ASL -- How is the curriculum in MCPS, and did your child like it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child is only in Level 2, but the higher level kids develop enough skills to interpret at assemblies and school plays, so I think it is rigorous enough.

ASL grammar is idiosyncratic, but there are no declensions and past/future tense are somewhat simpler than spoken English or another WL, so the kids can go further faster.

Are you saying that "higher level" ASL high school students are interpreting assemblies and plays for practice? Or are they interpreting for actual Deaf/hard of hearing people? I'm an interpreter and interpreting drama is one of the hardest interpreting skills, and it would be unethical for the county to have ASL students providing "access" for actual Deaf/hard of hearing people.

Not that PP, but I am HoH and have seen them in action. They aren't interpreting, but they are doing a perfectly fine job of signing along. One of the hardest pieces about interpreting in any language is managing the input and output simultaneously. That's not what they're doing. They have broken the plate into chunks and memorized the script, as well as the signs. They would be hard-pressed if actors started to improv, but it's fine as long as everyone stays on script.

Then they are doing "signed English" and not ASL. ASL has different syntax than English. Not appropriate to claim its ASL

[Anonymous]

WJ - my kid really enjoyed it. They only offer two years so it’s limited. Net negative for highly selective college admissions if that’s your thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child is only in Level 2, but the higher level kids develop enough skills to interpret at assemblies and school plays, so I think it is rigorous enough.

ASL grammar is idiosyncratic, but there are no declensions and past/future tense are somewhat simpler than spoken English or another WL, so the kids can go further faster.

Are you saying that "higher level" ASL high school students are interpreting assemblies and plays for practice? Or are they interpreting for actual Deaf/hard of hearing people? I'm an interpreter and interpreting drama is one of the hardest interpreting skills, and it would be unethical for the county to have ASL students providing "access" for actual Deaf/hard of hearing people.

Not that PP, but I am HoH and have seen them in action. They aren't interpreting, but they are doing a perfectly fine job of signing along. One of the hardest pieces about interpreting in any language is managing the input and output simultaneously. That's not what they're doing. They have broken the plate into chunks and memorized the script, as well as the signs. They would be hard-pressed if actors started to improv, but it's fine as long as everyone stays on script.

Then they are doing "signed English" and not ASL. ASL has different syntax than English. Not appropriate to claim its ASL

NP. Not sure what school PP was referring to, but my DC is at Blair. The upper level ASL kids spend significant time translating the play script into ASL and practicing. One of teachers is a CODA and the other is Deaf, and they invite the Deaf community. That said, they hire professional interpreters for the musicals, which are harder.