ASL

First, we make sure you’ve mastered personal and possessive pronouns. Next, the 120 statements are divided into groups of ten. Each ASL statement has its own video lesson where the statement is broken down into individual signs. The instructor will teach you handshape, hand position, and hand motion for each sign.

NEXT, the signs are put together and we practice signing the full statement. After each group of 10 statements, we have mini-review. After 3 groups of 10 statements (30 statements) there is mid-review. All review sections have two parts to test the student’s signing and understanding abilities. After learning all 120 statements, we sign full ASL narratives created with mix and matched vocabulary and sentence structures from the ASL statements.

This course is designed to INCLUDE complete beginners without any sign language experience.

Students will be able to understand and recognize all one hundred and twenty (120) statements.

Students will have learned over three hundred (300+) individual signs in American Sign Language.

Students will be able to use the vocabulary and sentence structures to create new ASL statements.

Students will be more confident signing complete statements with the Deaf community.

QUESTIONS:

What is the main focus of this course?

This course focuses on learning many basic but essential statements in American Sign Language. Students will learn one hundred and twenty (120) common sentence structures in ASL and 300+ individual signs.

Do I need to have prior knowledge or experience with ASL before taking this class?

No. This course is designed to include complete beginners without any prior knowledge of ASL. All necessary signs are taught step by step in the course.

Will this course test me on what is taught?

Yes. This course contains multiple review and testing sections where students have the opportunity to demonstrate their ASL signing and recognition skills.

My name is Michael. When I was three years old, my younger brother became sick with spinal meningitis. In the process, my brother became deaf with an almost complete hearing loss. This difficult situation provided a unique opportunity for my family and I to become fluent in American Sign Language (ASL). My brother was not sent away to a deaf or hard of hearing school. He grew up with us, his hearing family, and we were active in the deaf community.

As a police officer and federal investigator, I often used ASL to communicate with and serve the Deaf community. I decided to create ASL courses because it’s a useful and practical skill to have. Like learning any language, it opens your mind and creates the ability to communicate with a whole new group of people.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Students will learn to sign and understand one hundred and twenty (120) useful statements in asl.
Students will learn to sign and understand over three hundred (300+) individual vocabulary signs.
Students will master personal and possessive pronouns in american sign language.

Students will learn handshape, hand position, and hand motion for each of the 300+ signs.
Students will use vocabulary signs and sentence structures to sign full narratives in asl.
Students will be tested on signing and understanding ability for all vocabulary and statements.

Students will learn to sign and understand one hundred and twenty (120) useful statements in asl.
Students will learn to sign and understand over three hundred (300+) individual vocabulary signs.
Students will master personal and possessive pronouns in american sign language.
Students will learn handshape, hand position, and hand motion for each of the 300+ signs.
Students will use vocabulary signs and sentence structures to sign full narratives in asl.
Students will be tested on signing and understanding ability for all vocabulary and statements.

Syllabus

SECTION 01: Introduction

Course Introduction

ASL Pronouns

Learn - ASL Pronouns

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Breaks down each ASL statement into individual signs, teaching handshape, hand position, and hand motion, which is helpful for grasping the fundamentals

Includes review sections to test signing and understanding abilities, which reinforces learning and helps students track their progress

Teaches over 300 individual signs and 120 common sentence structures, providing a solid foundation for basic communication in ASL

Explores signing full ASL narratives created with mixed vocabulary and sentence structures, which helps learners develop practical language skills

Focuses on essential statements in American Sign Language, which is useful for everyday interactions and basic communication

Requires learners to understand hyphens and other ASL concepts, which may be confusing for learners without prior exposure to linguistics

Reviews summary

Basic asl statements for beginners

According to learners, this course is an ideal starting point for complete beginners interested in American Sign Language. Many appreciate the clear instruction, particularly how the instructor breaks down individual signs step-by-step before combining them into statements. The focus on practical, everyday statements is highlighted as a major strength, making the learning immediately applicable. While the structure of learning statements in groups with regular reviews is effective for foundational learning, a few students noted that the pace can feel slow at times or that they desired more practice opportunities or advanced content.

Instructor breaks down signs clearly.

"The instructor is clear and easy to follow."

"Michael breaks down each sign step-by-step."

"The explanations were clear..."

Covers useful everyday conversations.

"Learning basic statements was very practical."

"Covers useful everyday statements."

"I appreciate the focus on practical communication."

"Useful phrases..."

Excellent starting point for new signers.

"As a total beginner, this was perfect."

"Highly recommend for anyone starting out in ASL."

"Decent course for absolute beginners."

"This course is absolutely amazing for beginners!"

May be too slow or basic for some.

"The pace felt slow at times."

"...could use more practice examples."

"I was hoping for slightly more challenge or variety..."

