Author:
Camille Daw, Amber Hoye, Mimi Fahnstrom
Subject:
Languages
Material Type:
Activity/Lab
Level:
High School, Community College / Lower Division, College / Upper Division
Tags:
  • Deaf Culture
  • Expressions
  • Non-Manual Signing
  • Translation
  • License:
    Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike
    Language:
    English

    Facial Expressions, ASL, Intermediate Mid, ONLINE

    Facial Expressions, ASL, Intermediate Mid, ONLINE

    Overview

    Students will discuss Deaf Culture through the experiences of a Deaf individual. Students will work to translate scenarios in ASL, while understanding the importance of facial expressions and non-manual signs in conversation. 

    Description

    Description: Students will discuss Deaf Culture through the experiences of a Deaf individual. Students will work to translate scenarios in ASL, while understanding the importance of facial expressions and non-manual signs in conversation. 

    Keywords: Deaf culture, Non-manual signing, Expressions, Translation 

    AATSP Standards for Learning American Sign Language:

    • Standard 1.1 - Students engage in conversations and correspondence in American Sign Language to provide and obtain information, express feelings and emotions, and exchange opinions.
    • Standard 1.3 - Students present information, concepts, and ideas in American Sign Language to an audience of viewers on a variety of topics.
    • Standard 2.1 - Students demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between the practices and perspectives of American Deaf culture.
    • Standard 4.1 - Students demonstrate understanding of the nature of language through comparisons of American Sign Language and their own languages.

    Idaho Content Standards for World Languages:

    • COMM 1: Interact with others in the target language and gain meaning from interactions in the target language.
    • COMM 1.1: Interact and negotiate meaning (spoken, signed, written conversation) to share information, reactions, feelings, and opinions.
    • CLTR 1.1: Analyze the cultural practices/patterns of behavior accepted as the societal norm in the target culture.

    NCSSFL-ACTFL Can-Do Statements:

    • I am able to understand the need for facial expressions
    • I am able to discuss the importance of facial expressions in Deaf culture 
    • I am able to challenge myself to step outside normal signing parameters

    Materials Needed

    Expression Cards

    Warm Up Video

    Google Slideshow

    Warm Up and Main Activity

    Lead-in or Warm-up (2-3 minutes): CODA Comedian!

    Watch the Youtube video as a group. To do so, simply turn on the video, share your screen and your computer audio with the students via Zoom. 

    This is a video of Keith Wann, a child of Deaf adults whose first language is ASL. He tells the story of the day he was born.

    There is a voice over on the the video; If you think your students can handle no audio, please challenge them.

    As a group discuss different aspects of the video and allow the students to share their thoughts on the video

    Main activity: Facial Expression Challenge!
    ***The point of this activity is to understand the importance of facial expressions in ASL***

    Discuss as a group if facial expressions are needed when discussing in ASL, if the meanings of signs change based on the facial expressions, and review what the non-manual signs are

    Have students pair up. Share your screen so all students can see the expression cards, or link the cards in the chatbox in Zoom. 

    Partners will take turns translating the situations on the cards to their partner

    Explain that the goal is to sign the situations without using any facial expressions 

    Their partner's job is to point out every time they use facial expressions.

    After each turn have the partners see if they were able to understand the situation without facial expressions 

    Once they are done signing their cards, come back together as a group and ask them how hard it was to sign without their expressions.

    Ask the students the following questions about facial expressions: 

    • What was hard about this?
    • Is there less understanding when there are no expressions?
    • What expression specifically did you find hard to avoid?


    Wrap-up questions:(if time permits) 

    • What are you struggling with in ASL?
    • What is most interesting to you about Deaf culture?
    • What did you think about the Deaf comedian?
    • Do you understand the importance of facial expressions when signing?