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The American Sign Language (ASL) and Deaf Culture Academy introduces ASL and an overview of topics integral to experiences of American deaf community members. The academy features ASL instruction in an immersive environment where students learn basic conversation and narrative skills.
Non-credit
Online, live
Accepts International Students
Financial Aid
Application fee waiver
The course features a weekly seminar to discuss experiences and perspectives of Deaf community members as demonstrated through online publications (vlogs), lectures, and a panel of Deaf community professionals in related fields.
ASL instruction is conducted entirely in ASL, with no spoken English. We use written English sparingly to facilitate instruction. We find this the best way to get students using and comfortable with ASL quickly. In fact, students really end up loving and valuing this approach!
Upon completion of the Academy, students will come away with the following ASL skills:
• Share personal information including hometown, language background(s), how one gets from
location to location via transportation, and interests/hobbies.
• Discuss and describe locations within a building and give directions within a building using
perspective shift and directional vocabulary.
• Express wants/needs and ask/tell where to obtain those wants/needs.
• Ask and tell about marital status, whether they have children/siblings, and the chronological
ranking of children/siblings.
• Use number skills including how to express collective group numbers, age, and time numbers.
Students will also gain awareness of cultural values and topics important to Deaf community members in
order to better understand and connect with Deaf community members in future interactions.
We recommend that all operating systems, browsers, Flash, and other software be up to date before the start of each online class. Most courses use Canvas for assignments, discussion, and watching video, and synchronous sessions can happen on a variety of platforms. Students will receive all important information before the beginning of class.
As ASL and Deaf culture has been highly visible in the media and popular culture, it is no surprise that the popularity of ASL has been on the rise. In fact, American Sign Language is the third most commonly taught language in the United States. Some recent popular culture examples of where you might have seen ASL include:
- Films - The Eternals; CODA; Sound of Metal
- Television - Switched at Birth; El Deafo; Deaf U; interpreters in local, state, and national news briefings and conferences
You have probably also seen Deaf people and ASL featured in new products using technology, like the Apple commercial and the Apple TV+ video.
You might not realize that ASL and Deaf culture can be useful to you in a number of careers. Here are some examples of applications of ASL in various fields: neuroscience, psychology, engineering, medicine, and linguistics research.
Features
- Intensive ASL instruction by a native ASL user
- Lectures and discussions about current events and important topics in American Deaf communities
- Interactive panel discussion with Philadelphia Deaf community professionals
Eligibility: Current 9th-11th grade students from across the world.
A successful applicant should have:
- Minimum 3.3 high school GPA
- Writing that shows both technical skill and intellectual depth
- Strong recommendations
- A variety of extracurricular interests
Unofficial Transcript
Min GPA Requirement
Essay
1 Recommendation
English Test C1-C2
Online Application From
Application Fee
Official Transcript *
- Completed online application
- Application essays: Include all essays in a single document, clearly numbered. Individual essays should not exceed 400 words:
1. Describe your academic and personal goals and how these may be further achieved by studying at Penn during the summer. Feel free to discuss the particular program to which you are applying as well as other aspects of studying at Penn during the summer.
2. Select a few of your non-academic or extracurricular experiences and explain how these activities supplement your academic and personal growth.
3. Non-native English speakers only: Describe your English educational background and experience.
- High school transcripts (official or unofficial transcripts are accepted): Upload a copy of high school transcripts into the online application. The transcript must include one full academic year of grades. If your transcript does not include one year of grades, you may upload a mid-term or interim report card, or middle or junior high school transcripts in addition. If you choose to mail or email a copy of your transcripts, please upload a document into the application system stating your materials have been sent by mail or email.
- One letter of recommendation: This letter may be submitted electronically through the application system (preferred), or mailed or emailed to our office. For electronic submissions through the application system, just enter the name and email address of the recommendation providers into the system and our division will contact them with submission instructions.
- Non-native English speakers must submit a test score to verify English language proficiency unless they attend an English-medium school, in which case this requirement is waived. For the Pre-College Programs, a student must attend an English-medium school for 2+ years by the time of enrollment for the requirement to be waived.
If scores are required, a TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo English Test (DET), PSAT, SAT, or ACT score is accepted. Copies of score reports may be uploaded to the application system or emailed to [email protected] as attachments. The minimum TOEFL scores required for admissions consideration are 100 (iBT), 250 (CBT), or 600 (PBT). The IELTS score required for admissions consideration is a 7. The minimum Duolingo English Test (DET) score required for admission is 120.
- Standardized test scores are not required for application.
- Non-refundable application fee of $75.
Deadline
Applications for summer 2024 open on December 1, 2023.
February 15 - Deadline to apply to Summer Academies.
April 1 - April 15 - Application Decision Release Window.
Jul 08 - Jul 26
3 weeks
Online
Tuition for 2024 - TBA.
2023 Summer Academies tuition:
American Sign Language and Deaf Culture Academy (offered as remote learning only): $5,500.
There is a $1,500 nonrefundable deposit for all programs. There is also a nonrefundable application fee of $75, payable by credit card through our online application system.
Financial Aid
If you attend a School District of Philadelphia public or charter high school you may be eligible to attend a Penn Summer Academy free of charge with a Penn Summer Scholarship.
Application fee waiver
Any applicant from the School District of Philadelphia who attends a public or charter school or one of the following organizations is eligible for an application fee waiver. Applicants indicating that they are from the School District of Philadelphia will automatically have the application fee waived.
Eligible organizations include:
Achievement First
Amerigo Education
Minds Matter
Philadelphia Futures
Schuler Scholars Foundation
If your organization would like to have a conversation about initiating a partnership with our office, please email [email protected] to set up an informational meeting.
Unofficial Transcript
Min GPA Requirement
Essay
1 Recommendation
English Test C1-C2
Online Application From
Application Fee
Official Transcript *
Application is closed
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