American Sign Language - Beginning I (ASL I)

All-Gender Course; Full-year course
COURSE DESCRIPTION
When you start any new language, you want to start conversing right away! Unlike other languages, when English-speaking students start learning American Sign Language, they are fingerspelling within the first few weeks so there’s no delay in communicating in the new target language. Once students have the basics of letters and numbers mastered, they move on to the five sign parameters: handshape, palm orientation, location, movement, and facial expressions. Like all languages, students also learn parts of speech and sentence word order and types. Learning happens in cultural context as students explore the history and physiology of deafness as well as deaf culture, including discrimination experienced by the hard of hearing. 
WHAT STUDENTS SAY

"Taking Beginning Sign Language Online has been absolutely amazing for me. Not only do I get to learn a new language, but I have fun along the day. The work is appropriately challenging and I am excited for the rest of the course."

"I've had a wonderful experience with Ms. Flegal. I feel she has been there for me throughout the course despite it being fully asynchronous."

WHAT STUDENTS DO
Learning is an active process at One Schoolhouse. Students design, create and apply. And, they engage with classmates and connect with their teachers through discussions, video conferences, and projects. Specifically, in this class students will:
  • Set goals that drive their learning. Students reflect regularly on their growth, and meet on video chat with their online teacher to review progress towards their goals.
  • Have choice in how they learn new content and practice new skills. Students are given agency to determine the best ways for them to learn.
  • Apply what they are learning to the real world. Learning is meaningful and connects to concepts outside the classroom.
  • Practice constructive engagement in a diverse and changing world. Students interact with classmates from across the country and around the world.
  • Gain academic maturity. Online learning takes greater discipline and independence than a traditional face-to-face classroom. Teachers support students to build this skill.
MEET A TEACHER FOR THIS COURSE
SIGNATURE ACTIVITIES
Examples of signature activities and projects for this course are:
  • ​Respond to posted videos in ASL. Students will be expected to post responses to questions asked in video format.
  • Tell a short story. Students will be asked to tell a short narrative story in video format.
  • Translate a video. Students will be asked to watch a short video and then write a translation of what was said in English.
  • Report on a famous deaf American.
COURSE APPROVAL
This course is approved by the NCAA. 

One Schoolhouse is fully accredited with the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges through December 1, 2025; we are an approved online publisher for the University of California. ​
Diana Flegal
​she/her/hers
Language Teacher
BS University of Tennessee at Knoxville
MSEd University of Tennessee at Knoxville