Tools and resources
for students
outside the classroom.
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Learning Tools
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Books
Dictionaries
The Random House American Sign Language Dictionary
Author: Elaine Costello, PhD
ISBN: 0-394-58580-1
Cost: approximately $44.00 (Barnes and Noble)
Description: This dictionary is the best hardback, inclusive dictionary I've found.
It has more than 5,600 signs, set up with clear descriptions of how each sign is formed,
which include handshapes, and excellent memory aides. The pictures are clear, full-torso
illustrations, easily reproduced compared to some other dictionaries I've seen. I also
appreciate the authors consideration for choosing signs which most accurately reflect the
concept of what you are trying to convey. There is also abundant cross references to find
the exact sign you're looking for. This dictionary is definitely worth the investment.
Random House Webster's American Sign Language Dictionary
Author: Elaine Costello, PhD
ISBN: 0679780114
Cost: $20.00
Description: If the first dictionary mentioned breaks the bank then this would be
my next choice. It is not quite as inclusive as the first mentioned dictionary but still
covers over 4,500 signs. This is the same author so many of the features are concise, such
as full-torso illustrations, memory aides, etc. The author continues to pay close
attention to signing conceptually accurate ASL. Random House also has an ASL dictionary on
medical terms and one on computer terms.
Random House Webster's Concise American Sign Language
Dictionary
Author: Elaine Costello, PhD
ISBN: 055358474X
Cost: $6.99 (Barnes and Noble, Amazon)
Description: This is a pocket size addition to the Random House dictionaries. It
includes over 4,500 signs, fully explained and illustrated in a small and easy to carry
quick reference. It's softcover which makes it light weight for the backpack. Bring this
one to class!
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Vocabulary Books
The American Sign Language Handshape Dictionary
Authors: Richard A. Tennant, Marianne Gluszak Brown
ISBN: 1-56368-043-2
Cost: $32.00 (Barnes and Noble)
Description: Even though the word dictionary is in the title of this book, I think
of it more as a study resource. Instead of a conventional alphabetical arrangement of
English words, this dictionary organizes more than 1,600 ASL signs by 40 basic handshapes
with easy to follow descriptions and illustrations on how to form each sign. I love
teaching signs based on the 40 handshapes. I feel it provides students with an excellent
foundation for recreating new signs and gaining an understanding of the components of a
sign. For more information about Handshapes click here.
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Deaf
Culture Books
This list is just a few of my personal favorites. I've made not that
a few of these can be found at the college libraries.
The Story of My Life
Author: Helen Keller
ISBN: 0-553-21387-3
Cost: $4.99
Description: This is a classic that I never grow tired of reading, it's a must
read. Helen Keller writes an autobiography describing in vivid detail the experience of
growing up Deaf and blind. She starts with her earliest impressions sharing the
unforgettable journey of her education and breakthroughs into the world of
communication. This is a truly inspirational book.
Deaf in America Voices from a Culture
Author: Padden, Humphries
ISBN: 0-674-19424-1
Cost: $10.00
Description: Deaf authors Carol Padden
and Tom Humphries writes about the cultural life of Deaf people. Great description
of the development of ASL as a language based on cultural influences.
A Journey into the Deaf-World
Author: Lane, Hoffmeister, Bahan
ISBN: 0-915035-63-4
Cost: $24.95
Description: Deaf author Ben Bahan co-writes this
book with famous psychologist Harlan Lane and Robert Hoffmeister who grew up with Deaf
parents. This book is a compelling story of the much misunderstood Deaf minority. Based on
the latest research findings concerning the Deaf-World, this is a must read for
professionals and students in such fields as audiology; speech-language pathology;
medicine; education; counseling; psychology; interpreting; ASL and Deaf Studies; and for
anyone with a Deaf person in their life.
Train Go Sorry
Author: Leah Hager Cohen
ISBN: 0679761659
Cost: $14.00
Also available at LTCC library
Description: "Train
Go Sorry" is the ASL expression for "missing the boat", symbolic of the
many ways in which Deaf and hearing people fail to communicate. The author, both an
interpreter and a CODA takes the reader inside the Deaf world through vivid portraits of
students and teachers in institutions for the Deaf to capture development of Deaf culture.
A Loss for Words
Author: Lou Ann Walker
ISBN: 0060914254
Cost: $12.00
Also available at LTCC library
Description: In
this moving, sometimes humorous account, Walker recreates the pain an joy of growing up a
hearing child of Deaf parents. From her loving, silent home to the confusion of a
hearing world that often rejected and misunderstood them, she shares her experiences and
emotions of growing up between two worlds.
