I really want to learn sign language. My aunt is deaf and I’ve always had an interest in learning. I’ve been looking for classes but haven’t found any. Any tips tricks of anything.
not just fingerspelling.
I can’t learn from my aunt. Too hard to explain.
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You’ve got the best teacher… your aunt! Let your aunt know that you are interested in learning ASL… maybe the two of you could meet weekly and she could teach you. You could also go to the library and check out books on learning ASL, but really the best way to learn is from a person who is deaf because you will learn their culture and the way a deaf person signs vs. a hearing person teaching other hearing people how to sign.
Almost every community college has an ASL program–what area do you live in? Most schools have their course catalogues online. Check under the Communications or Language Studies Departments.
Junebug has a great answer. I am taking ASL classes now at the local cummunity college. It’s great! But having someone that already speaks it in your family is the very best way to learn it. It will help you build a very strong bond with her.
There are several good books that she can help you study. So, check out the local bookstore. I would also get a dictionary, for times that you want to look up signs when you are away from her.
It is very true that you can learn from another individual that knows the sign language but it depends on their ability to teach another. I took classes to learn ASL and I still had a hard time and it is very difficult to understand when looking at pictures in a book, initially. It makes more sense to learn from an animated visual model. I personally like the ASL browser online as a starter, because it actually demonstrates how the words are formed, but it will only get you so far. However once the basics are learned it is easier to apply the information in books.
There are a few wonderful resources that I know of thus far. For learning vocabulary alone, I would suggest using one of these two sites, aslpro.com or asl.ms
these websites have video footage of each vocab word, thus giving you easy access to watch the same sign over and over until you figure out how to create the sign, and it’s all in alphabetical order, making the searches easier.
For learning structure of sign language, I would suggest a book called KISS Sign Language, or Sign Language for Dummies. Both of these explain structure, culture, and other various important things.
Good Luck in learning Sign, and Congratulations for being compassionate enough to want to learn someone else’s language!