To apply for special permission for an ASL course, contact the SILP Director, Silke von der Emde (vonderemde@vassar.edu) prior to spring pre-registration. Beginning ASL courses are not open to first-year students.

View Courses from the Vassar College Catalogue.

Beginning ASL (ASL 105-106)

Course Objectives

• Acquire an introductory level of sign vocabulary
• Gain a basic understanding of ASL grammar & sentence structure
• Learn both formal & informal registers in ASL
• Gain a basic understanding of the Deaf Community and Culture

Intermediate ASL (ASL 210-211)

Course Objectives

• Review and expand practice of key grammar
• Expand vocabulary and range of topics
• Increase narrative and conversational fluency
• Compare aspects of ASL and English through translation
• Compare aspects of Deaf culture, American culture and your own culture
• Understand your role as an ASL student in the Deaf community

Tutors: Mary McLaughlin and Tracey Fotos

Examiner: Leisa Boling, Rochester Institute of Technology