Customer Reviews

Learning American Sign Language: Levels I & II--Beginning & Intermediate (2nd Edition)

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

As an ASL instructor, I found myself not really liking this ASL book. I'm constantly comparing it to Vista/Signing Naturally, not that it's a perfect book either.

First of all, it is difficult to learn 3-D signs from a book. However, you can get an accompanying DVD/VHS. However, it is not much help. The signs/models in the video are too fast for beginners to learn and pick up. This is the biggest complaint from my students.

Another thing, there isn't much cultural tidbits for beginning students. There are more grammar tidbits. Therefore, you'll get the feeling that the linguistic aspect of this book is more important than anything else. Sure, we all want you to sign correctly. However, I want my students to have equal knowledge of the Deaf culture/community.

There are about 3 exercises in each unit. There's barely any activities included to make learning fun. This book focuses on rote learning rather than meaningful learning. For me, rote learning isn't quite effective for students to learn signs.

If your teacher/class require this book, I suggest you bombard your teacher with questions about signs, grammar and culture.

This is a very good book for learning sign language with the help of an experienced signer (or class) or with the help of the videos. The actual language of ASL is taught, not just english words. Some of the pictures are hard to figure out without the help of the video or an instructor so it would not be the best choice for self learning ASL.

I bought this book for the ASL class I am taking. I missed one week and tried to use the book to teach myself the missed lesson. I did not understand about a third of the diagrams on how to do the different signs. I have seen some sources with explanations to accompany signs which would have made this book much clearer.

Top rate learning aid!

This is a regional teaching/learning aid.
The schools for the Deaf in the Pacific-NW area use this book/DVD and the Bravo series.
The grade schools, high schools, colleges and universities use this book/DVD also.

Western Oregon University offers a great ASL/English Interpreting Bachelor-degree course and they use this book as well, including many others of course. It's perfect for this area.

I live in Pacific NW and this is a very acceptable book/DVD here.
I learned beginner's ASL from this book and the Bravo series.

In my opinion, it is an advantage to learn how to sign from different regions, not a disadvantage or negative aspect. It just means you are becoming more multi-lingual in a sense. The Deaf do not mind if we use a sign from a different region, any more than hearing people mind if we say--y'all or you-guys--at least, being a relocated Texan, I HOPE y'all don't mind. LOL In turn, the Deaf will teach us the sign that is most acceptable in the particular region in which we/they live. Variety makes life spicy, yes? Knowledge is power.

I have an old first edition (1981): American Sign Language--A Comprehensive Dictionary by Martin L.A Sternberg, Ed.D. 5,000 signs. Impressive. I love it! It's interesting to see how some of the older, two-handed, cumbersome signs have evolved into better ergonomic signs. This language is always improving.
I got mine online from a used-book store for about $6. Quite a steal as it sold for $40 in 1981. I would search for the latest revised edition and cherish it!

A very good, current dictionary to have is the American Handshape Sign Language Dictionary (new revised 2010 edition from Gallaudet). It is an East Coast regional dictionary and also very nice for beginners. I have the last edition and will buy the revised and enlarged edition for my husband who is learning ASL. It is on pre-order from Amazon. It is an essential in my opinion.
[...]

I am also increasing my collection of signs and abilities using free downloads from various sites:
ASLUniversity has fabulous lesson plans and a growing dictionary (California area): [...]

ASL Pro, A Southwest-based (Texas) site, has great quizzes, various dictionaries (baby, religious and everyday signs) and MANY other goodies: [...]

I use these wonderful online dictionaries as well:
ASL Browser: [...]
Signing Savvy: [...]

WWW dot JW dot ORG is a great East Coast media site:
[...]
If you are not adverse to religious-based media, this is a PEARL!
They have the best ASL Bible I have ever seen!

Once you have accumulated some knowledge of the language:
FREE educational & entertaining--ASL Bible, Bible dramas, Children's Bible stories, advanced religious media for download:

The simplest of the above downloadable ASL media is the DVD entitled: Learning From the Great Teacher. It is about Jesus, and teaches great moral values. Learning From the Great Teacher is also available in English book format. I learned TONS of signs and phrases from this children's book/DVD combined. The man signing is very deliberate and extremely animated. It is the best teaching tool I have found. It is necessary to have a basic knowledge of ASL to make use of it though. However, I found that having the English text was invaluable. Even if you have a limited amount of learned signs, watching a variety of extremely proficient signers relate simple information is good training for your receptive skills.

I have quite a lot of resource material, secular as well as religious. ANYTHING that helps you learn the language is great! I actually enjoy seeing signs done differently from all over the North American continent as well as all over the world. Sign language is the third most-used language in the United States, behind Spanish and English. Of the several sign languages used in the USA, ASL is the largest. I am so happy to see such an increased interest in the Spanish and ASL languages in this country.

Happy learning, y'all! ILY (ASL for I-Love-You/y'all/you guys) LOL
BB in Oregon, USA

This book is a good one to accompany an ASL class. It is hard to display three dimensional signs on a two dimensional picture. The aid of an instructor makes up for this difficulty. Also some of the vocabluary is not quite right for conversations. The instructor helps straighten out these conflicts. It is a good book with a lot of information as a textbook should be and that is why it is a required text for the class I am taking.

I'm finding this book accompany's A Basic Course in American Sign Language well. It has lots of good guided language practice and examples in it, and gets more advanced than the ABC/ASL book. I still chose the other book for a beginning ASL class, but if I taught an intermediate class I might add this book as a required text because it shows the culture of the language better.

As far as a sign language textbook should go, I hope this isn't the standard. I found the hand motions to be confusing despite the pictures (or rather because of them). Some of the exercises are worded so confusingly, making it very unhelpful. Not worth the $60 I paid.

I received my book yesterday. After looking through it for an hour and studying the first pages, I learned how the book was written. Several learning aids are included in the pictures and once you study what the aids do, you realize how much thought went into this book. I intend on taking a formal class using this book. But until that time I am going to begin on my own so I have a head start. I have read reviews from people who say that the pictures are too hard to understand. They did not take the time to read the explanation for the pictures. This is a fine book and I cannot wait to get into it. It is my intention to become certified as an Interpreter and this book will give me a great start. This is a book for people who are serious about study, not those who want learning and understanding handed to them on a platter.

It's too confusing. There's one picture and you can't tell really which way your hands should be positioned. There should at least be a written description.

As a sign language instructor, I do not use this book for my beginning ASL Class. I use "A Basic Course in American Sign Language". After students complete the beginning course and move into the intermediate class I use "Learning American Sign Language" as a review which ultimately takes them into the intermediate level. Neither book should be used without an instructor. I also use the DVD "Learning American Sign Language" to have students practice translating American Sign Language into spoken English. This is only one of the materials that I use in the intermediate class and I am very happy with the results. I would like to buy the Instructor's Manual to Learning American Sign Language but I cannot find it. If you have one that you want to sell, please list it on amazon. It must be out of print.