INTS6000 International Connections and International Sign among Deaf People Course description

For nearly two centuries deaf people have circulated in international spaces, exchanging ways of living as deaf people across local, regional and international borders. This course will introduce students in deaf studies and sign language interpreting to the history, motivations, and dynamics of transnational connections among deaf people. This circulation of peoples and ideas over time is explored through framing networks of signing deaf people as composed of translocal as well as transnational methodologies of circulation. Attempts at articulating a shared experience of being deaf across geographical distances will be discussed alongside differences regarding mobility, power and resources among deaf people around the globe. These circulations are enabled through a communication practice known as International Sign, where both conventionalized signs and a broad repertoire of visual communication strategies are utilized to enable communication across different sign language communities. The course will give students a basic introduction to the concept and practice of International Sign.

It is necessary that the participants have a certain level in at least one signed language and also in written English to be able to follow the course, as no interpreting will be provided.

None.

After completion of the course, the student will have acquired the following learning outcomes, arranged into the following categories: knowledge, skills and general competence.

Knowledge

The student

• demonstrates insight into the multiplicity of deaf people's lives internationally, with a focus on transmissions within and between countries in the Global North and Global South

• can make connections between the historical development of transnational deaf spaces and the continuing significance of these spaces

• understands the mobility of ideas and peoples within transnational deaf networks and the role deaf people’s translanguaging practices play in these movements

Skills

The student

• is able to utilize cultural, geographical, sociological and human rights perspectives to analyze phenomena taking place in global deaf worlds

• can engage in rudimentary signed discussion about course content with another student with whom they do not share a common signed language

• can use class content and activities to reflect on their own linguistic repertoire and languaging practices

General competence

The student

• is able to engage in critical inquiry into ongoing developments in transnational interactions among deaf people and apply this to class assignments

• can identify transnational deaf spaces and explain how translanguaging affords navigations in such spaces

Through weekly online asynchronous learning sessions (with occasional synchronous student meetings), students will learn about intercultural dialogues among people who use sign languages, the history and existence of international deaf non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and the phenomenon of International Sign and how it relates to translanguaging. The students will also learn about the existence of deaf spaces and ongoing rituals of transnational social events among deaf people, the mobility of people and ideas in deaf transnational spaces, and issues of power and privilege in international encounters and transnational rights discourses.

The course is organized as a Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) module where students from OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University and Gallaudet University (in the USA) participate. The course topics will be taught as weekly activities that includes use of digital learning tools as well as online interaction and cooperation in both international sign and written English between students from both universities.

The language of instruction and interaction among students is International Sign. Variants of international sign is also used in the video resources. All reading materials and written course resources are in English. No interpreting between any (spoken or signed) languages will be provided, since a part of the learning outcome is to obtain skills to communicate in international sign.

The student must have the following coursework requirements accepted before examination.

• A minimum of 80 % participation is required.

• The students must be prepared for participation in the weekly asynchronous and synchronous teaching activities by completing the tasks given every week. The tasks include online discussions in International Sign and English with students from the other university, viewing and analyzing various video resources, use of digital learning tools, explorations and expansions of personal communication repertoires and development of visual information related to the course content.

Attendance is mandatory because of the course’s collaborative and interactive feature, where the students are mutually dependent on each other’s presence and participation in order to complete the course’s work tasks. Participation is also necessary in order to develop and demonstrate the skills that are described under the learning outcome section.

Students who are prevented from meeting the coursework requirements within the fixed deadlines due to illness or other valid and documented reasons, may be given a new deadline. A new deadline is in each case given by the course teacher. 

Coursework requirements are evaluated accepted/not accepted. Students who submit their coursework requirements within the set deadline, but get evaluated as not accepted, are entitled to a maximum of two new attempts to fulfil the requirements. A new deadline for meeting the coursework requirements is in each individual case given by the teacher.

The final assessment will be an individual, recorded and edited 5-8 minute signed presentation of a visual infographic that has been developed during the course in collaboration with a student from the other university than the one where the student is enrolled. The student may choose which signed language they wish to use in this assignment.

New/postponed exam

A new/postponed exam will be in the same format as the ordinary exam. The presentation may be adjusted to the first new exam. To the second new exam a new presentation must be made.

Rights and obligations in connection with exams

The students’ rights and obligations are set out in the Regulations Relating to Studies and Examinations at OsloMet. It is the students’ responsibility to register for any new/postponed exams.

All kinds of examination support material is permitted.

A grade scale with A being the highest grade and E the poorest pass grade is used. The grade F means that the student has failed the exam.

The presentation will be evaluated by one internal examiner from each of the universities where the students are enrolled. An external programme supervisor is affiliated with the course in accordance with the Guidelines for Appointment and Use of Examiners at OsloMet.

Target Group

Students who are skilled in at least one sign language, and want to develop their sign language abilities, visual communication repertoire and translanguaging skills to communicate across different sign languages. The course is also suitable for students who want to learn about international connections among deaf people in order to engage with these networks for both professional and personal reasons.

Admission

The admission requirement is Higher Education Entrance Qualification. Reference is made to the Regulations relating to Admission to Studies at OsloMet.

Although there are no formal requirements regarding current/personal level of sign language competence and mastery of English, a certain mastery of at least one signed language as well as written English is necessary to participate in course activities and complete the coursework requirements.