ASL Teaching Problem and Solution: “Implementing the SASL curriculum in the deaf schools”

ASL Teaching Problem and Solution: “Implementing the SASL curriculum in the deaf schools”

 

“I am a SASL (South African Sign Language) teacher and am Deaf too. We are now implementing the SASL curriculum in the deaf schools this year … I do have a question regarding the grammar. We had a SASL workshop and it is not very clear as to how we must do the grammar. some says, we must do SOV instead of OSV. My question is, should we be flexible to both or must stick to the one grammar rule. Most of us Deaf are comfortable with OSV and have been using it for a long time. Would appreciate your input.”

ASL MacGyver:  To answer your inquiry about using grammar structures for newly implemented foreign sign language class (SASL). 

According to my research and experiences, there is great flexibility of using either SOV or OSV sentence order in ASL depends on event of conversations. From my understanding, there are several dialect differences in African Sign language vary by regions, as you mentioned that you were in the workshop, they emphasis on using SOV, and which I believe you should go for  it. Since it would lead a great educational discussion to show/compare the difference in both (sign) languages to the deaf students.   

 Things to consider about implementing it- How does this course will benefit the deaf kids using ASL as their native language, should ASL be avoided in this new learning environment like an advanced  Spanish class, it avoids using the English (verbal or texts), and are there any differences in deaf cultures of America and African? Hope this will help to gain your insight and consider the important areas to be looked at for effectively delivering your instructional goal for the deaf students about the SASL. That’s my 10 cents for now and wish you the best luck!