collageIn total, there are 26 different ASL hand signs that you will need to master when learning American Sign Language. All in all, it is not really possible to teach yourself ASL. If you want to start holding meaningful conversations in ASL, you will need formal instruction and practice. If you have been searching the internet lately for the latest information on the best way to learn sign language, then you’ve come to the right place. You need not search further as all you’ve got to do is to read on to know more. Discover up-to-date information on sign language words, sign language alphabet, sign language classes near me, sign language translator and learn sign language app. You will also find related posts on sign language lessons for beginners and so much more right here on Collegelearners.
Are you interested in learning sign language? Sign language lessons are a great way to learn a new skill and make some friends along the way. Sign language lessons are typically offered at community centers, schools, and other places where people gather to learn new skills. While you can take lessons online or through video tutorials, it’s important to take them with an instructor who can help you when you’re stuck on something.
Sign language is a fun way to communicate with others and learn about their culture. It’s also a good way for deaf people to communicate with hearing people. Sign language is not only for the deaf – it can be used by anyone who wants to communicate with someone who can’t hear or speak well enough for hearing aids or other devices to help them out!
Sign language classes are offered as part of many school curriculums across the country as well as through community centers and organizations like Peace Corps.
sign language translator
Sign language lessons for beginners
Take a sign language class
If you’re ever considering learning sign language, this is one of the best ways to do it! Often community centers, community colleges or other educational centers offer day or evening classes. Qualified sign language tutors can help you work toward sign language qualifications. Classes are also a great way to meet new people and see the signs face-to-face.
There are also online classes. Some of my HearingLikeMe writers have taken classes with ASL For You and have learned a lot through weekly Zoom classes.
Being in a class gives the opportunity to practice signing with different people. It is considered a good investment if the qualification leads to a job!
If you’re interested, research for classes in your local area or contact your local education authority.
Learn online by watching videos
Like many things these days, you can learn easily online! There are plenty of resources, like YouTube or BSL Zone where you can watch videos with sign language. Any form of video is a great way to watch and you can replay it as many times as you like, in the comfort of your own home.
Join a sign language group, deaf club or visit a deaf café
Many cities have deaf clubs or groups of deaf people who meet regularly and quite often use sign language as their form of communication. It’s a fantastic place to meet new people, who share hearing loss in common as well as the chance to polish your sign language skills. You can contact a Deaf charity or organization nearby, or search for a group using websites such as Meetup.com to find a group for you.
Take an online course
Online courses can be an alternative to day or evening classes that you take in-person. Some Deaf organizations and universities provide these, so do some research to find the best course for you. For example, Gallaudet University has a free online course to learn ASL.
Online courses are more flexible because they can be done in your own time, or in the comfort of your own home. You can practice as much as you need, and there is often no pressure to complete it.
Hire a private, qualified sign language tutor
If you want to learn sign language quickly, a private tutor could be the best way. Research local, qualified sign language tutors in your area who are willing to offer private tuition. Courses could be done in one-to-one sessions, or in small groups of your choice. You may find a private tutor more of a benefit if you find a large class environment is too difficult to learn in.
Watch and mimic interpreters
You can easily pick up signs by watching others, particularly sign language interpreters. You can often find them at deaf events or on TV during special, live events. Some TV shows also utilize sign language, such as “Switched at Birth.”
Ask your Deaf friends and family teach you
Asking a Deaf friend to teach you some sign language is a great way of making new Deaf friends! If you know friends or family use sign language already, asking them to teach you some signs will also remove some stresses from the struggle of oral/spoken conversation with them – making the exchange beneficial for both of you.
Just make sure your friend or family member uses sign language before asking them, as not all people who have hearing loss know sign language.
Use an App
There are also a few apps available to learn sign language on!
My favorite is the ‘Sign BSL’ app, which is a British Sign Language Dictionary app. If you don’t know how to sign a word, you can search for it on the app so it’s a great resource.
Sign language lessons for beginners free
There are also great apps for ASL learners. The language learning platform, Drops, released ASL on their Scripts app in conjunction with the United Nations’ International Day of Sign Languages The app teaches learners how to read and write alphabets and character-based language systems.
Drops’ ASL offering on Scripts is free for 5 minutes a day, allowing anyone with the Scripts app the ability to quickly learn the ASL alphabet. By associating illustrations of the signs to their meanings and testing users through fun, 5-minute games, Drops is bringing their acclaimed learning approach to an even broader audience and leveraging its global, multi-million user base to bring global awareness and access to ASL.
Sign language alphabet
Memorizing the American Sign Language alphabet (also known as the American Manual Alphabet) is the first step when learning American Sign Language and most new sign language students rely on fingerspelling from the ASL alphabet when they don’t know the sign for something.
Grammatically, fingerspelling is used in ASL for signing proper nouns (people’s names, brand names, book and movie titles, and city and state names). So, it is recommended that sign language students don’t fingerspell a word they don’t know. Instead, we suggest trying to use signs you do know to describe the word or use gestures. If all else fails, though, go ahead and fingerspell it.
