Tutorial 07
Shared book reading in German Sign Language (DGS)
Shared book reading in DGS has many advantages
Your deaf and hard of hearing child can perceive DGS without restrictions, as hearing is not necessary to do so.
With DGS, your child learns a language that can be used in everyday life. Sometimes children learn DGS faster than German because DGS is a visual language. In this case, DGS can help to learn German.
Shared book reading in DGS has many advantages
Your deaf and hard of hearing child can perceive DGS without restrictions, as hearing is not necessary to do so.
With DGS, your child learns a language that can be used in everyday life. Sometimes children learn DGS faster than German because DGS is a visual language. In this case, DGS can help to learn German.
Tips for shared book reading in DGS
This will help you prepare for shared book reading in DGS
Look at the most important words before shared book reading, how they are signed and practice them. This will help your child to understand you. You can look in the ReaDi books, you will find the most important signs in each book. There are also sign language dictionaries that you can look up.
You can find a list of digital sign language dictionaries here >
You don’t master DGS very well yet. How do you still manage shared book reading in DGS?
Nevertheless, use all the signs you already know. Your child will imitate these signs. You will then learn DGS together with your child. Each sign helps your child to understand. It is good for your child to realize that you want to learn signs.
If your child already knows DGS better than you, watch the DGS videos and signs together. Your child can show and explain the signs to you.
This way you can tell a story in DGS lively
All the texts in the ReaDi picture books are translated into DGS. The DGS videos will give you ideas on how to read and tell the story in DGS.
You know other signs than the ones in the DGS video. How come?
DGS has different dialects. For example, a sign can differ depending on whether it is used in the north or south of Germany. This is the same as in German or other spoken languages. This is not a problem. During shared book reading, always use the signs that you or your child already know. Think about how you can explain similar meanings or dialects. This will help your child discover how diverse language is.
This way you can use the finger alphabet
With the finger alphabet, you sign letters of the German alphabet with one hand.
You can find more information on this here, for example:
You can also sign a word using the finger alphabet while shared book reading if your child can already read a little. For example, you can sign the name of a character or a new word using the finger alphabet. This helps with learning to read and write.
Watch a DGS video together
The ReaDi picture books are also available in DGS
In every ReaDi book there is a translation in DGS. You can switch them on and off. Your child can watch the DGS videos alone or with you.
You can find a list of picture books that use DGS videos here >
Each ReaDi book also contains a list of the most important signs for the respective picture book.
The DGS videos may still be too difficult for your child.
Your child should not watch the DGS videos alone. You can watch the DGS videos together with your child. You could then take breaks in between and talk about the content to ensure understanding.
Don’t watch the DGS video, but sign for yourself. You can then better adapt your language to your child.
You can also just look at the individual signs that are available for the most important words in each ReaDi picture book. Try out the signs together. This way you will learn more and more signs together.
Exercises
Exercises
Look at the list of signs in a ReaDi book. Memorize at least five signs and use them during shared book reading.
Watch the DGS videos for the picture book. What did you understand? Think about which sentences in DGS you can use when you do shared book reading with your child.