People can benefit from learning American Sign Language (ASL) to enhance knowledge on several levels. Learning ASL can contribute to improving brain functions by opening up new ways of how to think along with new methods of communicating. Of course, the main reason for learning ASL would be for helping people who are deaf, experiencing substantial hearing loss, or who may have loved ones who are deaf or hearing impaired.
What is ASL?
American Sign Language is a language for the eyes in contrast to most languages, which are geared for the ears. ASL is a language separate from others in that it is intended to help people communicate mainly through hand movements and shapes, facial expressions, and body motions. This visual language possesses its own grammar and syntax system. Knowledge of ASL allows individuals with or without hearing issues to become involved in a variety of activities for expanding their horizons.
However, ASL is not a universal language as other countries and regions throughout the world have their own sign languages, including the British Sign Language (BSL) and the French Sign Language (FSL), which each possess its own dialects much like many spoken languages. People communicate using ASL mainly in the United States, areas of Canada, and parts of Africa and Asia.
Benefits of Learning ASL?
People can benefit in many ways from learning American Sign Language. As with any person picking up a new language, ASL contributes to improving brain functions by opening up new ways of thinking along with new methods for communication. Of course, the main reason for learning ASL would be for helping people who are deaf, have experienced substantial hearing loss, or who may have loved ones who are deaf or hearing impaired. Acquiring skills with ASL can also be used for helping in community functions or finding work. Skills with ASL can lead to working as an educator or an interpreter at government meetings, conferences, broadcasts, or church services.
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This visual language possesses its own grammar and syntax system. High schools, universities, and other educational institutions in the United States accept ASL as a foreign language requirement needed for graduation. As with many languages, ASL possesses accents and dialects depending on where an individual lives or whatever group or socioeconomic environment may affect that person’s way of communicating, including age group and other factors.
Learning ASL Provides Practical Skills
Knowledge in ASL allows people with or without hearing issues to become involved in a variety of activities by expanding their horizons. As stated, the ability to communicate using ASL facilitates meeting new people, giving back to the community, or finding a new career. American Sign Language has become accepted by many universities as a foreign language for meeting course requirements to graduate.
There are several methods for learning ASL, including in-person courses taught inside classrooms, live online training using electronic devices, on-demand classes, free and low-cost online seminars, and online video tutorials that are also usually free.
For instance, anyone living in New York City can enroll at the Sign Language Center, located at 39 E. 30th Street—Suite 2R, for the Level 1 ASL course that provides students with an introduction to ASL and Deaf culture. This course provides lessons for developing a strong basic vocabulary with an emphasis on syntax and grammar. Training emphasizes best practices with fingerspelling along with understanding space and gesturing.
Another example is that people living in Los Angeles can enroll at Los Angeles City College, located at 855 N. Vermont Avenue, for the American Sign Language, Level 1 course, which trains students in the basic language structure for ASL and Deaf culture through a variety of methods. Lessons emphasize fingerspelling, facial expressions, body motions, and repetitive skills for communicating with ASL.
Anyone interested in learning ASL through live online training can enroll at Continuing Professional Students at Back Street for the American Sign Language: Module 1 course that provides beginning students with immersive training in ASL. The main objective of this course is for participants to learn how to communicate fluently with the deaf and hearing impaired along with exploring alternative methods for communicating with children who may have no hearing disorders but who might have difficulties with comprehending spoken English. This class also explores aspects of Deaf culture along with how ASL is an essential component in everyday communication. In order to participate in this course, students will need to have a high-speed internet connection and administrative access available on their computers.
Learning ASL As a Hobby
Learning American Sign Language as a hobby may yield opportunities for encountering others in a variety of new circumstances, especially for connecting with the Deaf community. Knowledge of ASL allows individuals to interact with new people as well as becoming more involved in new activities through developing skills that may open up new opportunities for the human experience.
Learning ASL can enhance cognitive processes by helping individuals develop their abstract thinking and creative faculties, including skills with body language, capacity for problem-solving, and overall communications.
Learn ASL to Contribute to the Community or Find a Career
Skills with ASL can open up opportunities not only as a new option for communicating but also creates new possibilities for socializing and contributing to the community through local churches or other paths as well as finding careers. This includes becoming an ASL Interpreter for working in a retail environment, education, law enforcement, healthcare, public service, law enforcement, and the judicial system.
How to Start Learning ASL
Learning any new language will always present difficulties. However, there are a few steps any new students can take with learning ASL or any new language, for that matter. Most people want to learn ASL for communicating with deaf and hard-of-hearing people, which provides not only new communication options but new opportunities for connecting with others or finding new careers. Enrolling in ASL courses is an obvious first step. Anyone interested can enroll for in-person courses at colleges or live online courses, find free online seminars, or watch video tutorials.
