Learning American Sign Language

by Tom Humphries, Carol Padden, Rob Hills (Illustrator)

This book is designed to help people successfully interact with Deaf American Sign Language users. Lessons are structured around language needed for common life situations and contain dialogues, grammar instruction, exercises, and vocabulary lists. For professionals and instructors who work with deaf people, or anyone who wants to learn sign language.

Genres: Nonfiction, Reference, School, Language, Textbooks, Academic, Education

350 pages, Spiral-bound

First published January 15, 1992

Reviews

[mohamed nouari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Get your copy of Learning American Sign Language 2nd edition the ebook and DVD's

[Anthony Crouse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adore this book! Solid foundation of signs, though a few are outdated for my area. Understandably tricky to grasp signs from a book, but the internet and real people offer great resources to enhance your skills. I got my copy from: Learning American Sign Language: Beginning and Intermediate, Levels 1-2 2nd Edition

[Ntjwtmc370 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very incredible book. I got my copy from this Learning American Sign Language 2nd Edition

[Lief Youngs · Rating 4 out of 5]

The lessons and vocabulary are great. Sometimes the pictures for the vocabulary are hard to understand. Is a great supplement to use while taking a class.

[LARRY · Rating 2 out of 5]

As posted in [http://www.amazon.com]:

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.

[Ashley the Magnificent™ · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am not a big fan of the way the lessons in this book are laid out. I prefer to know what I'm learning BEFORE being taught how to do it. I have seen the texts other ASL classes use and they seem more logical in their progression. This book is also guilty of "using" signs in practice sentences it doesn't teach in the lessons. However, I now know ASL, so I guess it wasn't all bad.

That said, the spiral binding of this book SUCKS. Strike that, it REALLY REALLY SUCKS!!! Yeah, it lies flat... in pieces. This book was in shambles after ASL 1. By the end of ASL 2 most the pages were falling out. Very annoying. Fortunately, ASL 3 uses a different book so I can put this one out of it's misery.

If they come out with a non-spiral-bound version, OR use sturdier materials, I would generously bestow another star.

[Rain Misoa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just realized that I have had this book on my reading shelf for years and I never wrote anything about it. I really like this textbook. It really helps you to learn different signs. One complaint is that if you don't have a visual CD showing you how to do some of the signs, you'd be confused as to the right motions.

To read my full review, click here.

[Tamra · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the text for Beginning ASL 1, 2, and 3 at Cincinnati State (CS). I don't have a problem with the book, but I don't love it, either. I'm not a straight-up beginner (even though I'm in beginning classes), so I keep wanting the book to cover more vocab and give more examples.

Also, the book isn't taught as-is at CS. They modify how they teach the grammar.

I feel mostly neutral about this book, which makes it 2.5 out of 5 stars.

[Rebekah Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this book. Great foundation of signs - though some are a little outdated or not used in my area. Sometimes it's hard to understand a sign from a book, but there are plenty of resources on the internet, or live people, that can help you sharpen your skills.

As with any language book, the text itself will not make you fluent, but it will definitely help set you up to communicate effectively.

[Bruce Dinsman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good basic book for learning American Sign Language. I would recommend this book for anyone who interacts with the public in any capacity. The deaf community would greatly appreciate your effort. My daughter is now an ASL interpreter (recent assignments including hospital, court, GHURA, prison). My wife has taken several courses and I am trying to learn because my wife frequently loses her voice and has to communicate by a sign.

[Bookich Store · Rating 5 out of 5]

My daughter used this for both her ASL classes in college. She still refers back to it occasionally.
She used it for 1 ASL and 2 ASL.

Buy the ebook and DVDs now:

Learning American Sign Language 2nd edition ebook and DVD's

[Jessica (JT) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a required textbook for an ASL course I took in college. I loved learning sign language and this book helped a lot in that process. This is one of the few textbooks I kept and it is one of the few that I pull out occasionally to look over again.

[Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

not helpful. then again, learning ASL from a small picture is almost never helpful.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good book for learning some basics in ASL. My edition though, doesn't have the DVD.

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

Shouldn't be used to teach ASL.
The signs are old and out dated.

[Zack · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little outdated but with a good teacher to supplement, a great guide for beginners.

[Michele Lynn Fitzpatrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sign language deaf
Michele Fitzpatrick

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very helpful learning ASL.