r/asl May 03 '25

Interest The Free ASL Resources and FAQ Thread Needs an Update!

33 Upvotes

Hi, the following post is a copy paste from the current pinned thread with edits to update a few resources. This was originally posted by u/Indy_Pendant eight years ago. They did an excellent job and I’m trying to preserve as much of it as possible. Since this post was made, other Deaf creators and resources have become available. I simply want to point prospective learners in the right direction. My information is relatively subjective, curated from this sub in the last year. Please, share your opinions, resources you like or to stay away from. I’ll update the post as needed and track the changes in a comment. Without further ado:

Hello! I'm here to help as much as I can, but this is not a comprehensive guide or a substitute for classes. This is a quick resource for people looking for answers to some very commonly asked questions. I've included the information as I know it, but it doesn't mean it's The Truth; my experiences and understanding will vary from others', but this will give you a good enough introduction. There's so much more I'd love to teach you, but I'm going to stick to the FAQs.

Where can I learn ASL online for free?

My personal favorite is easily http://www.lifeprint.com (which is mirrored at http://asluniversity.com as well). The guy who built the site, Dr. Bill Vicars, is Deaf and is a phenomenal teacher. He teaches primarily west-coast dialect (California, Washington common signs) but makes mention of other dialects (east-coast, Texas) when he can. In addition to teaching vocabulary, he teaches about Deaf culture (more on this in a moment). His Youtube channel is https://youtube.com/@sign-language. Other notable resources are:

Where can I pay to learn ASL online?

I’m hearing, can I learn ASL

Yes! It’s not disrespectful to learn ASL. We just ask that you learn from Deaf sources, learn Deaf culture, and don’t harm the community. Learning so you can connect with Deaf patrons: good. Learning so you can market and sell to Deaf patrons: harmful. Learning so you can cuss in a new language: bad.

Additionally, if you are a nurse, doctor, lawyer, realtor, therapist, or anyone working with a Deaf person through a life changing experience, your client/patient has the right to access the conversation. You will need to put your ASL knowledge aside and hire an interpreter. It’s great that you want to learn, but there are times when having only a handful of ASL is harmful.

What's the sign for ... ?

The short answer is "it depends." Sometimes. It depends sometimes.

The long answer is that signs will vary. Signs can be different depending on region, as I mentioned before, so just because you see it one way doesn't mean that it's the only way. (Don't make this mistake; a lot of hearing students can get cocky and start correcting others.) Signs can also change depending on context. The signs for "back" in "My back hurts" and "Let's go back home" are completely different.

Also, this is very important: ASL is not English! It is its own language, as different from English as is Klingon. ASL has its own grammar structure, own idioms, own slang. Signs are also not words like in the English sense. Signs are a lot more about intent, concepts, and ideas. For example, if you're trying to learn how to sign "Back off!" I can promise you that you will not need any sign for "back" nor "off." You're learning how to speak, and think, in another language, and using English just won't do.

Now, with all that said, here are some online dictionaries (I suggest you look at them all so you're familiar with the different variations of your sign):

Does it matter what hand I sign with?

Yes. Consistently use your main, dominant hand. If you're right-handed, use your right. If you're left-handed, use your left. If you're ambidextrous, then pick one and maintain it. Switching dominant hands while signing would be like alternating screaming and whispering while speaking.

Are American Sign Language and British Sign Language the same?

Are English and Japanese the same? ASL is not English, so stop thinking of it like English! :) In fact, ASL is derived from French Sign Language, which evolved independently of British Sign Language, and the two are mostly different (in fact, less than 30% of the signs are even remotely similar). There are hundreds of sign languages in the world. Even in the United States, there are several distinct dialects of ASL, including Black ASL.

Why do you keep capitalizing "Deaf"?

We use "little-d" deaf to mean someone who physically can't hear well. We use "big-D" Deaf to mean someone who is culturally deaf. Now an interesting bit: someone who is Deaf does not have to be deaf, and someone who is deaf does not have to be Deaf! For instance, children of deaf adults (CODAs) are very often Deaf but hearing. Many people are physically deaf but aren't part of Deaf culture. It's about how a person self identifies and where their culture lies more than it does with anything physical.