"I needed to find other resources for more interactive practice."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in ASL | First 120 Basic Statements | American Sign Language with these activities:

Practice Fingerspelling

Show steps

Improve your fingerspelling recognition and production, which is crucial for understanding names, places, and words without established signs.

Browse courses on Fingerspelling

Show steps

Review the ASL alphabet chart.
Practice spelling common words and names.
Watch videos of fingerspelling and try to decipher them.

Create flashcards for ASL vocabulary

Show steps

Reinforce your memory of ASL signs by creating flashcards with the sign on one side and the English translation on the other.

Show steps

Gather index cards or use a flashcard app.
Write the English word or phrase on one side of the card.
Draw or describe the ASL sign on the other side.
Use the flashcards to practice your vocabulary.

Review 'The Gallaudet Dictionary of American Sign Language'

Show steps

Expand your ASL vocabulary and understanding of sign variations by consulting a comprehensive ASL dictionary.

View Putting Knowledge to Work on Amazon

Show steps

Browse the dictionary for signs related to the course content.
Look up signs you are unsure about or want to learn more about.
Pay attention to the variations and regional differences of signs.

Four other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all seven activities

Practice signing with a partner

Show steps

Improve your fluency and comprehension by practicing signing the statements and narratives with a partner.

Show steps

Find a partner who is also learning ASL.
Take turns signing the statements and narratives from the course.
Provide each other with feedback on your signing.

Review 'American Sign Language: A Comprehensive Dictionary'

Show steps

Supplement your learning with a comprehensive dictionary that includes regional variations and technical terms.

View American Sign Language Dictionary, Third Edition on Amazon

Show steps

Explore the dictionary to find alternative signs for concepts learned in the course.
Research signs related to your personal interests or professional field.
Compare different signs to understand the nuances of meaning.

Create a short ASL story

Show steps

Solidify your understanding of ASL grammar and sentence structure by creating and signing a short story using the vocabulary and sentence structures learned in the course.

Show steps

Write a short story in English.
Translate the story into ASL, focusing on using correct grammar and sentence structure.
Record yourself signing the story.
Share your video with others for feedback.

Volunteer at a Deaf community event

Show steps

Immerse yourself in the Deaf community and practice your ASL skills in a real-world setting.

Show steps

Find a local Deaf community event or organization.
Volunteer your time to help with the event.
Use your ASL skills to communicate with Deaf individuals.
Reflect on your experience and identify areas for improvement.

Career center

Learners who complete ASL | First 120 Basic Statements | American Sign Language will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Sign Language Interpreter

A Sign Language Interpreter facilitates communication between individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing and those who are hearing. This role requires fluency in American Sign Language and a deep understanding of deaf culture. This course helps build a foundation in the language by teaching one hundred and twenty common ASL statements, over three hundred individual signs, and how to use the vocabulary and sentence structures to create narratives. The course's focus on mastering personal and possessive pronouns and practicing the handshapes, hand positions, and motions of individual signs helps learners develop the core abilities needed for interpreting and for connecting with the Deaf community.

See salaries and explore the career path for Sign Language Interpreter

Federal Investigator

A federal investigator conducts investigations into potential violations of federal law. This role can involve communicating with people from diverse backgrounds including those in the Deaf community. This course in American Sign Language may be helpful for an investigator to improve their communication skills when interacting with deaf individuals. It introduces the fundamentals of ASL, including 120 statements and over 300 individual signs. The course's focus on the basics and development of full sentences may help an investigator to better communicate with and serve the Deaf community.

See salaries and explore the career path for Federal Investigator

Police Officer

A police officer protects the public and maintains order in a community. Police officers interact with many different people, including those who are deaf or hard of hearing. This course in American Sign Language may be helpful for police officers to better communicate with members of the Deaf community. It teaches 120 essential statements, over 300 individual signs, and how to create narratives using these signs. The course's testing sections on both signing and understanding may help a police officer use the language with confidence.

See salaries and explore the career path for Police Officer

Emergency Medical Technician

An emergency medical technician provides immediate medical care to the injured and sick. Effective communication is crucial, especially in high-stress emergency situations. This course in American Sign Language may be helpful in communicating with patients who are deaf or hard of hearing, allowing them to better understand the patient's needs. The course covers 120 basic statements and over 300 signs, with focus on handshape, hand position, and hand motion. This course may allow an emergency medical technician to establish clear communication, and provide better care.

See salaries and explore the career path for Emergency Medical Technician

Speech-Language Pathologist

A Speech Language Pathologist assesses, diagnoses, and treats communication and swallowing disorders in people of all ages. Some may have communication challenges due to hearing loss. This course introduces the basics of American Sign Language, which may help a speech language pathologist understand and communicate with patients who rely on sign language. The course teaches 120 statements and 300+ individual signs as well as their individual handshapes, hand positions, and hand motions. This course may help any aspiring professional in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Speech-Language Pathologist

Community Outreach Coordinator

A community outreach coordinator works to connect an organization with the community it serves, often working with diverse populations. Learning American Sign Language through this course may be helpful when connecting with the Deaf community. The course focuses on teaching 120 common ASL statements, more than 300 individual signs, and how to put them together into narratives. The course also provides testing on signing and understanding, which may help build confidence when communicating with the Deaf community.

