Product Details

• Actors: I Want to Learn Sign Language
• Directors: Dan Sperling
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Dan Sperling Video and Film
• DVD Release Date: January 1, 2006
• Run Time: 60 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000IJ6V4W
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #57,302 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #68 in	Movies & TV > Educational > Foreign Language & Language Arts
  #87 in	Movies & TV > Kids & Family > Educational > Learning Languages

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
In volume 1, cousin Andy, who is deaf, is coming to visit! However, Stephanie and Brianna are worried about how they're going to communicate with him, and they aren't too sure about how they should act around him either. So along with their close friend, Nikki, they create a signing club to learn american sign language. Stephanie and Brianna's Mom, who knows american sign language, becomes their teacher and now the race is on for them to learn enough sign language before cousin Andy arrives. The girls study and practice signing everyday, take a lesson on the American Sign Language alphabet and also come to understand that deaf people just want to be treated like everyone else. In Volume 1 of this two-part series, you'll learn the ASL alphabet, the numbers 1 through 20, favorite foods, hobbies, greetings, favorite expressions and much more. Also be sure to check out volume 2 where Andy and the group really kick into high gear. Imagine, a whole week on vacation with cousin Andy with nothing else to do but to have fun and learn a lot more signs! Cut loose with the gang as they enjoy soccer practice, skating antics and wild, sprinkler madness. Not to mention a fun-filled trip to the petting zoo game ranch! Andy's visit turns out to be the perfect opportunity for the children to learn more about each others' worlds, while having lots of fun learning. In Volume 2 you'll learn words for the colors, the holidays, words about our planet, fun in the sun activities, sports expressions, the moon and the stars and the days of the week. Learn words for computer talk, coins and money, the names of your favorite animals and much, much more. Come along with the group as they get to know Andy and come to understand his personal challenges. Be there when they finally make Andy an honorary member of their club. Come learn alongside Andy and the group with this entertaining and highly educational two-part series. Program Synopsis: In this entertaining and educational video,

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Useful for younger children, perhaps to age 12., February 11, 2009

By	hirondelle - See all my reviews

Because my 11 yr old (hearing impaired) daughter was raised using cued speech, she knows only a small amount of signing. I thought it was time for her to learn to sign better, so I purchased three videos:
American Sign Language for Kids and Adults
Getting Started in Signing
I Want to Learn Sign Language (vol. 1 and 2)

"American Sign Language for Kids and Adults" was the least helpful. A LOT of time is spent on animal footage (I could go to a zoo for that). We were frustrated as we watched a red panda roam for what seemed like 10 minutes between rapid signing lessons. Yes, red pandas are cute, but the purpose to this video is to learn sign language. I can get a National Geographic dvd on zoo animals if I want to study zoo animals.
The signing was given in spurts - rapidly between long periods of animal observation. The host is dynamic, which also means he signs rapidly. The subject matter is very narrow: all about animals, conservation, and the like. Not much about school, friends, life in general.

The other two programs I purchased were well watching. They cater to two different levels:
"I Want to Learn Sign Language" (both volumes)was great for a younger audience (maybe up to 10 or 12 yrs old). The program taught many signs relevant to childhood and is a great introduction to learning to sign. The format is a woman teaching three children many signs so they can welcome their deaf cousin. Almost the entire program is devoted to teaching signs. The rate of instruction is perfect for younger children - not too rapid, and not agonizingly slow (except during the teaching of the alphabet, which many kids know already).
If you already know a fair amount of signing though, this program is not for you. And don't expect to be fluent after it. It is only a grand total of maybe 2 hrs of simple instruction if you get both volumes. (I purchased the set from a vendor using Buy It Now for much less... not sure I would recommend paying so much for these...)

"Getting Started in Signing" was my personal favorite, as a Mom with a hearing impaired child. It used the allotted time well and taught a lot of signs. It moved along more quickly than "I Want to Learn Sign Language" but not at a frantic pace. I see that amazon has many good reviews on it, and I'm not surprised. But in the end, I felt it was too short! It is only 1 hr long, and you just can't learn as much signing as you need with only 1 hr of instruction. It's too bad there aren't more episodes of these (other than the one that is already out there which reviewers say repeats a lot of this one).

I have also searched online for ways to pick up more sign language - especially ways that will appeal to my daughter.
www.lifeprint.com/asl101 is a great resource, but not exactly for young kids. The host does not move his lips, and my daughter is accustomed to receiving information with hands AND mouth, so I will save using these lessons for later. I applaud the creator of this website though! It is free, has videos (as opposed to just sketches), and very thorough.

For what it's worth, I will mention a site we found that has actually been extremely helpful. It is religious in nature, so if you don't go for that, then this is not for you. The LDS church has a site where you can watch ASL renditions of their songs for children. If you watch enough of these, you can pick up an awful lot of signing! Most of these songs seem to be fairly generic Christian songs. If another church or school did this, I would recommend it as well, but I haven't found anything like it. Try it and see:
http://www.lds.org/cm/display/0,17631,7231-1,00.html
If the link doesn't appear, google "lds church ASL songs for children"

5.0 out of 5 stars Great ASL Learning for the Older Child, June 16, 2008

By	Randa Rose - See all my reviews

I am so thankful to have these videos. Signing Time is great for toddlers, but what are you supposed to do when an 8 year old wants to learn sign language? These videos are part of the answer. (I say part, because I wish there were more) There are a group of girls who want to learn sign language. Someone is coming to visit who is deaf and they want to be able to communicate with him. So they form a sign language club and 2 of the girl's mother teaches them many signs. Very engaging for the older child... ages 7-11 is who I would recommend them for. For toddlers I recommend Signing Time. We love it, just wish there were more.

1 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars stop thief!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, July 18, 2007

By	nah "nah" (TN) - See all my reviews

I can't tell you about this video, because the vendor took my money and did not send the video... they sent vol2 but i ordered both of them