Signing Naturally Unit 1-6

by Cheri Smith, Ella Mae Lentz, Ken Mikos

Included with Teacher's Guide is the Teacher's Answer book (Student's workbook with answers; 2 DVDs totaling 7-plus hours of ASL).


Description

Blending the interactive elements of communicative language teaching, the organization of functional-notional instruction, and the target language emphasis of immersion, Signing Naturally Units 1-6 are ideally suited for ASL instruction. There are over 100 instructional hours of revised and updated lessons in the teacher's guide, incorporation suggestions made by instructors, and using proven research methods.

Highlights include:

* Full color curriculum, featuring still photos from the video material
* Complete PowerPoint presentation to offer flexibility and options for presenting information in the classroom
* Classroom materials provided as electronic files for teachers to create their own set of materials
* Unit 6, Storytelling, builds narrative skills appropriate to new learners
* Teacher's Answer book (Student's workbook with answers; 2 DVDs totaling 7 ½ hours)

Signing Naturally is one of the most widely used ASL curriculum throughout the United States and Canada. And now you can see for yourself, Signing Naturally Units 1-6 is truly the BEST Made Better!

Genres: Textbooks, School, Nonfiction, College, Language, Read For School, Read For College

632 pages, Textbook Binding

Published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[Mariah Roze · Rating 3 out of 5]

I used this book for my American Sign Language 1 class. This definitely was not the best approach to learning sign language online. The book is used so you can be in a fully immersive class where English is not spoken. However, that is really hard to do online and very unrealistic. I think this book would have been so much better if I took an in-class ASL class but since it was online I really resented the style of teaching that this book had.

However, it got 3 stars because I did learn a lot.

[Danielle Cozzola · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this super helpful when I was taking a beginner sign language class.

[Ainsley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This newer (2008) version of Signing Naturally Units 1-6 is AMAZING!! If you want to learn American Sign Language, buy this book/DVD set. It's masterfully and thoughtfully compiled to teach nearly 1000 signs in six units.

Signing Naturally was the text for my ASL 101 class this semester. I was consistently impressed with how well the book and DVDs were integrated, and how expertly the DVDs utilized technology to facilitate practice of a signed language. It's fast-paced, but the book is very accessible. The DVDs make it possible to go over a section, a story, or a particular sign again and again. The sections on Deaf history and culture are informative and extremely helpful to understanding the community. My husband took this same class some years ago with an earlier version of the book and says the difference is night and day.

Be warned, if you're using this book to self-teach, that some of the signs used are local to California. My New York-bred Deaf professor (who now lives in Maine) often complained about that and corrected signs that she thought were from a West Coast dialect. Of course, that's to be expected--ASL, like English, has its own regional variations--but to a beginning signer I wanted to learn the "right" way. Also, sometimes later in the book they introduce "new vocabulary" that is actually very basic and do not introduce some signs that genuinely are new.

I am already bracing myself for disappointment next semester, since the following Signing Naturally book has not been re-released and is dozens of years old. :(

This one, however, is a keeper. I expect to return to it as a language resource for years to come.

[Devon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I used this for my ASL 121 class. I thought this was an excellent book to use for an intro class, however sometimes the pictures they used in the book to convey the message was confusing. For instance when learning about hobbies they had a picture of a women looking at clothes. In my mind, she likes fashion. During the homework a signed did the sign for food/eat and then what I thought was fashion. I was totally confused, either the person the signer was referring to was a mutant goat-boy or I had gotten it wrong. Turns out the sign was shopping (I had a little rant of "who considers shopping a hobby?!")

[mohamed nouari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Get the ebook and all videos from DVD's
Signing Naturally Units 1-6
Signing Naturally Units 1-6 (eBook & All Videos from DVDs)
Author: CHERI SMITH
Year: 2008
Publisher: Dawnsign Press
Pages: 423 / 452
ISBN 13: 9781581212105
Edition: eBook
Language: English
ISBN 10: 1581212100
File: PDF and Videos

buy the ebook and all videos from DVD's
Signing Naturally Units 1-6

[Rinji · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book to use while learning to sign ASL. It helped a lot with class and reminding me what signs were what.

[On StoryGraph LizaWren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stopped after Unit 4, since that's what was covered in class. I found the content to be useful and informative and the DVDs were really helpful. The organization of the textbook itself left something to be desired. The biggest issue for me was that I would have preferred to learn the vocabulary at the beginning of the chapter so I knew what to expect (rather than at the end of the chapter in a catch-all section). The backwards format often meant I spent a while flipping through pages trying to figure out what the people on the DVD were signing, rather than being able to concentrate on the signs in context. If I were to continue with Units 5 and 6, I'd start with learning the Vocab Review.

[Laurel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my textbook for my American Sign Language Class. I took the class at Edison State Community College in Piqua, Ohio. I just finished the course and did very well. (Even though I felt it was very difficult, for me, a 70 year old grandma. I studied a lot--that's why I haven't been able to read much this semester. )

I have been teaching my 15 year old hard of hearing grandson what I have learned. This weekend, Dec. 18, 2021, I have been asked to sign at a Veteran's event at the Dayton VA Hospital. I will be signing for the soloist, and I'm so excited to have this opportunity!

I recommend the book, and the course.

[Rain · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had this for my first semester of ASL in college. My teacher didn't like the book that much but stated that it was the best you could get for ASL curriculum. I agree. For the semester the book was used more just for practice. Homework was required for the first five units, about 20 questions each, and getting the right answer didn't really matter. What mattered is that you tried. I didn't learn much of anything from the book, it was all learned in class and somewhat reinforced by the book.

