in ASL, and the ASL textbook provided for this class. I will also consult direction-related ASL resources available in different independent websites: http://www.learnsigns.com/learnsigns-27-giving-directions/ https://helloasl.com/asl-directions-signs/
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How will I document what I have learned? (artifacts) | I will make a video of me giving direction to a certain location on campus and upload it on goreact, so that my language partner can give me feedback on it. |
How well can I accomplish this task? (self-assessment) | I think I will be able to accomplish this task well as there is a fairly small amount of direction related words and giving or asking directions does not have to be a matter of forming perfect sentences; just the terms can also convey the message. |
Task 7 | To learn how to communicate technology related instructions |
Type of Task | __X_ Interpersonal Communication __X_ Presentational Speaking |
What do I need to learn to complete this task? (goal) | I need to learn various kind of technology related issues that Deaf people may need help with because something that I think is very user friendly, may not be as intuitive when you eliminate the sound aspect. I should then learn signs for common technology troubleshooting. For example: open the app, restart the phone, click on X, make X bigger, turn off/on, connect to Wi-Fi etc. |
How will I learn? (learning activities and resources) | I will ask my language partner about most common tech-related issues in her everyday life and in social situations, which are created with hearing people in mind. In addition to YouTube videos, I have also identified this comprehensive resource for tech-related ASL signs that I will learn from: https://www.helenkeller.org/hknc/signs-technology-asl-resource
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How will I document what I have learned? (artifacts) | I will make a video of me doing all the tech-related signs and upload it to my ASL Google drive folder. |
How well can I accomplish this task? (self-assessment) | I think I will able to learn the ASL signs well and use them. Helping someone troubleshoot their tech-related issue will mostly not require me to form complete thoughts and sentences. I am optimistic that I will be able to convey my instructions using the limited ASL signs I know, making this task achievable. |
Task 8 | To be able to interpret/decipher main message in ASL entertainment ( For eg: songs, performances, poems etc.) |
Type of Task | ___ Interpersonal Communication ___ Presentational Speaking |
What do I need to learn to complete this task? (goal) | I need to expand my ASL vocabulary as much as possible through extended practice and exposure. |
How will I learn? (learning activities and resources) | I will mostly rely on ASL related entertainment content on YouTube for this. Most of the videos also provide an English transscript on the side. So, I will be able to watch the videos, try to understand the major themes and message and then go back to script to see how I did. Examples of such videos are: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qd8befPHBHw&ab_channel=Ai-Media https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jskB4GJJj0&ab_channel=ChrissyCan%27tHearYou
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How will I document what I have learned? (artifacts) | I will upload a reflection paragraph to my language journal on Ning about my experience of watching the videos, my first impressions, and my overall success in interpreting the meaning of the videos. |
How well can I accomplish this task? (self-assessment) | I believe this is a very ambitious task given the fact that I not only have to understand all the vocabulary being signed, but also the deeper, overarching themes and emotions. However, I think it will really help me evaluate and contextualize my ASL learning in a more practical, real-world environment. I think I will mostly struggle with this task, but it will also give me constant exposure to the Deaf culture. |
Task 9 | To learn how to give compliments (For example: good job, great dress etc.) |
Type of Task | _X__ Interpersonal Communication __X_ Presentational Speaking |
What do I need to learn to complete this task? (goal) | I need to identify the most commonly given compliments in Deaf communities and learn the signs for them. |
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How will I learn? (learning activities and resources) | I will learn through practice sessions with my language partner, YouTube videos and this online ASL dictionary: https://www.signasl.org/sign/beautiful
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How will I document what I have learned? (artifacts) | I will compliment my language partner and my fellow classmates: Nibras and Eli during our sessions whenever appropriate and write about the context and their reactions in my language journal on Ning. |
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How well can I accomplish this task? (self-assessment) | I think this will be fairly easy to accomplish as compliments can be given just using singular words and phrases, which means smaller number of signs to learn. |
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| Task 10 | To learn about the current news, experiences, and challenges of Deaf communities | ||
| Type of Task | ___ Interpersonal Communication ___ Presentational Speaking | ||
What do I need to learn to complete this task? (goal) | I believe my ASL language study is incomplete without immersing myself in the real world experiences of the Deaf community. So, I need to identify unbiased sources to read/ learn more about current news, experiences, and challenges of ASL speakers. |
How will I learn? (learning activities and resources) | I will ask my language partner about her experiences, watch YouTube channels dedicated for Deaf communities, read mainstream newspaper articles on reputable websites and follow works of non-profits serving the deaf communities. |
How will I document what I have learned? (artifacts) | I will upload reflection paragraphs to my language journal on Ning every time I come across something new or thought provoking. |
How well can I accomplish this task? (self-assessment) | I am confident that I will be able to accomplish this task well because I will not just be limited to resources offered in ASL. I can also use English newspapers and websites. In fact, I think it will be really interesting to compare resources created for the hearing world versus the resources created for the Deaf communities and see how they differ in terms of overall message and facts. |
In addition to posting your learning plan to the Ning, provide brief commentary describing how you have organized your self-directed learning plan. What have you learned so far? Have you identified resources and textbooks to promote your task-based objectives? How will your studies allow you investigate your target language and culture more deeply? What first prompted your interest, and motivated you to start learning? What feedback have you received from your classmates? Dr. Marsh-Soloway will provide written feedback
Given my experience of being an immigrant after moving to the US from Nepal, I am in awe of how languages have the ability to overcome geographical barriers and connect people and their cultures across the world. This realization is my biggest motivation behind pursuing a new language. For this class, I have chosen ASL specifically because I often volunteer in client-facing roles in different healthcare settings for low income, marginalized communities. In my roles, I have seen how language is one of the biggest barriers to accessible healthcare for patients who do not speak English. Finding an interpreter and accommodating non-English speaking patients takes time, lengthens the already long waiting time for appointments, and mostly results in an overall disconnected healthcare experience for patients from not being able to form a closer connection to their provider. The situation is even worse in medical emergencies, where there is lot of oversight regarding Deaf patients. Hence, I have organized my learning plan in a way that I can help address these specific issues that we commonly encounter in health care. My tasks are mostly focused on interpersonal communication. For example: greetings/farewells, basic introduction, compliments, basic medical emergency questions, technology related conversations etc. Along with practice sessions with my language partner and the ASL textbook, I have identified ASL YouTube channels, ASL dictionaries, goreact and some exceptional websites created by independent ASL instructors and non-profits serving Deaf communities. One thing that I have been fascinated with is how expressive ASL is. Even though I did not know any ASL while identifying these resources, I was surprised to see how much of the signing I could feel on a more emotional level. This makes ASL learning unlike any other language. Another thing I noticed is how different it feels while talking to my language partner. There is this deafening silence, which is a really strange feeling and I often find myself lip-syncing even though my signing itself is enough to communicate. While I did decide to learn ASL after seeing its importance in healthcare, I have also found myself being really interested in the history of ASL and the Deaf culture. This happened when I stumbled across some really thought provoking articles while I was trying to identify tasks and resources for my learning plan. I think I had always associated sign language as a solution to a physical condition, rather than a whole different way of life and culture- the Deaf culture. So, it was really eye opening to read about the Deaf communities, their organizations, and their challenges. As per all the resources I came across, the biggest challenge that Deaf communities face is that media and policymakers address their issues from a distance, without really understanding the Deaf culture. I am hopeful that my ASL skills will actually allow me to immerse myself in ASL environments and will help interact with/experience Deaf culture firsthand, so that I can be a better advocate for them.
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