Overview
Duration
12 weeks
Group Size
4-10 students
Tuition
Under $14/hour
Level
Beginner
Class Time
2.5 hours/week
Location
ILC, Carmel
Prerequisites
none
What You’ll Learn
Communication: Hold simple conversations, exchange personal info, ask/answer WH- and yes/no questions, and narrate short stories.
Descriptions & Space: Describe people, objects, and basic locations using contrastive structure, listing, and beginner classifiers.
Time & Routines: Use time-first structure to discuss daily activities, past/future events, and simple schedules.
Directions: Ask for and give basic directions using spatial mapping and CL:1/CL:B pathways.
Fingerspelling & Numbers: Produce and understand fingerspelling and sign numbers 1–100 in everyday contexts.
Conversation Repair: Request clarification, negotiate meaning, and manage communication breakdowns visually.
Cultural Competence: Use Deaf-friendly norms for attention, eye gaze, turn-taking, and community interaction.
Details
Dates:
1/7/26-3/25/26
Time:
Wednesdays, 6:30pm-9:00pm
Cost:
$430.00
(Does not include text books and optional tuition insurance)
Itinerary
Each week includes speaking practice, games, cultural context, and real-world role-plays. You’ll use everything you learn — right away.
Beginning Conversational ASL 1 - Weekly Itinerary Week 1: Greetings, introductions, fingerspelling basics, and visual communication foundations.
Week 2: Yes/no & WH-questions, classroom interaction language, and name-exchange practice.
Week 3: Identifying people/objects and describing simple spatial locations.
Week 4: Describing people and clothing with clear visual detail and contrastive structure.
Week 5: Time signs and daily routine verbs using time-first structure.
Week 6: Scheduling, talking about past/future events, and timeline use.
Week 7: Family vocabulary, relationships, and using listing techniques.
Week 8: Telling simple personal life stories with chronological sequencing.
Week 9: Common activities and giving/understanding basic directions with classifiers.
Week 10: Maintaining everyday conversations and using conversation-repair strategies.
Week 11: Health vocabulary and explaining simple problems or needs.
Week 12: Integrated review, storytelling, conversational assessment, and final presentations.
Meet Your Instructor
Gina Harker
Instructor: American Sign Language
Meet Gina!
Gina Harker is an enthusiastic Deaf educator committed to creating inclusive and culturally lively learning environments. With over 15 years of experience teaching children, teens, and adults, including many from foster care and diverse backgrounds, she motivates students to feel confident, engaged, and inspired. Gina has taught American Sign Language (ASL) at Bethel University, IUPUI, and Wisdom Builders Homeschool High School, developing interactive lessons that promote participation, critical thinking, and real-world communication. She brings authenticity and insight to every classroom. Her teaching style highlights patience, clarity, and strong relationships, helping learners develop meaningful communication skills while cultivating a deep appreciation for Deaf culture. Drawing from Gina's own experiences as a Deaf individual and mother of two adult CODAs (Children of Deaf Adults), she enjoys spending time outdoors with her husband and family. Teacher Intro Video