As with any foreign language, how long it takes depends on you and how much time you commit to it. With full immersion, you could possibly become fluent within a year. Very few people study a single thing full time, though. If you plan to become an interpreter, you will need to study much longer. With part-time study, I became able to convey and understand most conversations within a few years, but I was very committed to learning it.
A couple of years.
Although, the faster way of learning SL is to be immersed in the Deaf Community. Practicing is the best way to learn any language.
In my case, after 12 years of being around the Deaf in Argentina I can say I am fluent in the LSA (Argentinian Sign Language). And after 3 years in contact with ASL (American Sign Language) I know enough to maintain a communication in that language. You can understand some of the conversations within your first months you’ve been learning it. But to say you know Sign Language requires more than that. “Knowing signs doesn’t mean knowing Sign Language”.
Don’t give up, though, the more interest and dedication you put in it, the faster it will come.
As with any foreign language, how long it takes depends on you and how much time you commit to it. With full immersion, you could possibly become fluent within a year. Very few people study a single thing full time, though. If you plan to become an interpreter, you will need to study much longer. With part-time study, I became able to convey and understand most conversations within a few years, but I was very committed to learning it.
A couple of years.
Although, the faster way of learning SL is to be immersed in the Deaf Community. Practicing is the best way to learn any language.
In my case, after 12 years of being around the Deaf in Argentina I can say I am fluent in the LSA (Argentinian Sign Language). And after 3 years in contact with ASL (American Sign Language) I know enough to maintain a communication in that language. You can understand some of the conversations within your first months you’ve been learning it. But to say you know Sign Language requires more than that. “Knowing signs doesn’t mean knowing Sign Language”.
Don’t give up, though, the more interest and dedication you put in it, the faster it will come.