1. Describing People: Lessons
Based on Master ASL, J. Zinza
© 2011 Natasha Escalada-Westland
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2. Describing People: Goals
To describe people’s physical appearances
To describe personality traits and characteristics
To improve ASL narrative skills
To learn about Deaf-Blind communication
To discuss health issues
To describe the natural world and environment
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Based on Master ASL Level One by Jason Zinza

3. Describing Physical Characteristics, p. 294
In general, Follow this sequence:
Gender
Ethnicity / background (optional)
Height
Body type
Eyes, hair and other details such as clothing
But remember; a strongly identifying trait will often be enough for a brief description.
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4. Describing Physical Characteristics, p. 294
There are cultural (and personal) differences in what Deaf people and hearing people view as polite.
Deaf:
Hearing:
“He’s a big African-American guy.”
“He’s fluffy.”
This sentence is not considered rude unless you exaggerate or pair it with a negative or disgusted look on your face.
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5. To be chubby, fat, p. 295
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6. To be thin, p. 295
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7. Body
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8. To be in good shape (average,medium), p. 295
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9. Hair, p. 295
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10. To be well built, muscular, p. 295
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11. To be bald, p. 295
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12. Look like p. 295
strongly resemble
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13. Face, p. 295
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14. Freckles, acne (add red for acne), p. 295
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15. Gut, belly, p. 295
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16. To lose weight, slim down, p. 295
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17. Pregnant, p. 295 Showing pregnancy Concieve, not showing pregnancy
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18. When describing people:
Point toward these body parts – eyes, ears, nose
Short and tall share the same signs as child and adult
Fingerspell DA for disabled and HC for handicapped
First sign hair, then add the color
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19. Signing about Ethnicity or Skin Color
Deaf (often feel):
Detailed description of race or body type is matter of fact; a description of what the eyes see.
Be respectful!
Don’t exaggerate or
use unflattering facial
expressions
Remember:
One sign may carry
several concepts –
Hispanic/Latino/Mexican
Black/African American
White/Caucasian
Indian/Native American
Hearing (often feel):
Detailed description of race or body type may be considered impolite.
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20. Skin, Ethnicity, p. 297
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21. Asian
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22. Black, African, African-American, p. 297
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23. From India, East Indian, p.297
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24. American Indian, Native-American, p. 297
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25. Latino/a, Hispanic, Mexican, p. 297
LSM sign for “Mexico”
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26. Arab (Middle Eastern), p. 297
Saudi sign for “Arab”
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27. White, Caucasian, p. 297
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28. Half, p. 297
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29. To Mix, mixed race, p. 297
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30. Regions of the World
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31. Touch Finish? Have you been?
What areas of the world have you been to?
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32. Asking about background
I was wondering (curious) where you’re from?
What race or ethnicity are your parents (or family)?
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33. List 1, pg. 1
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34. List 1, pg. 2
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35. Describe each person to a partner following correct the ASL sequence.
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36. Describe each illustration using the correct sequence.
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37. Match the English words or phrases to the best signed concept.
Drop a few pounds
Skinny
Pot belly
Muffin top
Acne
Obese
Balding
Get in shape
Plump
Buff
Spare tire
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38. Resemblances – Using the signs look like and look strong, describe each pair below. Use complete sentences to describe similarities and differences.
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39. Each picture gives information about a person’s background and ethnicity. Explain using a complete sentence.
YOU?
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40. Describe the people below using a complete sentence
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41. She is Mexican American. I am Native American and Black.
Translate each sentence into an ASL sentence. Use alternative signs for ethnicity. Use the sign bank on the right.
I am African American.
They are from Asia.
We are Asian Americans.
She is Mexican American.
I am Native American and Black.
He is half White, half Middle Eastern.
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42. Describing Ethnicity & Places
Describe the ethnicity of your family or friends. Create a dialogue with a partner comparing and contrasting backgrounds and ethnicities of yourself or your friends. How do you identify yourself? Where is your family from? Where have you been in the world? Your dialogue should include the following:
Greetings
Discussion of ethnicity/background & places described above. (3 sentences each)
A farewell
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43. Rubric for Ethnicity Dialogue: rate your dialogue: 4=great, 1=poor
Length –
Target Vocabulary –
NMS
Fluency
4 sentences each
“curious” or “ethnicity”
Questions, negation, other
Signed smoothly or with hesitancy/mistakes