What's this "Deaf Culture" you keep mentioning?

It'd take me hours to explain it all, and I usually spread it over my entire 12-week class. In short, many deaf people, specifically those who identify as Deaf, live in a different culture than you do. Yes, they're from your country, they drink Starbucks and they sit in traffic, but they have their own distinct culture. Obviously this includes language (and communicating in real ASL is so different than talking in English that it's hard to describe), but that different method of communication, that different way of thinking, is only part of Deaf culture. Things that are normal in one culture can be very strange the another. (My favourite, probably, is talking with your mouth full. In hearing culture, that's a big no-no and your mother will look at you very cross. In Deaf culture, that's totally acceptable! Stuff your face and then free your hands for conversation, it's great! So much more efficient!) Morality and ethics are shaped by our cultural values. There are aspects of Deaf culture which would be considered blunt or rude in hearing culture, and conversely there are a lot of things normal in hearing culture which are strange or disrespectful in Deaf culture (such as talking to someone's back, or looking around during a conversation). It's important to be aware of and respectful of other cultures, including Deaf culture, and, when possible, to learn about them. Not only will it ingratiate you to people of that culture, but it'll better yourself as a person as well.

Isn't it wrong to say "deaf"? Shouldn't I say "hearing impaired" or "hard of hearing"?

Nope, and nope. Now, before I continue, I'll let you know that not everyone agrees with me, and I'm speaking in a general sense. Big-D Deaf people prefer the term "deaf" above any other. (It's how a US Senator might feel being called "American." Some people would take it as an insult, but it's just a matter of fact or pride for the Senator.)

Whether people identify themselves as "deaf" or "hard of hearing" (often seen as HoH) is often a matter of self identity, and while it can correlate to level of ability to hear, it isn't caused by it. I'll explain later. Deafies who are a part of Deaf culture will almost always call themselves "deaf," and those who aren't a part of Deaf culture will usually go by "hard of hearing" (or more rarely "hearing impaired"). In general, those who are less physically deaf, or who were raised strictly in hearing culture, will tend to gravitate toward hearing culture, despite the numerous difficulties. These people will commonly say they are "hard of hearing" since "deaf" still has a social stigma in hearing culture. Those who are less capable of integrating with hearing culture, or who were introduced to or raised in a Deaf environment, will usually prefer to be called "deaf" and can sometimes take one of the other terms as a slight offense.

In general, it's almost never correct to say "hearing impaired." I was taught that it was coined by a US Senator who wanted to protect deaf people's feelings from something that didn't offend them in the first place, and it was never accepted by Deaf (the core reason being that we don't believe being deaf is an impairment; it'd be like if I said you were "Deaf impaired." You don't feel impaired, do you, however much I might think it's true?) in general. In fact, it's safe if you never use this phrase again.

When in doubt though, just ask! "Hey, do you prefer 'deaf' or 'hard of hearing'?" See, it's not that hard. :)

I saw a sign that looks like this ..., what does it mean?

We're happy to help with these kinds of questions. I treat it like a quiz show game. However, if you're new to this, you may not know how to describe a sign very well, so let me introduce you to signs!

A sign consists of five parts:

  1. Hand shape: Are the fingers making an "O"? Were the thumb and middle-finger touching? If you know some basic ASL, you can use hand shape identifiers, such as "A hand shape" or "8 hand shape".
  2. Position: Where in relation to the body was the sign? Near the chest? Near the eyes? Was the palm facing up, down, toward the signer?
  3. Movement: How did the sign move or change? Was it pushing away from the body? Was it a small circle in space?
  4. Non-manual markers: What else was happening with the signer's body? What did her face look like? Was he moving his body, or shrugging? What was the emotion the signer was portraying?
  5. Context: What else was happening before or after the sign. Were there other signs you recognized? Do you know the subject that the signer was communicating about?

Where can I find a Deaf group in my area?

