Sign Language Classes

Sign Language Classes – Options, Locations, Alternatives

If you are considering to learn the sign language, it would be a good idea to start off with free sign language lessons. Whether you want to learn how to communicate with your deaf child or another member of your family, a deaf co-worker, become active in the deaf community or you just want to learn something new, you need to start with the basics.
Learning sign language should, like any other language, be learned by acquiring the basics, then by being exposed to rel-life situations where you can practice what you’ve learned. A basic course will teach you the essentials.
The American Sign Language (ASL)
Learning the American Sign Language (ASL) is best done with video lessons, as printed gestures or even photos are often a poor substitute for actually seeing a person engage in communication. The perfect base for sign language is imitating what a qualified teacher does. Also, video is superior to print for the simple fact that many ASL gestures are not static, they include movement, thus making it difficult to adapt to some illustration or photo.
Lettering Alphabets – Learning to Finger-Spell
Many people start learning ASL by learning to finger-spell. Finger-spelling uses the hands to form each character of the alphabet and combine them into words and sentences. This is a basic skill you need to learn, however communicating long sentences in this manner would take ages. For this reason, ASL defines over 1,000 different signs that describe things like food, drinks, color, travel and many others, which can be employed in a multitude of situations.
Still, learning how to “speak” using sign language is just the first step. For a real conversation, however, you need to understand what the person you are talking to is saying. Generally, this is the more difficult part, as different people express their signs at different speeds and their gestures may vary slightly. You will not learn sign language over night, but practice makes perfect.
Where Can I Take Sign Language Classes?
Many people are interested in learning sign language, but cannot find sign language classes. Traditionally, sign language classes were offered at local churches, adult education programs or community colleges. Each week, students would attend classes with an instructor that had some knowledge of the sign language. With approximately twenty students and desks arranged in a horseshoe shape so everybody could see the signs, such classes usually lasted from two to three hours in length. Churches still offer sign language classes, however the lessons they offer are mediocre at best. It’s a good place to start, but you may not be satisfied with the limited amount of information being taught at your church. If you want to take sign language classes at a more advanced level (this does not mean you will start off at an advanced level), here are some options:
College sign language classes
Local colleges and universities are often a great place to check out for such classes. Due to the popularity of sign language, many colleges offer either credited or uncredited sign language classes, and some may even have sign language clubs.
Deaf Schools and Programs
If you are the parent of a deaf child or hard of hearing child, check with your child’s local school or program. Most schools routinely offer sign language classes to help parents cope with their child’s condition and communicate with their deaf children. Such classes may be free or require a fee.
Social Service Organization Classes
Some interpreting agencies offer sign language classes, so it may be a good idea to check out local speech and hearing centers. You can contact a state commission for deaf and hard of hearing people for referrals. In addition, some resource centers for deaf and hard of hearing people may be able to provide referrals as well.
Community Sign Language Classes
Country recreational programs and public libraries often offer sign language classes. Also, adult education courses may offer organized continued education experience under responsible sponsorship.
More Sign Language Class Resources
If you cannot find classroom-based sign language class, or you do find, but cannot attend them for some reason (location, time, tuition), online sign language classes are a good alternative.
ASL University (ASLU)
ASLU is an online American Sign Language curriculum resource center providing free self-study materials, lessons and information, as well as fee-based instructor-guided courses. Many instructors use the ASL University lesson pages as the “textbook” for their local ASL classes.
The program was started in 1997, in an effort to support parents of death children living in rural or “outlying” areas without access to classroom-based sign language classes. Many students requested the chance to use these courses to meet language requirements at their local college or high school, which need documentation of course participation and verification of the student’s ability. In this regards, a formal fee-based program was provided in addition to the free resources. Students who do not need documentation or instructor-based evaluation should nor register nor pay tuition fees, they can study from the publicly available online lessons for free.
