Expressive Communication Skills

Curriculum Standards Addressed

American Sign Language (ASL) Standards (10th Grade - Foreign Language):

• Interpersonal Communication (ASL.IL.1): Engage in dialogues to exchange information, ask and answer questions, and express needs, emotions, and meanings in ASL.
• Presentational Communication (ASL.PS.1): Present comprehensible signed messages to an audience effectively, using expressive facial expressions and non-manual markers appropriate to ASL.
• Cultural Comparisons (ASL.CC.2): Understand cultural nuances in ASL, including the use of visual gestures, body language, and expression.

---

Lesson Objective

By the end of the lesson, students will:

1. Learn and accurately sign vocabulary associated with introductions, expressing opinions, and daily activities.
2. Develop expressive communication through dialogues using facial expressions, gestures, and non-manual markers (NMMs).
3. Perform a role-play activity to showcase their ability to use ASL phrases within a conversation.

---

Lesson Duration

Total Time: 45 minutes
Class Size: 120 students (divide into smaller groups of 8-10 students for interactions)

---

Required Materials

1. A projector to display ASL vocabulary as looping GIFs (prepared in advance).
2. Visual flashcards with ASL vocabulary, including facial expressions and gestures.
3. Space for small-group breakout activities.
4. A large visual timer to track each activity.

---

Lesson Plan

1. Engage and Warm-Up (5 minutes)

• Visual Engagement: Begin by projecting a looping GIF of an ASL greeting dialogue ("Hello, my name is..."), emphasizing the usage of facial expressions and hand movements. Discuss the importance of NMMs in ASL.
  • Example dialogue:
    • Greeting: "Hello! My name is (your name)"
    • Response: "Nice to meet you!"
• Class Participation: As a class, students practice mimicking this dialogue in sync, focusing on expressive body language and facial involvement.

---

2. Teach Vocabulary (10 minutes)

Introduce vocabulary related to preferences, daily habits, and opinions. For each word or phrase:

• Show a GIF of the sign (e.g., "I like," "I don’t like," "coffee," "sports").
• Model the sign live, exaggerating facial expressions (e.g., "excited" vs. "dislike").
• Have all students mirror you to solidify muscle memory.

Vocabulary Set for the Lesson:

1. Greetings: Hello, Goodbye, Nice to meet you.
2. Preferences: I like, I don’t like, Favorite.
3. Daily Activities: Homework, Sleep, Sports.
4. Opinions: I think, I feel, I agree, I disagree.

---

3. Pre-Dialogue Practice (10 minutes)

• Activity: Divide students into small groups (8-10 per group). Students take turns signing a short practice phrase with their team members while focusing on clarity and expression.
  • Example practice phrases:
    • "Hello! What’s your favorite activity?"
    • "I like basketball. What about you?"
    • "I don’t like homework!" (with matching exaggerated facial expressions).
• Teachers and assistants circulate among groups, providing feedback on handshape accuracy and facial expressions.

---

4. Dialogue Creation and Role-Play (15 minutes)

• Role Assignment: Assign each group a simple topic for their skits (e.g., meeting a new friend, discussing hobbies, or sharing opinions about a school event).
• Group Task: In groups, students will:
  1. Brainstorm a 1-2 minute ASL dialogue, incorporating the new vocabulary.
  2. Rehearse, ensuring they use proper NMMs and expressive signing.
• Present (10 minutes): Randomly select groups to perform their dialogues to the class. Provide encouragement and brief real-time feedback after each group's turn.

---

5. Wrap-Up and Reflection (5 minutes)

• Class Reflection: Ask students to share how they felt while using expressive signs and how facial expressions impacted clarity in their communication.
• Teacher Recap: Recap key vocabulary and remind students to continue practicing their signing at home with a mirror for self-assessment or using online resources to watch more ASL GIFs.

---

Assessment

Formative Assessment Tools:

• Observe group interactions for accurate use of vocabulary and NMMs.
• Evaluate each group’s role-play for communicative clarity, creativity, and expressiveness.

---

Differentiation Strategies

1. For Visual Learners: Use projected ASL GIFs and visual flashcards to reinforce vocabulary memorization.
2. For Students Needing Support: Pair with peers or assign simpler dialogue tasks. Provide extra feedback during practice.
3. For Advanced Students: Encourage the addition of more complex sentences, classifiers, or regional ASL variations in their dialogues.

---

Notes for Teacher

• Preparation in Advance: Compile a folder of ASL GIFs for the vocabulary you plan to cover, ensuring they loop naturally. Utilize tools that allow you to create custom GIFs if needed.
• Classroom Management Tip: Use a clapping or visual signal to regain students' attention when monitoring large groups.
• Passionate Delivery: Use exaggerated facial expressions yourself! Your modeling sets the tone for students’ engagement.

---

Follow-Up

In the next lesson, students will build on their expressive dialogue skills by exploring more nuanced topics like "Giving Directions" or "Describing People" while incorporating classifiers.