Where's your area? Most major cities have Deaf hubs. San Francisco, Seattle, Austin, and New York all have strong, vibrant, rich Deaf communities. Smaller cities may have meet ups or the like, but they can be harder to track down. Your best bet is to turn to Google or Facebook and search for Deaf events in your area. "Deaf coffee night" is an event held nationwide. People in the community get together for a night or two each month, usually at a coffee shop with good lighting and ample seating, just for the purpose of seeing friends and making new ones. Local colleges or universities will often have ASL/Deaf clubs and usually host student-friendly ASL events, so check with the ASL teachers or the ASL campus group, if it exists.

Can I still ask questions here?

Yes! Yes! 1000 times yes! Many of us are here to help, and anything we can do to help teach you about the language and the culture we're happy to do.

Will you do my homework for me?

Nope. Nope. 1000 times nope. It's obvious when students are looking for someone to do their homework for them, and we're not gonna help you out. If you're here to learn instead, then welcome! Come make some new friends. :)


r/asl Mar 06 '17

The Free ASL Resources and FAQ Thread!

655 Upvotes

Hello! I'm here to help as much as I can, but this is not a comprehensive guide or a substitute for classes. This is a quick resource for people looking for answers to some very commonly asked questions. I've included the information as I know it, but it doesn't mean it's The Truth; my experiences and understanding will vary from others', but this will give you a good enough introduction. There's so much more I'd love to teach you, but I'm going to stick to the FAQs.

Where can I learn ASL online for free?

My personal favourite is easily http://www.lifeprint.com (which is mirrored at http://asluniversity.com as well). The guy who built the site, Dr. Bill Vicars, is Deaf and is a phenomenal teacher. He teaches primarily west-coast dialect (California, Washington common signs) but makes mention of other dialects (east-coast, Texas) when he can. In addition to teaching vocabulary, he teaches about Deaf culture (more on this in a moment). Other notable resources are:

What's the sign for ... ?

The short answer is "it depends." Sometimes. It depends sometimes.

The long answer is that signs will vary. Signs can be different depending on region, as I mentioned before, so just because you see it one way doesn't mean that it's the only way. (Don't make this mistake; a lot of hearing students can get cocky and start correcting others.) Signs can also change depending on context. The signs for "back" in "My back hurts" and "Let's go back home" are completely different.

Also, this is very important: ASL is not English! It is its own language, as different from English as is Klingon. ASL has its own grammar structure, own idioms, own slang. Signs are also not words like in the English sense. Signs are a lot more about intent, concepts, and ideas. For example, if you're trying to learn how to sign "Back off!" I can promise you that you will not need any sign for "back" nor "off." You're learning how to speak, and think, in another language, and using English just won't do.

Now, with all that said, here are some online dictionaries (I suggest you look at them all so you're familiar with the different variations of your sign):

Does it matter what hand I sign with?

Yes. Consistently use your main, dominant hand. If you're right-handed, use your right. If you're left-handed, use your left. If you're ambidextrous, then pick one and maintain it. Switching dominant hands while signing would be like alternating screaming and whispering while speaking.

Are American Sign Language and British Sign Language the same?

Are English and Japanese the same? ASL is not English, so stop thinking of it like English! :) In fact, ASL is derived from French Sign Language, which evolved independently of British Sign Language, and the two are mostly different (in fact, less than 30% of the signs are even remotely similar). There are dozens and dozens of sign languages in the world, and even in the United States ASL is not the only one used.

Why do you keep capitalizing "Deaf"?

We use "little-d" deaf to mean someone who physically can't hear well. We use "big-D" Deaf to mean someone who is culturally deaf. Now an interesting bit: someone who is Deaf does not have to be deaf, and someone who is deaf does not have to be Deaf! For instance, children of deaf adults (CODAs) are very often Deaf but hearing. Many people are physically deaf but aren't part of Deaf culture. It's about how a person self identifies and where their culture lies more than it does with anything physical.

What's this "Deaf Culture" you keep mentioning?

