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ASL Conversation & Turn-Taking

Tenth graders learn how a signed conversation flows — get attention, keep eye contact, sign your message, pause to watch the response, and take turns. Good turn-taking keeps a signed conversation clear and respectful.

Grade 10Conversation Skills55 minutes1 class periodACTFL / Visual LanguageExplicit teaching4 StandardsACTFL
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Lesson at a Glance

Everything you need before the bell rings

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to…

  • ✓Explain turn-taking.
  • ✓Keep eye contact.
  • ✓Order a conversation.
  • ✓Converse respectfully.
Essential Question

How does a signed conversation flow smoothly? There’s a natural order to taking turns in ASL. Can you put it in order?

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Lesson Phases
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Vocabulary Terms
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Standards Aligned
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Interactive Task
Put in Order · Interactive

Order the Conversation Flow

Project this and have students put the steps of a signed conversation in order.

💬 Put the conversation flow in order!Try it
Tap the first step!
The Lesson · Visual-Language Flow (Warm-Up · Present · Practice · Sign · Reflect)

55 minutes, five moves

Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.

1

Warm-Up — A Smooth Conversation

6 min

A signed conversation has a natural flow — can you order the turns?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Start a mini conversation.
  • Ask what comes first.
  • Set the goal.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Watch.
  • Wonder.
  • Get ready.
2

Present — Conversation Skills

13 min

Students learn.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Present the flow.
  • Note eye contact & pausing.
  • Have students copy.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Listen.
  • Note it.
  • Copy.
3

Practice — Order It

15 min

Students practice.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Send students to Order the Conversation Flow.
  • Put it in order.
  • Practice.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Order.
  • Say.
  • Explain.
4

Sign — Sign

15 min

Students sign.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Have a short conversation.
  • Take turns.
  • Sign to a partner.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Sign it.
  • Take turns.
  • Sign.
5

Reflect — Reflect

6 min

Students close.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Name a good habit.
  • Say why it matters.
  • Complete the exit ticket.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Name one.
  • Say it.
  • Complete the exit ticket.
Standards Alignment

Built to the standards you report on

Aligned to the ACTFL World-Readiness Standards for Learning Languages (Intermediate-Mid).

ACTFL
Communication 1.1

Interpersonal: hold a conversation.

ACTFL
Cultures 2.1

Explore conversation etiquette.

ACTFL
Communities 5.1

Interact respectfully.

ACTFL
Communication 1.3

Presentational: take turns.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • Flow-step cards.
  • Model each step.
  • Practice in pairs.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Start with attention & eye contact.
  • Order two at a time.
  • Practice together.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Add back-channeling (nods).
  • Have a longer chat.
  • Interrupt politely.
Materials

What to gather

  • 📽️Screen / board
  • 💬Flow-step cards
  • 💻Order the Conversation Flow
  • 🪩A mirror (optional)
  • ✏️Notebooks
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

conversationa two-way exchangeattentiona wave or tap to begineye contactkeep looking at the signerturn-takingback and forthpauselet the other person respondback-channelingnod/react while watchingrespecttreating people kindlyflowhow smoothly it moves
Evaluate

Exit Ticket

Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.

QUESTION 1
What is a good FIRST step in a signed conversation?
Get attention (a wave or gentle tap).
QUESTION 2
Why keep eye contact during a conversation?
You “listen” with your eyes and show respect.
QUESTION 3
What does turn-taking mean?
Signing back and forth, letting each person respond.

Reflect: conversation skills.

Have students hold a short signed conversation, taking turns and keeping eye contact. A printable ASL conversation sheet is in the World Languages library.

Study · Flashcards

Study the key terms

Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.

🃏 ASL Conversation & Turn-TakingFlip
Card 1
Term
Tap to flip →
Meaning
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Nice work!

Practice · Quiz

Check your understanding

A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.

📝 ASL Conversation & Turn-TakingQuiz
Score: 0
1 / 6
Question 1
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Nice work!

Practice · Worksheet

Printable worksheet

A print-and-go review sheet with a built-in answer key. Tap “Show answer key” to reveal answers, or print the clean version for students.

🖨️ ASL Conversation & Turn-TakingPrint
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: attention, back-channeling, conversation, eye contact, flow, pause, respect, turn-taking
  1. how smoothly it moves
  2. a wave or tap to begin
  3. back and forth
  4. treating people kindly
  5. nod/react while watching
  6. keep looking at the signer
  7. let the other person respond
  8. a two-way exchange

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. What is a good FIRST step in a signed conversation?
  2. Why keep eye contact during a conversation?
  3. What does turn-taking mean?
Answer key — Part A: 1) flow · 2) attention · 3) turn-taking · 4) respect · 5) back-channeling · 6) eye contact · 7) pause · 8) conversation
Part B: 1) Get attention (a wave or gentle tap). 2) You “listen” with your eyes and show respect. 3) Signing back and forth, letting each person respond.