ASL

The 500+ signs are divided into the following fourteen (14) useful categories:

Starter Signs (32)
Family Signs (40)
Emotion Signs (40)
Color Signs (30)
Home Signs (40)
Personality Signs (40)
Question Signs (20)
Verb Signs (50)
Common Things (40)
Place Signs (50)
Time Signs (52)
Occupation Signs (50)
Number Signs (#s 0-100)
Food Signs (50)

WITHIN each category, you’ll learn the signs in groups of ten. Each vocabulary sign is taught individually in its own video lesson. We’ll thoroughly explore handshape, hand position, and hand motion for each sign.

AFTER you’ve learned ten signs, we’ll do a two-part review: 1) Signing 2) Understanding. We’ll repeat this cycle of learning ten signs + two part review until all of the signs in the category have been learned.

ONCE you’ve learned all of the signs in a category, we’ll have a nice, big, juicy test covering everything. Just like the review lessons, you’ll be tested in two parts: 1) Signing 2) Understanding. It’s a great opportunity to show off your new skills.

AFTER the big, juicy test, you’ll have fun signing dialogues using what you’ve already learned in the course. You’ll learn to combine signs to form complete questions, statements, and mini-dialogues.

This course is designed to INCLUDE beginners without any prior knowledge of ASL.

Students will learn handshape, hand position, and hand motion for each individual sign.

Students will be tested on their signing and understanding ability for all 500+ signs in the course.

Students will guarantee improvement with lots of practice, review, and comprehensive tests.

Students will learn to sign question and answer dialogues using vocabulary from the course.

Students will learn basic sentence structures which can be used over and over in unique contexts.

Students will be able to understand and recognize over five hundred (500+) signs.

Students will know how to correctly sign and understand YES/NO and WH questions in ASL.

Students will be able to use vocabulary and sentence structures to create their own ASL sentences.

Students will be more confident signing and understanding with other signers and the Deaf community.

QUESTIONS:

What is the main focus of this course?

This course focuses on learning many basic but essential signs in American Sign Language. After taking this course, students will be able to sign and understand over five hundred vocabulary signs, sign WH and YES/NO questions, create ASL statements and questions, and sign mini dialogues.

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.

Sign. Smile. Be Delighted.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Students will learn how to sign and understand over five hundred (500+) basic signs in asl.
Students will learn handshape, hand position, and hand movement for each individual vocabulary sign.
Students will guarantee improvement with frequent practice and review lessons throughout the course.

Students will be tested on their signing and understanding ability for all 500+ signs in the course.
Students will learn basic sentence structures which can be used over and over in unique contexts.
Students will learn to sign dialogues with yes/no and wh questions using signs learned in the course.

Students will learn how to sign and understand over five hundred (500+) basic signs in asl.
Students will learn handshape, hand position, and hand movement for each individual vocabulary sign.
Students will guarantee improvement with frequent practice and review lessons throughout the course.
Students will be tested on their signing and understanding ability for all 500+ signs in the course.
Students will learn basic sentence structures which can be used over and over in unique contexts.
Students will learn to sign dialogues with yes/no and wh questions using signs learned in the course.

Syllabus

Introduction

Course Introduction

ASL Tip - Lesson Format

Starter Signs 1

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Provides a comprehensive resource for beginners who want to develop a foundation in ASL, making it suitable for aspiring signers

Employs a logical structure that introduces concepts gradually and reinforces learning through reviews and tests

Covers essential aspects of ASL, including starter signs, important categories, and sentence structures, providing a well-rounded understanding

Offers practical application through dialogues, enabling learners to apply their acquired skills in communicative scenarios

Reviews summary

Foundational asl: 500+ essential signs

According to learners, this course is an exceptionally well-structured and highly effective introduction to American Sign Language, perfect for complete beginners. Students frequently praise the instructor's clear, engaging teaching style and the systematic breakdown of over 500 basic signs, emphasizing handshape, position, and motion. The built-in practice, frequent reviews, and comprehensive tests are consistently highlighted as crucial for successful memorization and building signing confidence. While providing a strong vocabulary foundation and encouraging application through basic dialogues, it is seen as a starting point, with additional resources potentially needed for advanced conversational fluency.

Designed for and highly effective for learners with no prior ASL experience.

"Excellent course for beginners! The instructor is very clear and patient."

"As a complete beginner, I feel like I've gained a solid foundation in ASL. Highly recommend!"

"Absolutely fantastic for learning the basics! Great for anyone starting their ASL journey."

"This course is a hidden gem for anyone wanting to learn ASL."

Covers over 500 essential ASL signs, building a strong foundation.

"It covers a lot of ground (500+ signs!) without feeling overwhelming. Great for anyone starting their ASL journey."

"The sheer volume of signs taught is impressive. The videos are clear and easy to understand."

"I've learned so many practical signs that I can already use."

"A strong start to learning ASL. For building a solid vocabulary base, it's fantastic."

The systematic course structure aids memorization and retention.

"This course is incredibly well-structured and easy to follow. The repetition and review sections are super helpful."

"The structured approach with learning 10 signs, then review, then category tests, is genius."