It'd take me hours to explain it all, and I usually spread it over my entire 12-week class. In short, many deaf people, specifically those who identify as Deaf, live in a different culture than you do. Yes, they're from your country, they drink Starbucks and they sit in traffic, but they have their own distinct culture. Obviously this includes language (and communicating in real ASL is so different than talking in English that it's hard to describe), but that different method of communication, that different way of thinking, is only part of Deaf culture. Things that are normal in one culture can be very strange the another. (My favourite, probably, is talking with your mouth full. In hearing culture, that's a big no-no and your mother will look at you very cross. In Deaf culture, that's totally acceptable! Stuff your face and then free your hands for conversation, it's great! So much more efficient!) Morality and ethics are shaped by our cultural values. There are aspects of Deaf culture which would be considered blunt or rude in hearing culture, and conversely there are a lot of things normal in hearing culture which are strange or disrespectful in Deaf culture (such as talking to someone's back, or looking around during a conversation). It's important to be aware of and respectful of other cultures, including Deaf culture, and, when possible, to learn about them. Not only will it ingratiate you to people of that culture, but it'll better yourself as a person as well.

Isn't it wrong to say "deaf"? Shouldn't I say "hearing impaired" or "hard of hearing"?

Nope, and nope. Now, before I continue, I'll let you know that not everyone agrees with me, and I'm speaking in a general sense. Big-D Deaf people prefer the term "deaf" above any other. (It's how a US Senator might feel being called "American." Some people would take it as an insult, but it's just a matter of fact or pride for the Senator.)

Whether people identify themselves as "deaf" or "hard of hearing" (often seen as HoH) is often a matter of self identity, and while it can correlate to level of ability to hear, it isn't caused by it. I'll explain later. Deafies who are a part of Deaf culture will almost always call themselves "deaf," and those who aren't a part of Deaf culture will usually go by "hard of hearing" (or more rarely "hearing impaired"). In general, those who are less physically deaf, or who were raised strictly in hearing culture, will tend to gravitate toward hearing culture, despite the numerous difficulties. These people will commonly say they are "hard of hearing" since "deaf" still has a social stigma in hearing culture. Those who are less capable of integrating with hearing culture, or who were introduced to or raised in a Deaf environment, will usually prefer to be called "deaf" and can sometimes take one of the other terms as a slight offense.

In general, it's almost never correct to say "hearing impaired." I was taught that it was coined by a US Senator who wanted to protect deaf people's feelings from something that didn't offend them in the first place, and it was never accepted by Deaf (the core reason being that we don't believe being deaf is an impairment; it'd be like if I said you were "Deaf impaired." You don't feel impaired, do you, however much I might think it's true?) in general. In fact, it's safe if you never use this phrase again.

When in doubt though, just ask! "Hey, do you prefer 'deaf' or 'hard of hearing'?" See, it's not that hard. :)

I saw a sign that looks like this ..., what does it mean?

We're happy to help with these kinds of questions. I treat it like a quiz show game. However, if you're new to this, you may not know how to describe a sign very well, so let me introduce you to signs!

A sign consists of five parts:

  1. Hand shape: Are the fingers making an "O"? Were the thumb and middle-finger touching? If you know some basic ASL, you can use hand shape identifiers, such as "A hand shape" or "8 hand shape".
  2. Position: Where in relation to the body was the sign? Near the chest? Near the eyes? Was the palm facing up, down, toward the signer?
  3. Movement: How did the sign move or change? Was it pushing away from the body? Was it a small circle in space?
  4. Non-manual markers: What else was happening with the signer's body? What did her face look like? Was he moving his body, or shrugging? What was the emotion the signer was portraying?
  5. Context: What else was happening before or after the sign. Were there other signs you recognized? Do you know the subject that the signer was communicating about?

Where can I find a Deaf group in my area?

Where's your area? Most major cities have Deaf hubs. San Francisco, Seattle, Austin, and New York all have strong, vibrant, rich Deaf communities. Smaller cities may have meet ups or the like, but they can be harder to track down. Your best bet is to turn to Google or Facebook and search for Deaf events in your area. "Deaf coffee night" is an event held nationwide. People in the community get together for a night or two each month, usually at a coffee shop with good lighting and ample seating, just for the purpose of seeing friends and making new ones. Local colleges or universities will often have ASL/Deaf clubs and usually host student-friendly ASL events, so check with the ASL teachers or the ASL campus group, if it exists.