44. Handicapped or Disabled? Consider the following:
Disability = not-able
Handicap = anything that makes success more difficult
If being “normal” means succeeding in a career or school, starting and raising a family, and actively participating in one’s community, then what does it mean when a Deaf person achieves those goals? What about somone who does not have a disability and doesn’t achieve certain life goals?
The word “handicapped” describes a person who is unable to function owing to some property of the environment. Therefore, someone requiring a wheelchair may or may not be handicapped, depending on whether ramps are available. Using this criteria, who else could be considered handicapped?
Do you find the labels Handicapped and Disabled accurate or useful when describing Deaf people? Why or why not?
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45. Deaf Native Americans, p. 299
For hundreds of years Native Americans, particularly the Plains Indians, have used sign language to communicate. It is certain that American Sign Language borrowed signs from this sign language, similar to the way English speakers borrow words from other languages. The Deaf native American community is proud of their rich legacy of sign languages. The Intertribal Deaf council works hard on behalf of Deaf Native Americans to preserve their unique heritage and promote awareness of their valuable contributions to the Deaf World. To learn more visit –
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46. Hair
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47. Hairstyles
p. 301
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48. Hairstyles
p. 301
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49. To brush one’s hair
p. 259
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50. To comb one’s hair, p.259
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51. To blow dry one’s hair
p. 259
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52. To Braid
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53. To shave (2 variations)
p. 259
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54. Hairstyles Practice Page
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55. Using Classifiers to Describe What CL handshape would you use to sign the concepts below?
A Line of people
Rope
A crew/buzz cut
Cornrows
Pigtails
A little bit of water
A stray hair
A soul patch
Classifier Handshapes
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56. A Good Hair Day, MASL p. 303 Watch the DVD and answer the following questions.
What do you think these 3 signs mean? Why?
Why does Kelly think working there could be fun?
What does Kelly think she can do while working?
What are some reasons you think would change Kelly’s mind?
What do you think about Kelly’s idea?
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57. What I Look Like, MASL p. 303 Watch the DVD and answer the following questions.
What is Kelly’s ethnicity?
Is Kelly tall or short?
Is she wearing sandals?
How does Kelly wear her hair?
What 3 words does Kelly fingerspell?
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58. Personality & Character
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59. Afraid
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60. Broken-hearted, grieving (grief)
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61. Embarrassed
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62. Emotional
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63. Frustrated Once: “I’m frustrated!” Ongoing:
“I have been frustrated for awhile (over and over)!”
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64. Motormouth, talkative
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65. Nervous, anxious, jumpy
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66. Nosy, In other people’s business
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67. Personality
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68. Polite, formal
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69. Rude, disrespectful
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70. Strong, (confident, courageous,)
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71. Weak, puny
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72. Worry
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73. to Tend to (do something)
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74. “Deaf tend their…” Culturally Deaf people tend to do these things… Something Deaf people do…
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75. Unit 8
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76. Signing Traits Complete the following sentences using the suggested vocabulary. Don’t forget to close your sentence.
Suggested Vocabulary
I don’t mind…
I always…
Sometimes I…
afraid
nervous
frustrated
talkative
heartbroken
polite
In the past, I…
I never…
I don’t like…
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nosy
embarrassed
rude

