Students will apply the language skills and vocabulary acquired in previous levels to increase their conversational abilities, focusing on specific fine-tuning strategies which will help them reach the next level with their ASL skills and prepare them for college-level ASL courses, as well as prepare them for possible careers involving ASL. Topics include literary works, deaf art, current events, and issues within the Deaf community. Students will deepen their understanding of the Deaf World through a storytelling lens with a brief taste of the ASL interpreting process. Through a more involved study of ASL roots and linguistics, notably classifiers and parameters, students will gain better understanding of the language while comparing it with their native language. Students will be encouraged to use ASL both within and beyond the school setting. In addition to this, they will collaborate with their ASL IV peers from another high school. For example, students might participate in a Deaf literature book club, reading outside of class. They will return to the classroom where they will share in ASL with each other their newfound knowledge.
Prerequisites
Grade “D” or better in American Sign Language III, or equivalent proficiency in the language as determined by a placement test.
Students in Arlington Public Schools in grades 7-12 may receive high school world language credit for native language study and for the study of world languages. It is highly recommended that a grade of C or better in the course be earned to continue to the next level. The courses are sequential and a C or better will help set students up for success.
To receive world language credit, the following requirements must be met:
- A transcript verifying a minimum of 140 hours of formal language study for each credit must be submitted.
- The student must have earned a passing grade.
Students seeking the Advanced Studies diploma will meet the world language requirements by completing three years/levels of study in one language or two years of study in each of two languages. Successful completion of each world language course results in one credit toward the Advanced Studies Diploma. Some colleges require the study of world languages to continue in high school. If your student has successfully completed three years of study upon completion of their freshman year, be sure to look at the college admissions criteria for the student’s college(s) of choice.