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Stuck home due to COVID-19? Have some surprise extra time on your hands? Or has your local ASL class been canceled, and you wish you could continue learning? Don't want to lose the progress you've made so far?
Here are some tips and resources to help you begin or continue your study of American Sign Language. As always, you can start with my free email newsletter for exclusive tips, lessons, stories, and more. |
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Tips for Home Study
- Schedule: Schedule time in your day to learn or practice ASL. Literally put it on your calendar. Make an appointment with yourself and stick to it!
- Practice: If you know anyone else who is learning ASL (or can reach out to other people in your canceled class!), I suggest you arrange several Skype / Facetime / Hangouts time with them to practice communicating only using ASL, classifiers, fingerspelling, and gestures -- whatever works. Keep it up!
- Teach: If you're the only person in your household who has been learning ASL, try teaching your relatives or roommates what you know so far, and then practice together. (If you're still a student yourself, do not claim to be a teacher in formal classes or on social media.)
- Grow: Take this time to try recording video of yourself signing a story, an introduction, a sentence, and then watch it back to see how you think you can do better. Continue critiquing your own signing and then re-record and see how you improve!
Online lessons
ASLMeredith's Beginner Foundations Course is a self-paced online program to get you from zero to conversational in a matter of weeks. Use coupon code STAYHOME, and contact me if you have any questions :)
*Sign Language Center is based in NYC and - due to COVID-19 - is now offering their fantastic instruction LIVE over Zoom! All classes online run 2 hours, once a week for 6 weeks. They also offer private tutoring.
*Teach Me ASL also offers live online lessons, 1:1 with Gregor Lopes. He offers different 6-week courses for different levels, and each session runs one hour. No prior experience required for the beginner package!
*ASLNYC also offers live 1:1 lessons and tutoring over Skype in addition to their local NYC classes.
*Signed with Heart's Fingerspelling 101 Course
"The letters of the alphabet are the 26 most important signs in American Sign Language (ASL) that everyone new to signing should make a top priority to learn, practice, improve, and master to communicate effectively with a Deaf person. [...] After completing this course, you will have your alphabet down and your fingerspelling and fingerspelling receptivity skills greatly improved."
*Trix Bruce's Interpeter Education
Trix is a renowned entertainer and educator, who is a joy to watch and learn from. You can view her videos on YouTube, where she excels at conveying skilled translations of idioms, homophones, and other advanced interpreting skills. Uplevel your signing and interpreting skills by exploring her presentations, workshops, and webinars at trixbruce.com.
Free Hearts Signing has a few online course options to choose from. Use code ASLMeredith for a discount.
ASL Connect from Gallaudet University offers several free online lessons, as well as for-credit courses and even a certificate program.
*=Deaf/HoH-founded
*Sign Language Center is based in NYC and - due to COVID-19 - is now offering their fantastic instruction LIVE over Zoom! All classes online run 2 hours, once a week for 6 weeks. They also offer private tutoring.
*Teach Me ASL also offers live online lessons, 1:1 with Gregor Lopes. He offers different 6-week courses for different levels, and each session runs one hour. No prior experience required for the beginner package!
*ASLNYC also offers live 1:1 lessons and tutoring over Skype in addition to their local NYC classes.
*Signed with Heart's Fingerspelling 101 Course
"The letters of the alphabet are the 26 most important signs in American Sign Language (ASL) that everyone new to signing should make a top priority to learn, practice, improve, and master to communicate effectively with a Deaf person. [...] After completing this course, you will have your alphabet down and your fingerspelling and fingerspelling receptivity skills greatly improved."
*Trix Bruce's Interpeter Education
Trix is a renowned entertainer and educator, who is a joy to watch and learn from. You can view her videos on YouTube, where she excels at conveying skilled translations of idioms, homophones, and other advanced interpreting skills. Uplevel your signing and interpreting skills by exploring her presentations, workshops, and webinars at trixbruce.com.
Free Hearts Signing has a few online course options to choose from. Use code ASLMeredith for a discount.
ASL Connect from Gallaudet University offers several free online lessons, as well as for-credit courses and even a certificate program.
*=Deaf/HoH-founded
Useful sites for practice
I'm a big fan of the following resources!
Video Lessons - excellent for beginners, and family-friendly! News and more (in ASL) - great for practicing receptive skills and seeing ASL in action.
Video Lessons - excellent for beginners, and family-friendly! News and more (in ASL) - great for practicing receptive skills and seeing ASL in action.
- DTV News and Entertainment
- The Daily Moth News Channel
- spreadthesign.com
- lifeprint.com - also has lessons. Great site and videos for expanding your vocabulary.
- The ASL App is a useful mobile learning tool
For more resources online or books to buy, check out my recommended resources page.
Consider using this time to contribute to a Deaf-run nonprofit or business.
Consider using this time to contribute to a Deaf-run nonprofit or business.