In Silence
Author: Ruth Sidransky
ISBN: 0-312-04589-1
Cost: $18.00
Description: This is my favorite memoir reflecting the bittersweet yet joyous
recollection of growing up as the hearing child of two Deaf parents. She offers a tender
evocation of a world gone by--a vanished city of close-knit Jewish neighborhoods,
surviving in the Bronx during the 1930's and 40's. What I liked about this book was
Sidransky's ability to translate the syntax and structure of her parent's ASL into
English.
In This Sign
Author: Joanne Greenberg
ISBN: 0-8050-0722-9
Cost: $12.00
Description: This story spans four generations in a deaf family's struggle to carve a
place for itself out of the tides of wealth and war that have swept America in this
century.
Listening
Author: Hannah Merker
ISBN: 0060170549
Cost: Out of print, used copies may be available
through Amazon
Description: An accident 22 years ago caused the author to go deaf. She writes personal
reflections on sound, language, communication and particularly listening in uncommon ways.
I like her philosophical approach to her new found world of silence. She has wrote another
book in 1999 entitled, Listening: Ways of Hearing in a Silent World.
I've not read this one yet, but it might be easier to get then this first, out of print
book.
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Videos
Instructional
Videos
There are many videotapes available for purchase. Many of them use different modalities of
sign language. The ones suggested below are all signed in ASL. More suggestions coming
soon....
Fingerspelling - Expressive and Receptive Fluency
By: Joyce Linden Groode
ISBN: 0-915035-13-0
Cost: $39.95
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Educational/Entertainment
Videos
These are some of my favorite videos depicting aspects of
Deaf culture.
Children of a Lesser God
Cost: This can be rented at most local video stores.
Description: This film stars Academy award winning Deaf actress Marlee Matlin and
William Hurt. It depicts the culture and controversy of Institutes for the Deaf amidst a
love story between a Deaf and hearing couple.
Love is Never Silent
Cost: I'm still researching this one. It's a Hallmark
Classic.
Description: This film depicts the struggles a Deaf family faces during the
depression. Their story is told through the hearing daughter's perspective, having grown
up with Deaf parents. The Deaf actors are sensational. The Actress that stars as the
mother also coproduced the film. I believe this accounts for many of the visual
foreshadowing and subtleties of Deaf Culture that are experienced in this film.
Sound and Fury (click for details)
Cost: This can be rented at Block Buster Video Store.
Description: This moving documentary shows one family's struggle over
whether or not to provide two deaf children with cochlear implants, controversial devices
that can stimulate hearing.
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Television
Palomar Community College
Description
Offers American Sign Language TV classes througout the week taught primarily by a Deaf
instructor. Programs are voice interpreted. Advanced signers try turning the
volume off!
Channels
CCN: Dish
Network channel 9405
ITV: Cox Cable (North/South) Ch. 16; Time Warner Ch. 16; Julian Ch. 4
ETV: Cox Cable (North) Ch. 16; Adelphia Cable Ch. 67
Schedule information
Website: www.palomar.edu/etv/
(go to "Course Information")
Call ETV office: 760.744.1150 ext. 2431
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Software
Instant Immersion ASL
Cost: $20.00 (Check out Costco! They have it for
$17.00!)
Description: Interactive CD-ROM dialogues with tutorials and a dictionary with
4,500 ASL words. Produced by the renowned language department at Michigan State
University.
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Games
Make learning fun by incorporating ASL into your daily life. The following products are
from www.adcohearing.com.
2003 Sign Language Calendar
This calendar shows the months and numbers for each day in English
as well as in ASL. Over 150 signs are introduced over a 12 month period.
Cost: $14.99
Keep Quiet Crossword Game
A fun way to learn and practice fingerspelling for any skill level. This is a
scrabble-type game where you have 3 minutes to make words form sign language alphabet
cubes.
Cost: $19.95
Finger Alphabet Magnets
Practice your fingerspelling by making short words on your refrigerator! 26 individual
magnets for letters A to Z.
Cost: $9.95
Dice
A pair of 6 sided to aid in recognizing numbers 1-6.
These are fun to substitute for regular dice.
Cost: $3.25
ASL Handshape Game Cards
Improve your signing vocabulary with these flash cards to make
learning and practicing the 40 ASL handshapes more fun!
Cost: $16.95
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