American Sign Language: Expressive Script
Dear ASL Heroes,
For your midterm you will sign a script to me, plus you will sign a number of sentences from the Lifeprint.com website.
Instructions for in-person students:
Your midterm expressive project/interview will take place on March 18. On March 11, I'll pass out a schedule so you can sign up for who goes first, second, third...etc.
Your interview will only take about 7 minutes.
You will greet me and introduce yourself, then you will:
State your situation:
Ask about my situation:
Tell about your family:
Tell where you are from or where you were born and raised:
Tell where you live:
Tell what you like to do:
Tell your phone number:
Tell your email address:
Tell your favorite color:
Tell your your favorite food:
Then I will hand you a card that has 5 sentences on it, similar to what we have done in class and you will sign them to me.
Then we will be done.
"In-person" students skip this next section and scroll down to the script below for specific examples of the types of things you can tell me that will work well.
Instructions for Distance Education students who wish to turn in the midterm as a video.
Video record yourself signing the following:
You will greet me and introduce yourself, then you will:
State your situation:
Ask about my situation:
Tell about your family:
Tell where you are from or where you were born and raised:
Tell where you live:
Tell what you like to do:
Tell your phone number:
Tell your email address:
Tell your favorite color:
Tell your your favorite food:
ALSO:
Select 10 sentences from the website. Pick one sentence from each of lessons 1 through 10. You should end up with 10 sentences. Copy the sentences to a new document and number them 1-10. Then sit down in-front of a camcorder and video yourself signing the sentences. For example, sign the number and then the sentence. You need only show me the sentence one time. Pay particular attention to your "yes/no" and "WH-question" expressions for each sentence (because I'll be looking for your facial expressions in addition to your vocabulary and general fluency).
If you stop once or maybe twice during the videotaping due to some technical issue or whatever I won't be concerned. But stopping between each question indicates a lack of preparation and smacks of not knowing the material well enough to simply sign the sentences without having to look each sentence up on the web.
Some students tape record themselves reading the sentences out loud and then play back the recording while signing the sentences to the video camera. That's okay.
I've even seen students go so far as to write the sentences on poster paper and stick them on the wall behind the camera so they can read them while signing to the camera. That's okay, but a lot of work.
Other students just print out a paper with their sentences on it and put it in front of them. They lean forward to read the sentence and then look up at the camera and sign it. Then print off your script and mail both it and your video to me. ALSO email me your script so I'll have an electronic copy to edit and make notes on for your feedback. Make sure you include your first and last name, and the fact that you are in my Tues 4:00 class. I'll correct it within a week or so of receiving the video. And then I'll email your feedback. You may submit this video on any of the following: VHS-format full-size cassette, Mini-DV cassette, Video-CD (VCD) using MPEG-1 formatting, Digital Video Disk (DVD) using [DVD-R+, DVD-R-, or DVD-ROM], or as a video file on either CD or DVD in Windows Media File format, Quicktime, or Flash. I will not return your media to you. Do NOT send me any High 8 tapes or compact-VHS tapes.
Note: You may upload your video to youtube.com or a similar service and simply send me the link via email.
Or send your video to:
William Vicars
8506 Everglade Dr.
Sacramento CA 95826
SCRIPT INSTRUCTIONS
This is not an exact science. In general I want you to convey the following types of information.
Greeting:
Say hello
Introduction:
Introduce yourself, first and last name, find out the other person's name (or to the camera), tell the other person (or the camera) that it is nice to meet them or "likewise" if they indicate that it is nice to meet you.State your situation:
Sample: I'm hearing, I'm learning ASL at XYZ college.
Sample: I'm hearing. My friend taught me a bit of signing.
Sample: I'm a student at XYZ college. ASL 1.
Sample: I'm learning ASL to communicate with my Deaf Friend.
Sample: I'm learning ASL. My instructor is _________.Ask the other person's situation:
Sample: Are you deaf?
Sample: Are you Hearing?
Sample: Are you a teacher?
Sample: Are you a student?Tell about your family:
Sample: My mom and dad are Deaf and have four children, all hearing, I'm the third.
Sample: My dad I don't know him. I live with my mom.
Sample: My mom dad divorce. Both re-marry. I live with Dad. My sister live with my biological mom. My step-mom has 2 kids. So, I have one sister and two half-sisters.
Sample: I'm divorced, currently dating a new woman, six months.
Sample: I'm married, 4 kids.
Sample: I'm single.
Sample: I have a sweetheart. We've been together 2 years and three months.
Tell where you are from or where you were born and raised:
Sample: I'm from here.
Sample: I was born in Los Angeles, California
Sample: I was born and raised in Utah and moved here three years ago.
Sample: I am an army brat. I've moved all over the place.
Tell where you live:
Sample: I live _________ (spell name of your city or do its namesign or abbreviation)
Sample: I in the dorms.
Sample: I live in an apartment with 2 roommates.
Sample: I live with my boyfriend.
Sample: I live with my parents.
Sample: I live with my wife. The two of us are buying a house.
Sample: I'm homeless. I live in my car.
Tell what you like to do:
Sample: I like watching TV
Sample: I like reading
Sample: I like sleeping
Sample: I enjoy eating
Sample: I love basketball
Tell your phone number: (This doesn't have to be a "real" phone number)
Sample: 916 slight pause 555 slight pause 4321 (all palm forward, all individual digits)
Tell your email address: (This doesn't have to be a "real" email address)Tell your favorite color:
Sample: My favorite color is red.Tell me your favorite food:
My favorite food is bananas.Add anything else you feel like adding.
: )