[Roland · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book Signing Naturally Units 1-6 from eBay but it came missing the DVD's
I needed for class.
someone recommended me this site eBook store and I am SO glad I received my order so Quickly!
Now I don't have to carry around the textbook and everything I need is right in my computer!
Buy
Signing Naturally Units 1-6

[Justyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished the ASL 101 course through Saskatchewan Deaf & Hard of Hearing Society in my home city. This was the text book used. I like this book. It was easy to understand and it has earned a spot in my library. This book was worth my time and effort. Check it out if you are learning sign language! Great textbook!

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely insightful for people wanting to learn ASL. The CDs (and online videos) were essential for me to learn about how quickly people sign their letters and phrases. The worksheets/ assignments in the book allowed me to figure out what the differences were for general things such as letters, spelling, phrases and numbers.

[ADIL EL · Rating 5 out of 5]

Signing Naturally: Student Workbook, Units 1-6 is a must-have for anyone serious about learning ASL.
Click here to get your copy now at an amazing price!
The eBook format makes it incredibly convenient, and the inclusion of MP4 video content from the original DVDs ensures you get the full learning experience.
Covering all six units, this resource is perfect for both beginners and advanced learners. Don’t miss this opportunity to access such a comprehensive guide instantly.

[Whitney · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was an excellent tool for learning ASL. The accompanying DVD was crucial in the effectiveness of the book. Sometimes the pictures of concepts were not great and more explanation from someone else was needed.

[Nunya · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this class so much, but to be honest, the textbook is not very clear and it has a lot of outdated signs that people do not really use anymore. Definitely needs an update, or my college needs to get a new edition.

[The_Halfblood_Muslim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing workbook, by itself can help one learn Sign Language along with 7-12, a little old though.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty easy to follow. I would have liked a few more videos for the vocabulary.

[Yvonne Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic beginner for ASL. Used it in my ASL 1 class and it helped a lot. It comes with a DVD that makes it worth everything.

[. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oops, forgot to say I finished this. It was okay, but the pictures were a little confusing and didn’t help me learn signs. Good thing is that I already knew most of them lol

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Needed for ASL 1 in college.

[Jinx · Rating 3 out of 5]

I know it’s a workbook but I used it in college for learning ASL. So I’m counting it because it’s important to me.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

The videos are good and the book is easy to understand. Many signs are CA variations though.

[Rebo · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

This was the textbook used for my two first semesters of ASL (Beginning ASL I & II). The DVDs are helpful--don't buy a book that doesn't have some kind of video component--but the text overall could be much, much better.

For one, there are a surprising amount of errors in the book: times when a sign is used incorrectly (like their miscoding of the sign for "next" week, for example), or portions of signs are omitted during stories (like only signing "COOK" + "ROOM" for "KITCHEN").

Also, instead of teaching you all the numbers or fingerspelling tips in one unit, they're spread throughout the book, and I know my teacher generally covered those at the beginning, so you had to flip through to find the two pages you needed in each chapter, and sometimes even change DVDs.

The other problem with the book is it doesn't really prepare you very well for reception of REAL DEAF SIGNERS. Yes, it's nice to have things signed slowly and clearly at first to make sure you clearly understand a sign or concept, but it would have been REALLY NICE to have a few where the signing speed was brought up more to real life, ESPECIALLY for fingerspelling.

Granted, I know that taking a separate fingerspelling course is best (as is practicing in the community), but this book fails pretty epically at it. It doesn't really teach you any kind of lexicalized versions of letters (like the 2- or 3- fingered "E," or the thumb, index, pinky for "IL"), which means you may have a harder time reading fingerspelling, especially with a Deaf signer. Worse, the book has a small "fingerspelling" chapter, with exercises on the DVD, but these are signed far too painfully slowly and are also given context, so it doesn't really improve your raw receptive skills at all. By the time you get to that point in the book, your fingerspelling reception is probably far ahead of the exercises/DVD anyway.

This is an OK book, but it's definitely not a great book, and it definitely won't replace a real class (if that's what you're hoping), since only about 25% of the activities have answers in the back of the book. Likewise, there isn't a lot of vocabulary here, either, and the book doesn't do a terribly good job of introducing alternate versions of signs.

If you really want to learn ASL, the best way is to get involved in the deaf community and ideally take a class with a Deaf instructor, or at least a HOH or hearing person fluent in ASL who also will teach you about Deaf culture as part of your class.

[Jacqueline · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the required text for ASL I and II. I had not knowledge of ASL prior to ASL I and, after units 1-3, feel confident about what I have learned thus far. I had a difficult time navigating the DVD and found that using it on my pc was much easier since I was able to see the chapters more clearly. I would recommend using this book along with a signing dictionary. I paired mine with The Joy of Signing by Riekehof which is an illustrated guide to Sign Language.

[Anna Collver · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book for beginners, definitely need a tutor or instructor to help you understand it better.

[Kelsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great way to learn American Sign Language! The DVDs that were in the textbook were extremely helpful and were even entertaining.

[Genevieve]

I'll be going through this most likely for the next 6 months so onward ho!

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the text for my ASL 1 class. It's a good textbook, but best used in a class rather than on its own.

[Josiah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Plot: B
Writing: B
Vocabulary: B
Level: Easy
Rating: G
Worldview: ASL is a valid language apart from English.

[Allison]

good book