An ASL question...

D

Dyl

New Member
Joined
Jul 3, 2012
Messages
6
Reaction score
0
(( I'm not exactly sure if this is the right spot to make this thread, so if not, please move it to the correct forum. Thanks.))

Alright, so these are my questions.

One- What kind of course should I take for learning ASL? Some reccomended book, online course, flash cards, etc; Right now, I've been going through American Sign Language flash cards that I got for Christmas and I am watching these 2005 small courses on American Sign Language. I am also picking some stuff up on • ASL • American Sign Language

Any reccomended courses or ideas for learning correctly would be useful. My problem is that all of the ASL books at the library sign completely different, and I am completely confused as to which sign is the correct one. My family is unanimous in me continuing with Lifeprint, but at the moment our bandwith is going up too much for me to watch and learn from videos. I've also gone through Youtube and I've learned some new things that I picked up.

My biggest threat is that I would really enjoy becoming an interpreter later in life, so I need to know which courses are the best to learn and sign correctly.
 
Personally, I'm a hearing student with a few ASL classes under my belt. I have Deaf friends whom I sign with on a regular, and I can tell you that while online resources are nice, theyre just that - resources. Take sme classes where you can work face to face with people, and if you have any HoH or Deaf friends use ASL as much as ypu can with them - they can teach you so much. A lot of ASL is not just hand movements but face expressions, body movement and spacial use - again, hard to practice that when you're not face to face with other people.

I'm nowhere near fluent, but thats my advice. Good luck!
 
If you're serious, you need to take ASL (not "sign language") courses in person. Search for classes at your local college, either for credit or continuing ed, and local chapter of NAD or Deaf organizations.

Online, DVD, and book resources are good supplements but they aren't the way to learn the language. Youtube videos are a good way to learn bad signing habits, especially if you're inexperienced.
 
Wirelessly posted

ASL = American Sign Language
BSL = British Sign Language
Auslan = Australian Sign Language
NZSL = New Zealand Sign Language

.....to name a few.
 
My strategy

Dyl said:
One- What kind of course should I take for learning ASL?
My biggest threat is that I would really enjoy becoming an interpreter later in life, so I need to know which courses are the best to learn and sign correctly.
Click to expand...

This is what I am doing - I have lost all of my hearing, not sure what I am considered since I have been HOH for years, but I am guessing late deaf. My hearing aides don't work anymore for me. People want me to "fix my problem!" hehe! I decided the first fix - ASL. My husband is willing to learn but struggles more than I do.

I enrolled in a community college ASL course. There are three and I will complete all of them. Then I go home and practice.

I went to ASL University website and am completing their free lessons to practice EVERY DAY.

I joined this forum, to try and understand how others accommodate to their hearing challenges.

I met an interpreter who is going to help me practice. Of course she is charging me so I'm not sure how long this will last. If anything she may open some doors in the deaf community for me to practice.

I am meeting with a group here in town who work with all ranges of disability - there are several deaf on their staff. Hopefully, by volunteering I will meet more people like me and will have more practice.

Get the theme? PRACTICE with people who KNOW what they are doing. Hopefully, I will be able to converse sufficiently in a year. :lol:
 
BecLak said:
Wirelessly posted

ASL = American Sign Language
BSL = British Sign Language
Auslan = Australian Sign Language
NZSL = New Zealand Sign Language

.....to name a few.
Click to expand...


add LSQ I let know you

French! French Sign Language!
 
Wirelessly posted

Online resources have been kinda nightmarish for me. Fun, but rough for having exact information. Im taking ASL 101 but purchased several books/dictionaries for a resource.

A question ive had is how good or poor a choice would it be to use ASLU/lifeprint as a website resource? They have a TON on information!!! But being new, ive very little way on knowing if it will be a good resource.
 