Have fun, and remember: you can’t sign ASL when you only know the alphabet! American Sign Language has it’s own vocabulary, grammar, and syntax, so be sure to check out our Complete 3-Level ASL Course where you can learn how to sign accurately in American Sign Language.
The first step is to learn the ASL alphabet. Thankfully, with our free resources below, you’ll be fingerspelling in no time!
6 Free Resources to Learn the American Sign Language Alphabet
- Watch our Video of the American Sign Language Alphabet
- Download Our Free High Quality ASL Alphabet Image
Click the image below to be taken to our high quality image of the alphabet in sign language.
sign language alphabet by start ASL
You will notice two black arrows in this image–one for the letter J and one for the letter Z. For the letter J, you will make the handshape for the letter I, then trace a J in the air (the way you would see it). For the letter Z, you will make a number 1 handshape and trace the letter Z into the air (the way you would see it).
For the letters that are hard to see:
C has a handshape that forms the letter C with your hand. I don’t like to turn my C’s so that the side of my hand is facing the person I am talking to when I sign them. That can be hard on the wrist after a while.
sign language classes near me
The letter F can be signed with the three fingers apart (like they are in the image) or together. I prefer apart because it’s not too forceful on your hands.
Letters M, N, and T are very similar. For M your thumb is under your first three fingers, for N your thumb is under your first two fingers, and for T your thumb is under only your first finger.
P has the same handshape as the letter K, just with your middle finger pointing to the floor.
Q has a similar handshape to the letter G (with your thumb and pointer finger pointed straight) but with your thumb and pointer finger pointing to the floor.
- Free Sign Language Alphabet PDF
Below is a high quality printable sign language alphabet image and PDF.
sign language alphabet
The American Sign Language alphabet is so important when learning ASL, so be sure to download this printable sign language alphabet chart to take around with you.
You can take it to the coffee shop and practice fingerspelling the different coffees on the menu…
You can take it with you to the grocery store and practice fingerspelling what’s on your shopping list…
But, most importantly, you should practice fingerspelling your name.
One way to practice is to work on memorizing the letters. When you think you’ve got the hang of most of them, try fingerspelling the whole alphabet by memory. If you get stuck, just take a quick glance at the letter on your chart that you cannot remember and keep going from memory. Do this as much as you can and you will have them all memorized in no time!
- Printable American Sign Language Alphabet Flashcards
ASL flashcards
Download Alphabet Flashcards Now
(Keep in mind that you will need Adobe Reader in order to view the PDF. You can get it free here.)
Here are over 200 printable ASL alphabet practice flash cards! These are a great way to practice your fingerspelling receptive memory.
To print the flash cards: In Adobe Reader, go to File > Print and select 2-Sided Printing > Flip on Short Side. If your printer does not have 2-sided printing, you will need to print out all the pages and attach each set back-to-back before cutting.
- Printable Sign Language Alphabet Coloring Pages
Coloring can be a fun, calming activity for both children and adults! Use our free printable sign language alphabet coloring pages to help retain the letters you are learning. And if you color with your kids – they can learn too!
asl alphabet coloring pages
This PDF file includes one coloring page for each of the sign language letters and a picture and word for each. This is a great way to help kids learn the ASL alphabet and is a fun activity for your ASL sessions. You can even hand out one letter to each student in your class to color and hang them up on the wall for reference!
Here is a list of all the sign language letters we included and the words we associated with them:
- A – Alligator
- B – Bird
- C – Camel
- D – Dog
- E – Elephant
- F – Fish
- G – Giraffe
- H – Hippo
- I – Inner Tube
- J – Jellyfish
- K – Kite
- L – Lion
- M – Monkeys
- N – Noon
- O – Owl
- P – Penguin
- Q – “Quack”
- R – Rain
- S – Snake
- T – Toucan
- U – Umbrella
- V – Vulture
- W – Wind
- X – Xylophone
- Y – Yacht
- Z – Zebra
- If you’re interested in teaching your baby how to sign, don’t forget to check out our free Baby Sign Language lessons. Teaching baby sign language to your baby can be a big stress reliever during those early months of your beautiful baby’s life.
- Download Our Free American Sign Language Alphabet Wallpapers
We have ASL alphabet wallpapers for computers, tablets, and smartphones!
Sign language is a great way to communicate with people who have hearing loss, and it can be helpful in a variety of situations. It’s also a fun way to connect with your child and help them learn.
Signing is a beautiful way for you and your child to communicate. It’s fast, fluid, and easy—and it’s a great way for your child to express themselves in a way that helps them feel confident and proud.
Sign language is not only beautiful, but it can also be incredibly useful in many different ways. Whether you need it for work or for home life, you’ll find that signing will make your life easier in many ways!
When starting out with sign language lessons for beginners, it’s important to remember that there are no right or wrong signs—every single one has its own meaning based on context and usage. So don’t worry if you make mistakes along the way: just keep practicing!
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