77. S/he tends to… Complete the above sentence with each concept below
S/he tends to… Complete the above sentence with each concept below. Include the correct facial expression. Close your sentence.
Shy
Emotional
Nosy
Worry
Embarrassed
Frustrated
Nervous
Broken-hearted
Motor-mouth
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78. Which community exhibits the following traits and beliefs?
Breaking eye contact is rude
It takes a long time to say good-bye
Don’t like facial expressions
Love to get together and chat
Love music
Stop to chat when someone says “How are you?”
Often hug and shake hands when saying hello or good-bye
Believe nosiness is bad
Believe nosiness is good
Always stop to say “Hello” and “How are you?”
Hearing people tend to…
Deaf people tend to…
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79. Personality Quiz – MASL red book, p. 309
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80. Good & Bad Traits Make a list with a partner outlining personality traits you like and dislike in a friend. Then describe your ideal friend in complete ASL sentences.
Positive Traits
Negative Traits
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81. Match the signs to their opposites1 5 9 a e i 6 b f j 2 10 3 7 g c 4 8 h d
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82. 1 5 9 a e i 6 b f j 2 10 3 7 g c 4 8 h d
Answers: 1c, 2d, 3b, 4j, 5i, 6f, 7h, 8g, 9e, 10a
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83. Big-head, know-it-all, arrogant
My Friend Tara - MASL p. 310 Respond to the following in complete sentences:
List 3 of Tara’s personality traits:
_____________
What is one of Tara’s pet peeves?
What does Tara enjoy doing?
Which sports does Tara play?
Sean & Tara are good friends despite what?
Big-head, know-it-all, arrogant
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84. Health
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85. Alright, okay
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86. Allergies, to be Allergic
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87. to be Better
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88. Chicken pox
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89. have a Cold, Sniffles
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90. to Cough
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91. Doctor
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92. Feel
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93. Fever
Variation 2
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94. Heal, Get better
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95. Medicine
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96. Nauseated, sick to one’s stomach
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97. Sneeze
Variation 2
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98. Sore throat
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99. to Sprain
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100. Remove tonsils
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101. to Vomit
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102. To catch or have (an illness), get (sick)
POW!
Version 1
Version 2
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103. Response to a sneeze
Variation 2
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104. to Hurt, pain: this sign moves location depending on where the pain is
headache
Variation 2
Stomach ache
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105. Blood, to Bleed this sign moves location depending on where the blood is
Bloody nose
Bloody arm
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106. Unit 8
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107. “POW!” Use the “POW!” sign to sign each phrase in ASL.
I got sick.
Out of the blue I didn’t feel so good.
My allergies started acting up yesterday.
He has the chicken pox.
I just started coughing.
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108. How do they feel? Tell a partner using a full sentence in ASL.2 1 4 3 5
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109. What should they do? Use the pictures and tell a partner what’s wrong, and if the person(?) needs to see a doctor, stay home and rest, or take medicine. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
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110. Description Dialogue Rubric
Names: 2 3 4 5
-3Physical descriptions & ethnicity
-Correct order of descriptions
-3 Regions of the world
3 or more elements missing
2 elements missing
1 element missing
All elements present
Non Manual Signals
Few or no NMS
Some correct NMS
Many correct NMS
NMS present throughout with correct timing
Sign Production (HOLM)
3 or more incorrect signs
2 incorrect signs
1 incorrect sign
All signs produced correctly
Fluency / Smoothness of signing
Very halting, many unnatural pauses
Somewhat halting, several unnatural pauses
Mostly smooth, little hesitancy
No hesitancy, very smooth
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111. The Natural World
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112. Earth, geography
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113. Dirt, sand, soil
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114. Grass
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115. Desert
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116. Flower
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117. Hill
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118. Island
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119. Lake
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120. Moon
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121. Mountain
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122. Plant
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123. River
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124. Stars
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125. Sun
Variation 2
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126. Tree
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127. Cactus Classifier for saguaro:
When describing a tall, many-branched saguaro cactus, use the handshape below, after signing cactus.
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128. Unit 8
List 4

129. Describe the scene below in as much detail as you can.
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130. Describe the scene below in as much detail as you can.
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131. Describe the scene below in as much detail as you can.
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132. Describe the scene below in as much detail as you can.
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133. Describe the scene below in as much detail as you can.
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Jason Zinza, 2007

134. Respond to the following questions based on the sentence below
What is the relationship between hill and valley? What kind of a sign is this?
How does an additional movement change tree into forest or many trees?
Why do gold and California share the same sign?
Recently, when hiking in the mountains, I saw a beautiful valley with a lake and forest of red and gold leaves.
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135. Unit 8, Describing People - Goals Review
Can you:
Describe people’s physical appearances?
Describe personality traits and characteristics?
Use descriptions in 5-sentence long narratives?
Explain how the Deaf-Blind communicate?
Discuss health issues?
Describe the natural world and environment?
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Based on Master ASL Level One by Jason Zinza

136. Unit 8, Describing People - Review
Watch MASL DVD U8: “My Grandfather” and answer these questions
What tribe does Sean’s grandfather belong to?
What is Sean’s ethnic background?
What does Sean’s grandfather look like?
How did he lose weight?
What are three characteristics of Sean’s grandfather’s personality?
What is his grandfather always doing?
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137. Unit 8, Describing People - Review
Using the MASL red book, do the Unit 8 review activities:
p , B-F
p , A & B
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Based on Master ASL Level One by Jason Zinza