See salaries and explore the career path for Community Outreach Coordinator

Social Worker

A social worker supports individuals and families facing challenges. They often collaborate with a wide range of people, including those with disabilities. This course may be useful for any social worker to help bridge communication gaps when working with individuals from the Deaf community. It emphasizes learning basic yet essential American Sign Language statements. Mastering personal and possessive pronouns as taught in this course may help build a foundation to better serve clients and their families. It could also be used to better understand their situation.

See salaries and explore the career path for Social Worker

Special Education Teacher

A special education teacher works with students who have a wide range of learning, mental, emotional, and physical disabilities. Some of these students may be deaf or hard of hearing. This course may be useful as it introduces learners to the fundamentals of American Sign Language. It covers 120 basic statements and more than 300 individual signs, alongside the handshapes, hand positions, and hand motions for each sign. The course also includes practice signing full statements, which helps develop communication skills. Additionally, it teaches personal and possessive pronouns, which may be useful when writing reports, or communicating with families.

See salaries and explore the career path for Special Education Teacher

Paralegal

A paralegal assists lawyers with various legal tasks, often requiring them to interact with a wide range of people. This course may be helpful in learning American Sign Language to improve communication with deaf or hard of hearing clients and witnesses. It teaches 120 basic statements and over 300 individual signs. The course's focus on the basics and also the development of full ASL sentences makes this a good choice for a paralegal who wishes to serve this community.

See salaries and explore the career path for Paralegal

Librarian

A librarian helps people find information and resources, and provides community support. This course may be helpful for a librarian to better serve patrons who are deaf or hard of hearing. This course introduces the fundamentals of American Sign Language, including 120 basic statements, and over 300 signs, taught with attention to handshape, position, and motion. The course's focus on mastering pronouns and sentence structure may help librarians to better communicate and engage with these patrons.

See salaries and explore the career path for Librarian

Customer Service Representative

A customer service representative provides assistance to customers, addressing their inquiries and resolving issues. This role can involve interactions with people from all backgrounds including some who are deaf. This course may be helpful in gaining a basic understanding of American Sign Language, including 120 common statements and over 300 signs, taught individually with attention to handshapes, hand positions, and hand motions. The ability to use this course to practice and improve signing skills, and to develop confidence will improve the customer care experience.

See salaries and explore the career path for Customer Service Representative

Human Resources Specialist

A human resources specialist manages various aspects of an organization's workforce including employee relations. This course may be useful to better serve deaf or hard of hearing employees, or job candidates. The course introduces core language skills in American Sign Language, focusing on 120 essential statements and over 300 individual signs. Additionally, the course also practices building and signing full statements. Learning to sign and understanding American Sign Language may contribute to a more inclusive and welcoming workplace environment.

See salaries and explore the career path for Human Resources Specialist

Childcare Provider

A childcare provider cares for children by engaging them in activities to promote learning and development. Some children may be deaf or hard of hearing. This course may be helpful for a childcare provider to learn basic American Sign Language, including 120 common statements and over 300 individual signs. The course teaches handshapes, hand positions, and hand motions for each sign which allows a childcare provider to communicate more effectively with the children under their care. The training to practice and improve signing skills, and to develop confidence will improve the childcare experience.

See salaries and explore the career path for Childcare Provider

Administrative Assistant

An administrative assistant provides support to an organization by performing tasks such as scheduling appointments and managing correspondence. This course, which teaches the fundamentals of American Sign Language, may be helpful for any administrative assistant whose workplace or community includes deaf or hard of hearing populations. This course features 120 common statements and over 300 signs. The course's focus on mastery of sign language pronouns and the ability to sign full statements may improve communication and create a more inclusive environment.

See salaries and explore the career path for Administrative Assistant

Research Assistant

A research assistant supports research projects through data collection and analysis. This role may involve interaction with people from different backgrounds. This course may be helpful for a research assistant by providing baseline familiarity with American Sign Language and basic communication skills. Through this course, learners study 120 core ASL statements and over 300 signs. The course's focus on sentence structure, as well as on testing signing and understanding may help the research assistant better connect with the Deaf community.

See salaries and explore the career path for Research Assistant

First 120 Basic Statements | American Sign Language

What's inside

Learning objectives

Syllabus

Traffic lights

Save this course

Reviews summary

Basic asl statements for beginners

Activities

Career center

Reading list

Share

Similar courses