One of the best ways to practice foreign language skills is to practice conversing with others. In the college classroom, pair students and give them a topic to discuss or let them choose one on their own. Allow the students to spend some time talking back and forth, and walk through the room to monitor and make corrections where needed. As students gain more knowledge and skill with sign language, make conversation groups larger, which helps students focus on more than one person.
Even at the college level, games are an ideal way to reinforce learning, including for American Sign Language. This is because games are fun and help with comprehension and retention at the same time. Play bingo, but instead of calling out the items on the card, sign them. Play a twist on the game of telephone by signing a message from one end of the line to the other. Set out a variety of board games and challenge your students to play from start to finish while only communicating with sign language. This hones skills and helps college students practice focusing on the person speaking to them.
Oral presentations are an ideal way to have college students practice sign language to other people. Assign your students a story to memorize and recite to the class in American Sign Language. This is a skill that a future interpreter will need to be successful and allows students to learn the correct speed when signing. Reading recipes, poems or songs are other options that provide similar benefits.
Testing your college students allows you to assess where more instruction is needed. A series of tests and quizzes given at regular intervals throughout the semester allows your class to demonstrate their knowledge and get additional help in areas that are weak or misunderstood. Providing study sheets gives your class another way to learn the material before administering tests on it. Tests and quizzes could be similar to class activities. Another option is to have a one on one session with students as a way to test their ability.