There are plenty of opportunities through online courses, which can be found through resources like CourseHorse, which is an education site that works with education providers in offering a variety of courses from various locations for a variety of virtual learning options.Â
In learning sign language, it’s a good idea to connect with people involved in the Deaf community to gain some familiarity or to seek advice with learning ASL. New learners should also look for books related to sign language as well as YouTube videos.Â
It should be noted that learning ASL is more than simply learning finger signing. Part of the language itself includes facial expressions and body movements. Therefore, it would be a good idea to pay attention to the facial expressions and body language of others, which are among the keys to communicating through ASL. Much of how people communicate using ASL, or any language for that matter, involves how others express feelings or modes through their faces.
Because hand motions are the key to sign language, learning and practicing fingerspelling is crucial to mastering signing. Memorizing how to signify letters of the alphabet is key to grasping sign language.
In-Person ASL Classes
The benefit of learning ASL inside a classroom is that the environment provides direct personal interaction for students. Because American Sign Language is a visual language, being able to go over fingerspelling, facial expressions, body motions, and other optical signals can help with learning this form of communication.
There are plenty of online courses available for learning ASL. However, many people simply feel more comfortable learning anything new inside a classroom with a teacher standing right there in front of them. For those individuals, there are ASL courses available throughout the country that provide in-person training.
Classroom training offers the benefit of learning in the presence of others while being able to make eye contact or pick up on subtle body movements, which is especially important in a course for learning a visual language. Another benefit of occupying a classroom is the advantage of being able to personally interact with an instructor and classmates. While there are obviously several advantages with choosing virtual learning over having to travel somewhere to get to a classroom in-person, the interpersonal experience of being there is difficult to argue against.
For example, anyone living in San Francisco who is interested in learning ASL can find training at ABC Languages SF, located at One Embarcadero Center, which offers the ASL | Total Beginner course. This course trains students who have little to no experience with ASL in learning the language. Lessons emphasize communicating with the deaf or hard-of-hearing who may be family members, friends, colleagues, or students. Skills in American Sign Language can be used for simply participating with the deaf and hearing impaired in community activities or pursuing careers in education or as an interpreter working at a corporation, government agency, or media outlet. Through this course, students will learn basic ASL conversational skills, grammar, and vocabulary for developing a better understanding of the language for personal and professional goals.
Live Online ASL Courses
Learning American Sign Language through a live online course offers a convenient option that provides flexibility for anyone with a busy schedule. Live online courses can provide hands-on training from expert instructors who can give students the same level of education that they would get from sitting inside a classroom without ever having to leave home.
For anyone earning a living working in any busy city in North America, it’s understandable that some people might not look forward to getting back out into traffic after a long day at work to get to a classroom somewhere to learn a new language. This is why virtual learning provides an appealing option. Live online courses offer hands-on training for learning American Sign Language from expert instructors who can help new students learn this visual language for socializing or finding a new career without having to leave the comforts of home.
Live online courses provide a convenient option for learning sign language for communicating with or contributing to the Deaf community for personal, social, or professional reasons.
For example, students can enroll with Los Angeles City College for the live online American Sign Language for Adults course. This program helps participants feel more comfortable about learning how to sign for communications with the deaf and hearing impaired. Students learn about the basic structure of ASL with an emphasis on Deaf culture. This course emphasizes fingerspelling, facial grammar, facial expressions, and receptive skills for communication through sign language.
On Demand ASL Training
Finding on-demand courses allows anyone interested in ASL to learn the visual language at their own pace and on their own time. For example, Udemy offers the Learn & Master Sign Language course that trains participants in mastering ASL through 47 hours of on-demand video training. Upon completing this class, students will have developed a solid foundation with the visual language. Training provides lessons from a vocabulary video index for each word taught within a specific lesson along with fingerspelling practice at different speeds, learning about numbers, book activities, narrative practice, dialogue practice, and highlights with tips on Deaf culture. This on-demand course cost $49 for 25 lessons through 47 hours of video training. Students get a certificate upon completing this course.
Free and Low Cost Online ASL Seminars
There are plenty of free and low cost online seminars available for learning ASL. Anyone interested can take advantage of American Sign Language Level 1, which Skillshare offers as an online training seminar for free with a 30-day trial. This course trains students in the basics for learning ASL through lessons that include the origins of American Sign Language, the sign alphabet with fingerspelling, family signs, verbs, and key nouns. Topics discussed include colors, animals, food, and drinks as well as professions related to ASL.
Key Takeaways
- Learning American Sign Language can contribute to improving brain functions by opening up new ways of thinking along with new methods for communicating.
- ASL is a language separate from others in that it is intended to help people communicate through hand motions, shapes, and placement in conjunction with facial expressions and body movements.
- Learning ASL helps with communication for people who are deaf or experiencing substantial hearing loss or who may have loved ones who are deaf or hearing impaired.
- Knowledge in ASL allows individuals with or without a hearing impairment to become involved in a variety of activities by expanding their horizons.
- Learning American Sign Language as a hobby can yield infinite opportunities for connecting with new people in a variety of circumstances, especially involving the Deaf community.Â
- Skills with ASL can open opportunities not only as a new option for communicating but also creates new possibilities for socializing or contributing to the community.
- Anyone interested in learning American Sign Language can enroll for in-person courses at local colleges, live online classes, or free online seminars and video tutorials.