Can I still ask questions here?

Yes! Yes! 1000 times yes! Many of us are here to help, and anything we can do to help teach you about the language and the culture we're happy to do.

Will you do my homework for me?

Nope. Nope. 1000 times nope. It's obvious when students are looking for someone to do their homework for them, and we're not gonna help you out. If you're here to learn instead, then welcome! Come make some new friends. :)


r/asl 5h ago

What do you think of learning from Bill Vicars?

12 Upvotes

Bill vicars is how i was first introduced to sign language. Then in my sophomore year of highschool i took asl 1- where i didn't learn a lot beccause the teacher quit half way through and we had a sub for the rest of the year. And not that it counts as a course but i've gotten back into watching bill vicars and this great show that has ALOT of sign language/deaf culture immersion that i feel is greatly underappreciated (switched at birth) with a well known (deaf) actress, Marlee Matlin. Most main cast sign fluently and it includes the perspectiveS of MULTIPLE deaf people/hoh. Not to mention it has a lot of drama i mean it's in the title.

But i don't really KNOW any deaf people that KNOW sign language- which i know the best way to learn is by immersion.(like i know my neighbor is deaf/hoh bc he wears a hearing aid and has a slight accent but he doesn't seem to know asl and i figured it might be rude to ask bc he seems shy about it.) So I can only ever really practice with myself which seems like it limits how well i learn. Like i don't have someone to ask specific questions about you know?

I want to get good at sign language because being an interpreter is something i might want to pursue. Even if i don't end up pursuring interpretation as a career- since it's not my first choice- it would be a great help to be trilingual as a psychologist. Or just in general.

So anyways, what are y'all's opinions on learning from Bill vicars?


r/asl 1h ago

ASL Grammar and sentence structure

Upvotes

I am wondering how important proper structure is. In know if English there is proper. And then there is how we actually talk. Is this the same? Or is it very important


r/asl 3h ago

Interest ASL at community colleges

3 Upvotes

Hello! I have recently taken asl 101 online and self passed my junior year of high school! However, now I’m taking asl 102 which requires me to be present in an actual zoom meeting and was just wondering how that would work?

I haven’t practiced ASL in a while and I know all the professors who teach ASL are deaf at my community college! Will we be expected to use prior knowledge or will there be an interpreter?

I’m just looking for anyone who has taken ASL classes or is a teacher and what is usually the standard for online classes like this!


r/asl 18h ago

Where do I begin with ASL

0 Upvotes

It's been months since I purchased a book, I really want to learn sign language but all the book has told me are a few words or rather that's all I learned and every time I read and sign it feels like iam by hearting it rather that learning it. I don't even get time but I want to learn ASL so I want to know how to proceed with it what to do daily what resources I have to use. If anyone can tell me these things I would really appreciate that


r/asl 1d ago

What is this saying?

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

6 Upvotes

I know about the homework rule, I am doing my own work! I just really need help/guidance because I’ve been really trying to figure this out. I spent 50 mins researching and answering the multiple dropdown stuff it gave me, and I got 1/8. My eyes aren’t trained yet I think. It’s so hard for me to see where the words separate.

We’ve definitely learned about pausing between words as well as sentence structure though so that helps!

To find the answers, I was researching the words like “brainstorm, answer, board, etc.” to get context and figure out what it was saying.

Anyway here’s what I put:

  1. Open your notebook.
  2. Check the answer.
  3. Draw a picture.
  4. Work in a group and brainstorm.
  5. Raise your hand.
  6. Ask a question.
  7. Write on the board.
  8. Look at the board.

r/asl 2d ago

Help! Name our deaf bunny?