"The practice and testing modules are very effective. I feel much more confident in my ability to sign basic sentences."

"The structured learning paths, reviews, and tests kept me engaged and motivated."

Instructor Michael provides exceptionally clear explanations.

"The instructor, Michael, explains each sign clearly, breaking down handshape, position, and movement."

"Michael's teaching method is engaging, and the way he integrates review and testing ensures you really learn the signs."

"Michael is a wonderful instructor; his passion for ASL shines through."

"I am so grateful for this course. Michael is an excellent teacher. He breaks down the signs in a way that is easy to understand and remember."

Some sections might feel fast; additional external practice is helpful.

"I found the pace a bit too fast in some sections, especially during the review quizzes."

"It could benefit from more interactive exercises or perhaps a community forum for practice."

"I felt I needed to seek out external resources for additional practice and conversational fluency."

Provides strong basics but may require external study for fluency.

"My only minor critique would be that while the dialogues are good, I sometimes wished for more complex sentence structures."

"While it teaches many individual signs, more emphasis on grammar, facial expressions, and nuanced conversational flow would make it even stronger."

"For full fluency, one would need more than just this course, but for building a solid vocabulary base, it's fantastic."

"It's a solid foundation, but I felt I needed to seek out external resources for additional practice and conversational fluency."

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 500+ Basic Signs | American Sign Language with these activities:

Read and review 'ASL: The Deaf Way' by Bernard Bragg

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Gain a comprehensive understanding of ASL history and culture by reading this foundational text.

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Purchase or borrow a copy of the book.
Read and take notes on the chapters.
Reflect on the book's insights and apply them to your ASL learning.
Consider discussing the book with a mentor or in a study group.

Refine signing skills

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Practice and refine your signing skills before starting the course to enhance your proficiency in ASL.

Browse courses on American Sign Language

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Review basic handshapes, hand positions, and hand movements.
Sign individual vocabulary signs.
Practice signing in front of a mirror or with a partner.

Seek guidance from experienced signers

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Connect with experienced signers who can provide valuable insights and support on your ASL learning journey.

Browse courses on American Sign Language

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Identify Deaf or hard of hearing individuals in your community or online.
Approach them respectfully and express your interest in learning from their experiences.
Arrange regular meetings or conversations to receive guidance and feedback on your ASL skills.

Seven other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all ten activities

Explore ASL online resources

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Complement course content by exploring online resources for additional ASL learning materials and tutorials.

Browse courses on American Sign Language

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Search for reputable ASL websites or YouTube channels.
Identify tutorials that align with course topics.
Watch and follow the tutorials to reinforce your ASL skills.

5 Words a Day

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Practice and improve your vocabulary by learning 5 new signs each day.

Browse courses on Vocabulary

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Choose 5 new signs to learn.
Write down the signs and their meanings.
Practice signing the words several times.
Test yourself by trying to sign the words without looking at your notes.

ASL Dialogue

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Create an ASL dialogue to practice your signing skills and improve your fluency.

Browse courses on Conversation

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Choose a topic for your dialogue.
Write out the dialogue in English.
Translate the dialogue into ASL.
Practice signing the dialogue several times.
Record yourself signing the dialogue.

Participate in ASL signing groups

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Engage with other learners in ASL signing groups to practice conversation and improve your fluency.

Browse courses on American Sign Language

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Locate ASL signing groups in your community or online.
Attend group meetings and participate in conversations.
Ask for feedback and provide support to other group members.

Engage in regular ASL practice

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Consistency is crucial for language acquisition. Dedicate time to regular ASL practice to enhance your fluency and retention of vocabulary.

Browse courses on American Sign Language

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Allocate specific time slots for ASL practice each day.
Use online or offline resources for practice exercises.
Review previous lessons and practice signing the vocabulary.
Set realistic goals and track your progress.

Explore ASL grammar and sentence structure

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Understanding ASL grammar and sentence structure will enable you to construct meaningful and accurate ASL sentences.

Browse courses on American Sign Language

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Review the rules of ASL grammar and sentence formation.
Practice forming ASL sentences using different grammar structures.
Analyze ASL dialogues and identify how grammar is used in context.

Create an ASL video presentation

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Apply your ASL skills by creating a video presentation that showcases your signing ability and understanding of course concepts.

Browse courses on American Sign Language

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Choose a topic related to the course material.
Write a script for your presentation in ASL.
Practice signing your presentation multiple times.
Record and edit your video presentation.
Share your presentation with your instructor or classmates for feedback.

Career center

Learners who complete ASL | First 500+ Basic Signs | American Sign Language will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Reading list

We've selected 30 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in ASL | First 500+ Basic Signs | American Sign Language.

Deaf in America

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A seminal work exploring the cultural aspects of the American Deaf community. Written by Deaf authors, it provides invaluable insights into Deaf experiences, values, and history. is essential for gaining a broad understanding of the cultural context of ASL and is considered a classic in Deaf Studies.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Syllabus

Traffic lights

Save this course

Reviews summary

Foundational asl: 500+ essential signs

Activities

Career center

Reading list

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