You may be wondering what is meant by signing-space.  It is simply an area in front of the body where you should restrict your signing to.  This makes it more comfortable for you as the signer, and also for those watching you.  A simple way of visualising this “signing-space” is to imagine a box just in front of you.  It is approximately twice your width, its height is roughly from your waist to the top of your head.  This is a very approximate guide, and you will see occasions where others sign well outside of this in order to emphasise something, but for the moment try keeping your signing to within this box, it looks and feels better.  This will set the limits that you should not sign outside of.  However, at the opposite extreme you should try not to be too restricted in your signing.  Keeping your signing to just a small area directly in front of the body makes it look stiff and is difficult to read. Try to adopt a relaxed but expressive style.

You will obviously make mistakes during your learning process, but you will learn a number of techniques that allow you to stay within this box.  After all, if someone wanted to sign about their shoes, feet or back, how could they possibly do this and still stay within their signing space?  

Similarly, giving directions to rooms, towns etc is part of Level 1.  You will become familiar with doing this during your course.  In short, you simply “place” a representation of the shoes etc in the signing space, and reduce or enlarge the area to be discussed so that it fits into the space.