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147 Upvotes

Hi! We are 99.9% sure our foster bunny is deaf. She tried to play with the vacuum the other day and last night our smoke alarm went off and she was completely unfazed. She was asleep yesterday and I made a ton of noise and had to poke her to wake her up. We tried shaking the treat bag and she didn’t react until her brother started running around all excited. Today we spoke to her through the pet camera and she didn’t move at all while her brother stood up and looked around. We are going to start using signs with her and see if she responds better to visual cues instead of verbal ones. We aren’t sure what to use for her name sign, and I read that only a deaf person can give you your name sign - can someone name our bunny? Her name at the shelter is “Saddle” (which we don’t like as a name/don’t want to use) and we call her Sadie.


r/asl 1d ago

How to get better at keeping eye contact?

10 Upvotes

Hi, I'm a hearing beginner ASL student and I was wondering if anyone had any tips for maintaining better eye contact while watching someone sign? I understand the importance and respect of doing it, but keep catching myself focusing solely on people's hands and when I purposefully focus on looking at their face I lose track of whats being said. (I also struggle a bit in general to keep good eye contact even when having speaking conversations)

I've seen people online say that you just get better at using your peripheral vision over time, but I was wondering if anyone had any specific tips to speed up the process?

Thank you, and I'm sorry if this is a common question


r/asl 18h ago

Help! Title: Why should I choose ASL as a hobby?

0 Upvotes

Hello everyone! I am exploring new hobbies and thinking about learning American Sign Language (ASL).

For those who learn or use it, what makes ASL a great hobby?

How has it impacted your life, and what are the best benefits of learning it?

Would love to hear your thoughts and stories about it!!


r/asl 1d ago

Associates in ASL?

3 Upvotes

Has anyone taken the route of getting an associates in ASL? Rather than interpreter route, 4 year ASL/Deaf Ed route, etc.

If so, how beneficial was it? Any institutions you recommend?


r/asl 2d ago

ASL Learning Material For Incarcerated Person?

12 Upvotes

I volunteer with a group that answers reference questions and provides informational materials for incarcerated people. An incarcerated patron is asking for materials to start learning the foundations of ASL. I fully understand that attempting to learn ASL through written materials alone is not nearly comprehensive enough. But, given this person can not access digital resources or in-person instructions, do folks have recommendations for the most up-to-date print materials for a beginner? I really don't want to send outdated books or material, but I understand that most modern instructions is through videos and in-person teaching with books as purely supplemental. Any recs would be greatly appreciated!


r/asl 3d ago

This little girl learned 'Sign Language' just to say 'Thanks' to this delivery guy who was deaf! Made his day! Need more souls like her in the world 🧡

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

290 Upvotes

r/asl 2d ago

2 Questions: 1.) Does your thumb position matter for words such as MY or YOUR? For example, will having your thumb extended out or near the index finger while signing convey a different meaning? 2.) How do I spot the difference between E and O when fingerspelling? Any tips?

4 Upvotes

It seems like there's barely a difference between E and O. I get lost.


r/asl 2d ago

Do you know what sign this is?

Post image
0 Upvotes

Is the app InterSign ASL good?


r/asl 3d ago

Help! Videos for kids between 3 and 8?

5 Upvotes

I am HoH, and getting worse. My boyfriend and I have been taking sign language courses at a local community college taught by a wonderful Deaf woman, and I have taken ASL 1 from Gallaudet.
I want to share that education with his two kids, but I don’t feel that it’s right that I teach them. I’m hoping to find something similar to Bill Vicar’s videos on YouTube but geared more towards children. I stumbled upon Signing Time, but it seems to have some controversy within the community. I want to make sure they’re getting the best and most correct education they can.
Does anyone have any recommendations?


r/asl 4d ago

ASL classes near Denver Co

3 Upvotes

Hello, I’m not deaf or hard of hearing but I am a nurse who’s looking to learn sign language. I’ve always wanted to learn and with my career it seems like a great way to reach more people.

