Continuing Studies: Languages
American Sign Language
American Sign Language (ASL) complies with the provincial guidelines for college level. Courses are taught by immersion, all instructors are deaf, and all communication is visual. American Sign Language is the fourth most widely used language in Canada. These courses may be taken for personal or professional reasons. Check your "voice box" at the door as you enter the class to learn this visual gestural language, the fourth most widely-used language in Canada.
ASL Prep I
This course provides an introduction to ASL for individuals who have little or no knowledge of the language. Based on principles of second-language acquisition, students learn to recognize various visual grammatical features of the language and develop beginning-level vocabulary. This includes basic introductions, exchange of personal information and to talk about their surroundings. In addition, students learn how to form questions and give basic directions. They also gain an understanding of the Deaf community, the impact of handedness on signing and the use of visual three-dimensional space in ASL.
ASL Prep II
Building on Prep I, this course provides further introduction to ASL for individuals who have little or no knowledge of the language. Students begin to discuss personal information, including where they live, family information and their various physical activities. Students begin to refine visual perception to assist with receptive skills in the language. Students are introduced to spatial referencing, contrastive structures, the expression of time and the formulation of negative statements, fingerspelling and some rules for social interaction.
ASL Prep III
This course begins with a cumulative review of Prep I and II, including norms for getting attention, understanding the role of name signs, negotiating a signing environment, asking for repetition, meeting others and gaining basic information about the daily lives of Deaf people. Building on Prep II, students begin to make simple requests, give directions and learn how to identify other people. Numbers are introduced and students develop a basic understanding of various types of verbs.
ASL Prep IV
Students learn how to discuss families with greater detail, including occupations and ages. The concept of role shifting is introduced and applied to descriptions of others. Students begin to discuss daily routines, including clock numbers and activities. In addition, students are provided with a brief history of Deaf people in the US and Canada, learn rules for interrupting conversations and other rules for social interaction.
Required Materials:
Vista Signing Naturally Version 2 for Prep I and Prep II: Signing Naturally Units 1 to 6
Vista Signing Naturally Version 1 for Prep III and Prep IV: Signing Naturally Units 7 to 12
All courses are 30 hours
Contact Continuing Studies at 250.392.8010 to have your name placed on an interest list for upcoming course information.
Communication is more than just learning a language! It is about embracing the culture the language is associated with. This course is designed to bridge the language barriers between the Tsilqoxt’in people and the service sector, such as health care providers, government ministries, banks, schools and even retail and restaurant personal. In this 20 hour course, participants will not only be instructed in the Tsilqoxt’in (Chilcotin) language but will also develop an understanding and appreciation of the Tsilqoxt’in traditions, customs, ceremonies, values and beliefs.
Fee: $189
Dates:
Feb 22 - Apr 4, 2012
Wednesdays, 7 - 9 pm
Location: Room 1251
Did you know that more people speak German as their native language than any other language in Europe? Though German is thought by many to be a difficult language, it has many similarities with English, so learners have a solid basis of knowledge to start from. Taking this course will allow you to communicate with community members and tourists from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, as well as be able to converse should you travel to these countries. This course will introduce students to greeting, basic phrases, verbs, and the German culture. This is an enjoyable, interactive course.
Contact Continuing Studies at 250-392-8010 or email wlcontinuingstudies@tru.ca to have your name placed on a distribution list for upcoming information.
This colourful culture will come alive once you discover its language, music and traditions with our instructor from the Hispanic world. By learning simple structures and vocabulary, you will be able to function and make contact with the natives in Spain and Latin American countries.
No prior knowledge of Spanish is required.
Fee: $191 (plus required textbook available for sale at the TRU Bookstore)
Dates:
Feb 7 - Mar 8, 2012
Tuesdays & Thursdays, 6:30 - 8:30 pm
Location: Room 1319
Communication is more than just learning a language! It is about embracing the culture the language is associated with. This course is designed to bridge the language barriers between the Secwepmec people and the service sector, such as health care providers, government ministries, banks, schools and even retail and restaurant personal. In this 20 hour course, participants will not only be instructed in the Secwepmec (Shuswap) language but will also develop an understanding and appreciation of the Secweomec traditions, customs, ceremonies, values and beliefs.
Fee: $199
Dates:
Feb 23 - Apr 5, 2012
Thursdays, 7 - 9 pm
Location: Room 1291
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