It depends on two things; how you learn and who teaches you.
I tried learning Spanish and German and failed miserably. I picked up ASL very easily though. That’s because I’m a very visual learner. I also didn’t learn in a class. I went out and met Deaf people and learned by being involved in the Deaf community.
So, if you’re a visual learner and can find good teachers you’ll have a pretty easy time of it (as easy as learning any language can be, that is).
Not difficult at all if you are serious about learning the language. You need to take it seriously if you really want to be fluent and do well.
I suggest learning from a deaf teacher and a teacher who has done lots of interpreting in the past. Take up ASL 1 & 2 with a teacher who was an interpreter in the past and maybe ASL 3 & 4 with a deaf teacher.
Remember that when you get at least 1/4 – 1/2 way through ASL 3 you will have to start thinking in the language. You need to turn off any associations with English that you were taught in previous ASL courses.
There are so many different ways to learn it that it depends partly on that – it also depends on you. It also depends on what kind of fluency you want to attain – do you want to just be able to carry on a 5 minute casual conversation – do you want to be an interpreter – do you have a relative who signs – or do you have some other reason.
I learned it fairly quickly through a full emersion program at the Lexington School for the Deaf. I took classes two evenings a week for several hours and after the initial introduction of the first class no speaking or writing was allowed. About half of the students were deaf or were becoming deaf and half were not. It was difficult, but what was learned was not forgotten. Twenty-five years later I am rusty, but it comes back quickly when the opportunity to use it presents itself.
If all you want is to know it very casually – there are good online resources to get the basics of it. Be sure to watch videos and not just look at illustrations or still photos.
For hearing yes it will be difficult for them to learn ASL and the way we sign different than your grammar.
About 95% Hearing people can’t not catch up with Deaf people Sign in ASL because most of hearing people grew out of it with their English all their life.
So , I said YES, It is very difficult for hearing people understand.
I have very very strong ASL when I sign.
It depends on two things; how you learn and who teaches you.
I tried learning Spanish and German and failed miserably. I picked up ASL very easily though. That’s because I’m a very visual learner. I also didn’t learn in a class. I went out and met Deaf people and learned by being involved in the Deaf community.
So, if you’re a visual learner and can find good teachers you’ll have a pretty easy time of it (as easy as learning any language can be, that is).
Not difficult at all if you are serious about learning the language. You need to take it seriously if you really want to be fluent and do well.
I suggest learning from a deaf teacher and a teacher who has done lots of interpreting in the past. Take up ASL 1 & 2 with a teacher who was an interpreter in the past and maybe ASL 3 & 4 with a deaf teacher.
Remember that when you get at least 1/4 – 1/2 way through ASL 3 you will have to start thinking in the language. You need to turn off any associations with English that you were taught in previous ASL courses.
There are so many different ways to learn it that it depends partly on that – it also depends on you. It also depends on what kind of fluency you want to attain – do you want to just be able to carry on a 5 minute casual conversation – do you want to be an interpreter – do you have a relative who signs – or do you have some other reason.
I learned it fairly quickly through a full emersion program at the Lexington School for the Deaf. I took classes two evenings a week for several hours and after the initial introduction of the first class no speaking or writing was allowed. About half of the students were deaf or were becoming deaf and half were not. It was difficult, but what was learned was not forgotten. Twenty-five years later I am rusty, but it comes back quickly when the opportunity to use it presents itself.
If all you want is to know it very casually – there are good online resources to get the basics of it. Be sure to watch videos and not just look at illustrations or still photos.
For hearing yes it will be difficult for them to learn ASL and the way we sign different than your grammar.
About 95% Hearing people can’t not catch up with Deaf people Sign in ASL because most of hearing people grew out of it with their English all their life.
So , I said YES, It is very difficult for hearing people understand.
I have very very strong ASL when I sign.