Wirelessly posted

Haha!!! Nevermind that... JUST found a post on ASLU lifeprint. Ahhhh... Sleepy. Does crazy things to my head :P
 
Wirelessly posted

Smithtr said:
BecLak said:
ASL = American Sign Language

BSL = British Sign Language

Auslan = Australian Sign Language

NZSL = New Zealand Sign Language



.....to name a few.
Click to expand...





add LSQ I let know you



French! French Sign Language!
Click to expand...

thank you, Smithtr!
 
Last edited:
Wirelessly posted (Blackberry Bold )

Smithtr said:
BecLak said:
Wirelessly posted

ASL = American Sign Language
BSL = British Sign Language
Auslan = Australian Sign Language
NZSL = New Zealand Sign Language

.....to name a few.
Click to expand...


add LSQ I let know you

French! French Sign Language!
Click to expand...

Yeah LSQ is the French Sign Language used in French Canada.

LSF is used in France
 
Lifprint is a good supplement, but the only way to learn ASL is to practice with others. The spatial and non-manual markers are difficult online. Also, signing with people is much different than practicing alone or watching a vid.

When I began learning, almost everyone suggested finding a deaf friend (or better yet, a deaf boyfriend) as the best possible way to learn.

I still sign better than I see...meaning I can "speak" ASL better than I understand it. Fingerelling, the closest part of ASL to my first language is the most difficult part for me to follow.

I still consult lifprint when I'm stumped on a word conversion, but I've never found a book or site that helped with non-manual markers, spatial relationships and grammar/punctuation. It's a great resource for words, word order and other basic information though.
 
Alright, thank you guys a whole bunch. This is what I needed to know.

Oh, also; one more thing: I would appreciate it if some of you could review these couple books and DVDs I've gotten from the library to see if I'm learning the right stuff.

"Talking with Your Hands, Listening with Your Eyes: A complete photographic guide to American Sign Language"
"American Sign Language - 250 + Idioms & Phrases and Sentence Examples - Volume 1, 2, 3, 4, & 5 on one DVD starring Gilda Ganezer and Avery Posner"
"Sign Language 101: A beginner's guide to American Sign Language"
"American Sign Language Phrase Book"
 
Wirelessly posted

I have American Sign Language phrase book 3rd edition. I am hearing, a student first year & ive found it to be helpful with some grammar structure. The pictures are cartoon'ish, but the expressions are not bad & the teachings are very close to what I am learning in class so far. Its been a good purchase for me & is a nice companion book when I need an extra resource.
 
Wirelessly posted

I believe the biggest road block im having is translating written English into written ASL at this time. Its very new to me, i re-wrote my assignment about 8x before i submitted it. I still feel unsure about it, lol! But after time & willing to learn & do the work Im hoping it'll *click* lol :P
 
Devyn231 said:
Wirelessly posted

I believe the biggest road block im having is translating written English into written ASL at this time. Its very new to me, i re-wrote my assignment about 8x before i submitted it. I still feel unsure about it, lol! But after time & willing to learn & do the work Im hoping it'll *click* lol :P
Click to expand...
What course are you taking that requires translating written English into written ASL?
 
Wirelessly posted

ASL 101 at college. It was our first assignment doing that last week, and submitted at the start of this week. Ill find out how I did today at class, kinda nervous about it :o
 
Devyn231 said:
Wirelessly posted

ASL 101 at college. It was our first assignment doing that last week, and submitted at the start of this week. Ill find out how I did today at class, kinda nervous about it :o
Click to expand...
Interesting. I've taken several ASL, interpreting, and transliterating courses and workshops, and I've interpreted for ASL courses, and I've never seen any instructor require that.

I hope that's just a one-time assignment.
 
Wirelessly posted

Maybe!! Oh that would be nice lol, NOT that i do not want to learn, but that assignment had me on pins & needles for the last 5 days :'(
 
Sadly - there are a lot of cases where one is not able to take college courses or find classes that don't get cancelled. I can't afford the college classes and most all of the adult ed classes through the public school system are cancelled. So, I have to rely on the once a month, but not during summer or when school is out Deaf Coffee Chats and hope that they people who will be there to help those of us learning actually show up.

Yes, I have developed a negative attitude about this and am hoping that it will change.
 
Back
Top