: The mother was at work and the father was called in for overtime, so they asked Melvin to babysit. The Teaching Moment
Many ASL verbs change their meaning based on the direction they move. This eliminates the need for separate pronouns.
You'll be expanding your lexicon with many new descriptors, including signs for qualities like "organized," "responsible," "friendly," "quiet," "egotistical," and "nosy". Understanding is also a major part of this unit, expressed through signs like NONE, NOT, NOT WANT, and NOT ALLOW / FORBID to state what someone isn't like.
(often referred to by the search term "Signing Naturally 1011" because of the Level 2 curriculum structure) is the bridge that takes American Sign Language (ASL) students from basic communication to complex, narrative storytelling. While the first few levels of ASL focus on "survival" signs—like ordering food or asking for directions—the 10-12 sequence is where you learn to discuss life events, health, and abstract concepts.
Identifying hallways, stairs, and elevators. signing naturally 1011
You’ll learn how a slight change in your mouth shape (like the "mm" or "cha" mouth morphemes) changes a sign from "walking" to "walking aimlessly" or "walking a massive distance."
Classifiers are designated handshapes used to represent nouns and pronouns, showing their shape, location, size, and how they move.
Don't watch the story yet. Review the blue vocabulary boxes at the start of Unit 10. Focus on:
Unit 11 moves into the personal realm. This unit is designed to help you describe things you own, from their physical attributes to how you acquired them. 1. Descriptive Classifiers : The mother was at work and the
This unit helps students move beyond simple, objective descriptions to navigate the important skill of socially and linguistically appropriate "character assessment" within Deaf cultural norms.
The themes in Unit 11 naturally lead into cultural discussions. This includes important topics like and the role of interpreters , offering a broader perspective on the Deaf community.
In this unit, we will continue to explore the world of American Sign Language (ASL) and Deaf culture. We will build on the skills and knowledge you gained in previous units, and dive deeper into the language and culture.
When a Deaf friend asks, "How are you?", a vague answer like "I'm fine" when you are actually sick can feel dismissive or distant. Explaining your symptoms directly is seen as warm, honest, and community-oriented. Effective Practice Tips for Success You'll be expanding your lexicon with many new
Cultural Insights: Sharing Health Information in the Deaf Community
If you are currently working through a specific chapter, let me know. I can provide , break down specific classifier categories , or explain a tricky grammatical rule from your assignments.
A critical component explored in the text is the use of non-manual markers (NMMs). In spoken English, intonation carries meaning—a raised voice indicates a question; a flat tone indicates a statement. In ASL, this function is served by the face.
You must maintain "signer's perspective." If you sign that the door is on the right, it must be on your right, and the listener must process it as being on their left. 2. Giving Directions