Study Guide

Field 051: American Sign Language (ASL)
Assessment for World Language Teachers of ASL (Subtest II) Receptive Comprehension

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Sample Directions for Receptive Comprehension Multiple-Choice Questions

SECTION TWO: RECEPTIVE COMPREHENSION

For the Receptive Comprehension section of the test, you will watch video recordings containing an ASL video and answer one or more multiple-choice questions in English based on each ASL video.

There are two types of recordings. The first set of recordings provide a dialogue or monologue in ASL and are followed by questions that assess comprehension of that presentation. The second set of recordings provide a short ASL message and are followed by questions that require the identification of signing errors in that message.

The video recordings will begin playing automatically. Once a video recording begins, you will not be able to pause, stop, or replay it. Therefore, watch carefully.

Each video recording will begin with an ASL video. Next, there will be a pause with an on-screen countdown. During this countdown time, you should familiarize yourself with the test question(s) provided on the screen. You may need to scroll down to see all the questions. After the countdown, the ASL video will play for a second time.

For video recordings with more than one question, a preview of the test questions associated with the ASL video will be presented on the screen. You will not be able to select your response choices to preview items during the countdown time. Instead, after the ASL video has played twice, you will proceed to the next screen to begin answering the questions.

Each question includes four response choices. Read each question and response choice carefully and choose the ONE correct response. You should answer all questions. Even if you are unsure of a response, it is better to guess than not to answer a question at all.

Note that in this section of the test, you may NOT go back to previous screens to review or change your responses to questions, and you will NOT be able to replay the video recordings.

Please be aware that the visual enhancements Example of the Color Scheme visual enhancement control and Example of the Font Size visual enhancement control are NOT available during the Receptive Comprehension section of the test. You must make any desired adjustments now before you select "Next" to begin the Receptive Comprehension section. You will not be able to adjust these features again until you have completed this section of the test.

Click the Next button when you have finished reading these directions and are ready to begin the Receptive Comprehension section of the test. Once you advance to the next screen, the first video recording will start automatically.

Select the Next button to continue.

Sample Receptive Comprehension Multiple-Choice Questions

[The first set of Receptive Comprehension video recordings on an actual test provide a monologue or dialogue. Monologues and dialogues are approximately 1-2 minutes in length and represent a variety of formal and informal contexts such as a dialogue within a work setting, a formal interview, a lecture, or a conversation between two friends.

The sample video screenshot below is for demonstration purposes only and is not representative of a video that would appear on an actual test.

The sample item below is representative of the type of item the examinee will see on the actual test. Note: This sample item cannot be answered using the sample video screenshot.]

Watch the recording below; then answer the question. The recording will be played twice.

Man standing depicting a sign langage expression, his hand is raised in and pointing to closely to his chest

[The examinee will see the following directions on right side of screen:]

Below is a preview of the questions related to the recording.

[Preview version(s) of the question(s) appear on the actual test. Note that this screen is only a preview of the question(s) and the examinee cannot respond to the question(s) on this screen.]

Click "Next" when the recording ends to answer the question.

[On the actual test, each item associated with the video will be presented on a separate screen for the examinee to answer. No rationale will be included.]

Competency 0002
Infer information from a variety of culturally authentic signed messages in American Sign Language.

1. Which adjective best describes the overall tone of this monologue?

  1. authoritative
  2. annoyed
  3. informal
  4. scornful
Answer
Correct Response: A. The overall tone of the presentation is authoritative. In this monologue, the man provides a confident and factual presentation on economic changes in the state over the past 25 years. He does not provide specific opinions but provides a a great deal of information, showing that he is an expert in this area.

[The second set of Receptive Comprehension video recordings on an actual test provide short messages containing signing errors in ASL that assess an examinee’s ability to identify errors. Examples of errors could include the use of an incorrect sign, an incorrect classifier handshape, an extraneous word, or an incorrect palm orientation.

Each recording will be played once, followed by a preview of the items associated with the recording. Then each recording will be played a second time. When the second recording ends, the examinee will click “Next” to proceed to the items.

The sample item below is representative of the type of item an examinee will see on the actual test.]

Competency 0004
Analyze errors in a short message in American Sign Language.

2. Which of the following statements best describes the error in this passage?

  1. The signer slowly fingerspells someone’s name instead of using his ASL name sign.
  2. The signer uses an informal sign for a food item instead of the more common, formal sign.
  3. The signer uses the incorrect handshape classifier when signing about the table.
  4. The signer uses an inward palm orientation when fingerspelling rather than outward
Answer
Correct Response: C. The signer has his fingers curved downward instead of using a flat handshape when signing about the table, which is an incorrect handshape classifier. A flat surface like the table requires using a flat handshape classifier.