Overview of the ACTFL Standards and How They Apply to Signing Naturally Units 1-6
ASL is now the 4th most popular second language (L2) at high schools across the country and continues
to gain popularity (Furman, Goldberg & Lusin, 2008, The National K-12 Foreign Language Enrollment
Survey Report, 2017). This document shows how Signing Naturally follows the American Council on
Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) standards in each lesson plan. ACTFL standards incorporate
the 5 Cs: 1) Communication, 2) Cultures, 3) Connections, 4) Comparisons, 5) Communities.
1. Communication: Communicate in American Sign Language
Standard 1.1 Students use American Sign Language to engage in conversations and provide
information, express feelings and emotions, and exchange opinions
Standard 1.2 Students comprehend and interpret live and recorded American Sign Language
on a variety of topics
Standard 1.3 Students present information, concepts, and ideas to an audience of viewers in
American Sign Language
2. Cultures: Gain knowledge and understanding of American Deaf Culture
Standard 2.1 Students demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between the practices
and perspectives of American deaf culture
Standard 2.2 Students demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between the products
and perspectives of American deaf culture
3. Connections: Use American Sign Language to connect with other disciplines and acquire
information
Standard 3.1 Students reinforce and further their knowledge of other disciplines through
American Sign Language
Standard 3.2 Students acquire information and recognize the distinctive viewpoints that are
only available through American Sign Language and Deaf culture
4. Comparisons: Develop insight into the nature of language and culture
Standard 4.1 Students demonstrate understanding of the nature of language through
comparisons of American Sign Language and their own languages
Standard 4.2 Students demonstrate understanding of the nature of language through
comparisons of American Deaf culture and their own culture
5. Communities: Use American Sign Language to participat e in communities at home and around
the world.
Standard 5.1 Students use American Sign Language within and beyond the school setting
Standard 5.2 Students show evidence of becoming life-long learners by using American Sign
Language for personal enjoyment and enrichment.
To help administrators and educators understand the depth and breadth of the Signing Naturally
curriculum, this document shows the Signing Naturally lesson and the specific “C” that is covered in the
lesson. For example, notice that Unit 2.1 covers the following C’s 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 3.1, and 4.1.
