Radford, Curt

Curt Radford

Curt L Radford is a full-time instructor of ASL/Deaf Education at Utah State University. His primary responsibility, other than teaching, has been the development of the on-line ASL program and coordinating the ASL Laboratory. Prior to teaching at Utah State University he was a principal of Sequoia School for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing in Mesa, Arizona. His passion for preparing teachers to help deaf children improve their reading, and writing skills have led him to Lamar University to obtain a doctorate in Deaf Studies/Deaf Education.

How to Link complex English Constructs with Complex ASL Constructs and Vice Versa

In recent years there has been an increasing interest in American Sign Language (ASL). However, there are several misconceptions about ASL, such as ASL is easy to learn because it is a picture-like language or some kind of gestural system. Another common misconception is ASL learners often believe they can become teachers of the deaf after one or two classes. It is now well known that ASL is a complete and complex language.  Therefore in order to master ASL it requires extensive training, exposure and practice.
This workshop presentation is an interactive, hands-on opportunity for participants to learn tools for the teaching and use of academic ASL.  Participants will learn how to link complex English constructs with complex ASL constructs and vice versa. The focus will be on the use of space, classifiers, and facial expression to establish, clarify, and expand on complex concepts.  Participants will benefit from this presentation in that they will not only learn and practice specific tools for the use of academic ASL, but will learn techniques for teaching academic ASL to their own students. Three specific tools will be demonstrated in this presentation:
1. Concept mapping - a technique for visualizing the relationships among different concepts.  This will be shown by using space, movement, and location.
2. Text Analysis- a technique for concentrating on the meaning of what we intend to say rather than on the choice of “words”.  Participants will learn how to analyze the information, re-arrange it in their minds then use specific ASL constructs, including non-manual markers to express the meaning.        
3. Visualization- a technique that focuses on non-manual markers and space to clarify meaning. This presentation will demonstrate how changing movement and facial expression will change.