AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE (ASL) is the predominant sign language of Deaf communities in the United States and English-speaking parts of Canada. Besides North America, dialects of ASL and ASL-based creoles are used in many countries around the world, including much of West Africa and parts of Southeast Asia. ASL is also widely learned as a second language, serving as a lingua franca.
RESOURCES
Washington School for the Deaf
Continuing Education Program at Bellevue College
Class Descriptions
ASL& 121: American Sign Language I 5 cr.
Introduces the foundations of American Sign Language (ASL). Students learn visual-gestural communication, fingerspelling, basic sentence structure, and key grammatical features of ASL while developing an understanding of Deaf culture and community. Emphasis is placed on expressive and receptive skills through immersive, no-voice classroom participation. This course requires real-time interactive language practice. Recommended: This course is for students with no previous experience learning ASL.
ASL& 122: American Sign Language II 5 cr.
Continues ASL& 121. Students expand their vocabulary and grammar to discuss residences, communities, scheduling, and daily activities. Focus includes spatial awareness, classifiers, and conceptually accurate signing while deepening understanding of Deaf culture and language variation. This course requires real-time interactive language practice. Recommended: ASL& 121 or equivalent or instructor permission
ASL& 123: American Sign Language III 5 cr.
Continues ASL& 122. Students learn to communicate about food, people, communities, and home life. Emphasis is placed on storytelling, role shifting, and descriptive classifiers, as well as understanding Deaf cultural norms and language diversity. This course requires real-time interactive language practice. Recommended: ASL& 122 or equivalent or instructor permission
ASL& 221: American Sign Language IV 5 cr.
An intermediate ASL course which builds on communication skills acquired in first-year courses. Students engage in dialogues about careers, wellness, and travel. Focus includes grammatical accuracy, depicting verbs, and cultural context in various life settings while continuing to explore Deaf history and community practices. This course requires real-time interactive language practice. Recommended: ASL& 123 or equivalent or instructor permission
ASL& 222: American Sign Language V 5 cr.
Continues ASL& 221 with focus on advanced communication and narrative skills. Students study ASL discourse structures, register variation, and historical storytelling. Topics include Deaf history, cultural identity, and narrative analysis. Emphasis is placed on linguistic accuracy, story coherence, and professional register control. This course requires real-time interactive language practice. Recommended: ASL& 221 or equivalent or instructor permission
ASL& 223: American Sign Language VI 5 cr.
Continues ASL& 222. Students refine expressive and receptive fluency to a near-native level, engaging in detailed discourse on complex topics such as the human body, sports, and environmental issues. Focus includes depicting verbs, advanced classifiers, cinematic storytelling, and community advocacy within Deaf culture. This course requires real-time interactive language practice. Recommended: ASL& 222 or equivalent or instructor permission
Last Updated July 11, 2023