Current Course Schedule

American Sign Language: Module 1

This course offers an introductory immersion approach to American Sign Language in communication with deaf persons. ASL may also be explored as an alternate means of communication with hearing children with language disorders who may be delayed in acquiring spoken English. Sessions will focus on aspects of deaf culture and the vitality and rich potential of American Sign Language communication. ASL lab practice opportunities will be built into the schedule.
The benefits of learning ASL include the following:
  • Enhances cognition, creativity, and abstract thinking 
  • Enhances your communication skills through the use of gesture and signs for working with language barriers
  • Improves your ability to communicate with the approximately 36 million, or 1 out of 10 people with hearing loss in the United States
  • Increases awareness of hand and eye coordination and the use of spatial relations
  • Opens your eyes to become more aware of your peripheral vision and surroundings
  • Provides a new skill in communicating visually with diverse populations in different situations
Term(s) offered: Summer
Format: online
  • Course Number
    LANG760N
  • Focus On
    Across Ages
  • Category
    Career Development, Credit-bearing Courses, Online
  • Registration Options and Cost
    $425 12.0 CTLE or 1.2 CEU
    $1,868 1.0 Credits

Sections

Summer 2 2025

  • Section 1:
    Date(s)
    July 7, 8, 9, and 10 | Online *
    Day and Time
    Monday through Thursday, 11:00 AM–2:00 PM ET *2.5 hours of asynchronous work is required
    Registration Deadline
    Jun 30, 2025
    Register
    • Carole Lazorisak
      Carole Lazorisak
      Carole Lazorisak, MA, has over forty years’ experience in the field of deafness, sign language instruction and research, interpreter education, teaching, consulting, and educational administration. She currently presents and provides training at the local, state, national, and international level. Previously, she was tenured faculty in the Deaf Studies, Education and Language Acquisition Associates Degree Program at LaGuardia Community College, Queens, NY. She is the co-author of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Conversational Sign Language (Alpha, 2004). Lazorisak earned a MA with a double major in Deafness and Vocational Rehabilitation and Counselor Education from New York University. She also holds an Interpreter Master Mentor Certificate from University of Colorado at Boulder and Northeastern University. Her BA in Psychology and Sociology is from Gallaudet University in Washington, DC.
"Most of the class was in silence, which gave me some insight as to how the deaf experience is so different from my own. Learning more about deaf culture was really interesting and there is so much I do not know, even though I grew up with someone who was hard of hearing."

"Carole Lazorisak is clearly very knowledgeable about the topic and was able to introduce so many different concepts about deaf culture and skills related to ASL in a kind, fun, and supportive way. It helped me to become even more interested in the topic and want to do more to spread the knowledge I acquired taking this workshop."

"I don't think I've ever had a professional development course that actually kept me engaged the entire time until I took this one. Enjoyed it very thoroughly and am so glad to have learned from such a wonderful teacher."



"Carole provided topics readings, opportunities for reflection, opportunities to learn new vocabulary, and opportunities to practice. Additionally we discussed Deaf culture. I learned so much! She was amazing."