Kalamazoo Valley Community College

FRL 160 American Sign Language I
4-4-0 (Lecture/Discussion) Contact Hours: 4 This course offers an introduction to American Sign Language through drill and practice of both expressive and receptive skills. Some information on U.S. deaf culture is included. This first course lays the foundation through acquisition of basic vocabulary and knowledge of basic syntax for students to go on to achieve a more thorough knowledge of ASL.

FRL 161 American Sign Language II
4-4-0 (Lecture/Discussion) Contact Hours: 4 In this continuation of American Sign Language I, students further develop their expressive and receptive skills as well as conversational skills through learning new vocabulary and grammar. Some attention is given to the history, customs and diversity of the deaf community and the geographical distribution and diversity of ASL and of the deaf in the U.S. PREREQUISITE: Successful completion of FRL 160 is REQUIRED.

FRL 163 Fingerspelling
2-2-0 (Lecture/Discussion) Contact Hours: 2 Students concentrate on developing expressive and receptive skills in fingerspelling in isolation and within signing. Students work on clarity and fluency in use of numbers and 26 hand shapes of the signing alphabet. Course assumes one year of experience with ASL. PREREQUISITE: Successful completion of FRL 160 is REQUIRED. Corequisite: FRL 161 is recommended.

FRL 260 American Sign Language III
4-4-0 (Lecture/Discussion) Contact Hours: 4 This course is a continuation of American Sign Language II and the equivalent of the first semester of a second year of study of the language. This course stresses development of expressive and receptive skills in ASL through work with literature in ASL and includes a general grammar review and the study of deaf culture. Recommended prerequisite: FRL 161 with a 2.0 or better, or permission from ASL coordinator.

FRL 261 American Sign Language IV
4-4-0 (Lecture/Discussion) Contact Hours: 4 As a continuation of American Sign Language (ASL) III, this course continues to stress development of expressive and receptive skills in ASL through work with stories and ASL literature (live and videotaped). Students acquire knowledge about communication in the U.S. Deaf communities and about dialects of ASL. There is an emphasis on a high level of communication competence. Recommended prerequisite: FRL 260 with a 2.0 or better, or permission from ASL coordinator.