Accreditation
ASLU is a curriculum resource center and is not seeking accreditation. It does not claim to prepare individuals for employment, nor does it offer a degree. For students who register and pay tuition for ASL 1 or ASL 2 the institution provides documentation which may be used to demonstrate to the student’s local college or high school that the student has completed a course of study generally equivalent to that of a college or high school ASL program.
The documentation provided to students who pay tuition fees indicates the amount and quality of work completed in the form of Continuing Education Units (CEUs). One Continuing Education Unit is equal to ten contact hours of participation in an organized continuing education experience under responsible sponsorship, capable direction and qualified instruction. The ASLU transcript provides letter grades based on test scores and completed assignments, but does not award college credit. However, the student’s local college or high school may award credit for participation in this program.
Course Schedule and Content
Both courses, ASL 1 and ASL 2, are open enrollment, open completion. Each course requires 45 to 60 hours to complete, as well as additional homework and practice hours. Each course is designed to fit into a conventional 15-week semester-length study program, but can be completed either faster or slower, depending on the student’s needs, ability and time availability. In addition, assignments and examination may be turned in early without penalty. ASLU allows a maximum of one year for completion.
Because it is an online program, no in-person attendance is involved, however students are expected to complete a minimum of one lesson every three weeks to be considered progressing. Students may be dropped from the program after three weeks of inactivity.
Eligibility Requirements
To participate in the documentation program, students must be at least eighteen years of age, but those who do not meet the age requirement may resister if their parent or legal guardian signs the form as well. Students do not need to register in order to use the website for personal study. Those who need documentation, however, will need to register, pay tuition, complete a proctored final examination and a video project, each at a level of at least 70 percent, and complete the other online assignments in order to pass the program. Registration is done by submitting a registration letter.
Sign Language for Babies – Baby Fingers
Baby Fingers is a program designed to offer parents the opportunity to start helping their children at an earlier age. Parents can enroll babies as young as one month, children in pre-school or kindergarten, as well as toddlers, for music sign language classes. Studies have demonstrated that early education of sign language and exposure to music greatly benefits the child’s IQ, spatial reasoning skills and much more. Learning sign language at an early age can help your child in a number of ways, and there are several things to be taken into consideration when considering Baby Fingers:
Baby Signing and Speech Delay
A frequently asked question is whether signing with your baby would delay speech development. In fact, research has shown that babies who have learned how to sign tend to form a stronger command of verbal language, and generally begin speaking at an earlier age than babies who do not sign
Baby Fingers sign language classes based on American Sign Language (ASL)
ASL is the language used by the deaf community. It is a real language standardized throughout the U.S. and Canada, with its own grammar and syntax. The signs are not just made up. Most people who have learned ASL will be able to identify and respond to the signs that your baby has learned through the ASL sign language classes offered by Baby Fingers. Moreover, another reason Baby Fingers classes are based on ASL is that the ASL structure is compatible with the nature of language development in infants. In addition, ASL signs are very iconic, in many cases resembling the objects or activities they represent.
Baby Fingers classes are NOT only for deaf children
Baby Fingers was actually developed for hearing babies and hearing parents, but deaf children and children with a variety of special needs will also benefit from the program.
The optimal age for a baby to start learning sign language
Generally, it is recommended to begin learning signs as early as possible, so it can become a routine. Your baby will enjoy watching your signs at a very early age.
When do babies start signing?
Depending on consistency of use at home, some babies may begin to sign as early as 4-6 months, while others begin after one year or so. A baby needs to develop memory, dexterity and cognition adequate for recognizing, retaining and producing. With the baby sign language classes, babies will have all they need to begin signing between eight and ten months. Some babies start sooner, others just need a little more time.
Combining music and sign language
Music enhances language development, spatial reasoning skills, socialization, and motivation to communicate. Both signing and music are rhythmic, and he combination provides a natural means to practice and interact. Also, both signing and music aid in the ability to keep a steady beat, a skill that has been linked to improved reading performance as well.