Levels are designed to scaffold. All levels incorporate practice using fingerspelling and numbers as well as Deaf Culture Awareness. In addition, we strive to provide a good balance of receptive and expressive sign language skills.

• Level I includes introductory conversational skills including asking questions, key phrases, and sharing information about yourself. Facial expressions, gestures, and ASL parameters are emphasized as an integral part of ASL grammar.
• Level II includes more vocabulary related to daily living and routines, including talking about family, friends, school, and sports. In addition, more in-depth ASL grammatical features, such as listing, shoulder shifting, time/tense, and pronouns are introduced and practiced.
• Level III includes more vocabulary, including an in-depth focus on classifiers, and using those classifiers to describe people, places, and routines within the home and community.

Youth classes are geared toward elementary and middle school students who want to learn sign language. This curriculum was developed using the SKIHI Deaf Mentor curriculum as a guide, with a focus on a specific weekly theme and a corresponding ASL grammar structure. For example, one week may focus on likes/dislikes and food. Students will learn how to state their likes/dislikes and ask questions of others while learning food vocabulary.

For more information or questions, email Karla at: [email protected]. Please sign up below for our newsletter to receive information about our classes!