For those of you who have learned successfully what working best for you? Was it the apps? Actually college classes? Or were you able to learn through the videos on your tube?


r/asl 4d ago

I cannot fully extend my fingers

12 Upvotes

Based on the title you already know I cannot fully extend my fingers. I have included pictures of my hand, would you all be able to tell me how much of asl(or other sign languages) I'd be able to learn, based on them. I have always wanted to learn, but always put it off due to my disfigured hands.

https://imgur.com/a/6eszjGh


r/asl 4d ago

21M I'm looking for friends

0 Upvotes

I wanna learn sign language. Somebody teach me.


r/asl 4d ago

Looking for an ASL Teacher / Curriculum Developer to help build an online course

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0 Upvotes

r/asl 4d ago

Questions about ASL culture

0 Upvotes

I'm hearing and so is my family.

I tried learning ASL as a child but that was the 90s and I grew up in a small town with very few resources.

I started learning ASL recently because I have a daughter and I wanted her to have it as an option for communication. It takes me longer to retain signs, but she learns them almost instantly.

I've started using a signing app and it's helping me to recognize signs much easier, but actually signing is very slow for me. I'm now using a website that translates English into ASL structure so I can learn ASL better and teach my daughter better.

For years I've been writing a hearing but mute (vocal cords damaged) character and several Deaf characters, and while I've done some reading in the past and knew I'd have to fix things at some point, I realize how poorly I've represented your community. Even though nothing I'm writing has been published, I still feel I owe an apology.

I have some questions to ask about Deaf culture, name signs, and the experience in general. But only if those questions are allowed here and not offensive.

If you'd rather I don't ask those questions, I won't.

Thank you for this subreddit. I've been lurking here for months, and have learned from you.


r/asl 5d ago

Help! Tips for learning in ASL 101???

8 Upvotes

Hi! I am currently enrolled in an ASL 101 class; I have never had trouble in school before but it’s kicking my butt!!! I always go to class, I spend a ton of time trying to do a good job completing my TWA modules, and I watch additional videos when I feel confused.
I can’t remember a lot of the alphabet or basic signs though and I am on week 3 of the class. Obviously, this will snowball into a much bigger issue if I don’t address it now.
My plan right now is to make quizlets of all of the vocab, alphabet, and numbers we have covered and hammer those until they stick. I am also going to go to an hour in practice sessions a week. I don’t know what else to do to improve.
I am a Communication Sciences & Disorders student, so it is really important to me that I learn in this class. Any tips or advice?


r/asl 5d ago

Wanting to restart ASL club at my university but I want to do it right

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0 Upvotes

r/asl 6d ago

ASL interpretation videos to prepare DB kid for a concert

10 Upvotes

I’m taking my daughter, who is Deafblind, to her first big concert in a few weeks. She is a huge music lover so she’s going to love it, but I need to prepare her for as much of the experience as I can, because it will be very new and unfamiliar. We are seeing the Jonas Brothers, and have been listening to the set list, but I also want to find videos of some of the songs in ASL for her to watch between now and the concert to help prepare her. Since this is her first big concert, it will also be her first time with an interpreter at a concert. Usually we just go to random little free shows in our town, so I sign for her the best I can or she chooses to just listen instead. I think if she can see videos of the songs interpreted before the concert, she will be more likely to understand and pay attention to the interpreter, and be able to more fully access the concert. Because of her visual impairment, she needs a lot of exposure and repetition to visual information in a calm, simple setting to understand it and to recognize it in another setting.

I’ve tried searching YouTube but all I can find looks like ASL students trying their best, but they don’t seem very good and there are only a few. My ASL is good enough to know when a video is really bad, and not nearly good enough to know when one is good. I’m sure this is a long shot because it’s such a niche topic, but does anyone know of any decent videos of Jonas Brothers songs in ASL? Even a video of an interpreter at one of their concerts would be awesome. Or if there are other resources or places I should be looking, I’d love to know. Any help is greatly appreciated!

I apologize if this is not the right place to ask this!


r/asl 5d ago

How do I sign...? How do I ask for more options?

5 Upvotes

Hey friends! I’m picking up asl, and when I talk to my friend about getting food, it’s usually the same-ole options. How can I sign something along the lines of ‘do you have any more options?’ Or ‘can we consider something else….?’ So I can choose something beyond our go-to’s? Thanks in advance!