Facial Expression Challenge, Intermediate-High, ASL Foundations
Facial Expression Challenge, Intermediate-High, ASL
The activities provided by the Boise State World Languages Resource Center (WLRC) serve as foundational activities which can be adapted by any language and scaled up or down on the proficiency scale.
This activity was created by upper-division language students working in the World Languages Resource Center at Boise State University. Our activities seek to help students solidify their interpersonal speaking and interpretive listening skills through task-based situations or communicative activities. We recommend using these activities to help reinforce the content students are learning, allowing the students time to feel comfortable using the unit’s vocabulary and grammar structures through application. Further, these activities should be facilitated in approximately 90% (or more) in the target language, per the recommendation of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages.
Using the WLRC Repository’s Activities:
When you are ready to begin remixing the activity, in order to adapt it for your target language and audience, simply click the “Remix This Resource” button at the top of your screen. The text provided in purple is a suggestion of what you might say to your students and should be changed to the target language.
Most activities contain a connected chapter, two to three “NCSSFL-ACTFL Can-Do” statements, a warm-up, main activity, and a wrap-up. In addition to the instructions, some activities may include a “cheat sheet” containing the target vocabulary and grammar structures emphasized in the activity. Though most of the lab materials are provided, a computer, projector, printer, and laminator may also be needed to fully utilize materials.
Many of the activities include printable cards and other instructional materials. If you would like to adapt these materials for your language, please email WLRCLAR@gmail.comand we will provide you with an editable copy. For YouTube videos and other websites, hyperlinks are provided.
Enjoy!
- Boise State World Languages Resource Center
Facial Expression Challenge, Intermediate-High, ASL Foundations
Main point of the activity is to avoid facial expressions, we want to challenge students into understanding just how important facials are! Taking away one of the 5 parameters of sign is a good challenge that makes students realize how important each of the 5 are.
Keywords:
Facial Expression, CODA, Keith Wann, Expression
Relevant NCSSFL-ACTFL Can-Do Statements:
- I am able to understand the need for facial expressions.
- I am able to challenge myself to step outside normal signing parameters.
- I am able to discuss the importance of facial expressions in deaf culture.
- Relevant ACTFL World-Readiness Standards
Relevant ACTFL World-Readiness Standards
Communication
Standard 1.1
Students engage in conversations, provide and obtain information, express feelings and emotions, and exchange opinions.
Materials Needed:
- Video for warm-up
- Expression Story Cards
Warm-up
Video: CODA Comedian! This video is of Keith Wann, a child of Deaf adults whose first language is ASL. He tells the story of the day he was born.
1. Watch the video with your students, afterward ask some engaging questions!
ex. "Do you think someone who doesn't know ASL could understand this?"
Main Activity
1. Have students pair up and they each get a stack of cards to sign to their partner.
2. Their partners job is to point out every time they use facial expressions.
"Everyone pair up with another person, and grab a few cards. You're going to signing these stories to one another, but you can't use any facial expressions! Your job as the partner is to watch the other person sign and point put every time they use an expression."
3. Once they are done signing their cards, come back together as a group and ask them how hard it was to sign without their expressions.
Wrap-up
1. What was hard about this?
2. Is there less understanding when there are no expressions?
3. What expression specifically did you find hard to avoid?
End of lab:
• Read Can-Do statements once more and have students evaluate their confidence.
(Use thumbs up/thumbs down or download our student cards.)
• Encourage students to be honest in their self-evaluation.
• Pay attention, and try to use feedback for future labs!
Relevant NCSSFL-ACTFL Can-Do Statements:
- I am able to understand the need for facial expressions.
- I am able to challenge myself to step outside normal signing parameters.
- I am able to discuss the importance of facial expressions in deaf culture.