Basic American Sign Language from Udemy

What's inside

Learning objectives

Basic american sign language
How to communicate with people in the deaf and hard of hearing community
Etiquette in the deaf community
Deaf culture orientation

Asl
Sign language
American sign language

Basic american sign language
How to communicate with people in the deaf and hard of hearing community
Etiquette in the deaf community
Deaf culture orientation
Asl
Sign language
American sign language

Syllabus

Introduction

What is this ASL class all about?

Build your vocabulary in ASL

Choosing a Dominant Hand

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Provides an introduction to sentence structure, which is helpful for learners to form basic sentences and express themselves clearly

Covers etiquette within the Deaf community, which is essential for respectful and effective communication and cultural awareness

Includes instruction on the ASL alphabet, which is a foundational element for understanding and producing signs

Explores a range of topics, such as animals, foods, and colors, which allows learners to build a practical vocabulary

Offers a Deaf culture orientation, which provides insights into the values, beliefs, and practices of the Deaf community

Requires learners to choose a dominant hand, which may be difficult for learners who are ambidextrous or have a non-dominant hand preference

Reviews summary

Basic asl: foundations, vocabulary, and culture

According to learners, this course is a fantastic introduction to American Sign Language, particularly well-suited for absolute beginners. Many highlight the clear and engaging instructor and appreciate the inclusion of Deaf culture notes. The course provides a solid foundation in basic vocabulary and signs. However, some students noted limited coverage of sentence structure and grammar, meaning it focuses more on individual signs than complex communication. Additionally, a few mentioned that video quality could occasionally make hand shape details difficult to discern. While it delivers on teaching basic conversation elements, many feel additional resources or practice are needed to achieve greater proficiency.

More exercises or external practice needed.

"you will definitely need more resources."

"I wish there were more practice exercises or quizzes built-in..."

"not sufficient on its own."

Meets expectations for a basic intro.

"Don't expect fluency, but it delivers on the 'basic' promise."

"This course gives you exactly what it promises - basic conversation skills."

"feel like I have a good grasp on the fundamentals and can sign simple phrases."

Covers essential signs and Deaf culture.

"It covers the alphabet, numbers, basic questions, and a lot of vocabulary."

"I especially appreciated the culture notes."

"The vocabulary covered is practical for beginners."

Teaching is easy to follow & engaging.

"The instructor is clear and breaks down the signs well."

"The instructor is engaging and makes learning fun."

"The instructor is fantastic, very clear demonstrations."

Ideal starting point for new ASL learners.

"This course was fantastic for a complete beginner!"

"Perfect for someone just starting out in ASL."

"Absolutely brilliant for getting started with ASL! The instructor is fantastic..."

Visuals sometimes hard to see details.

"some video angles could make hand shapes clearer."

"some videos were a bit blurry, which is problematic when you need to see hand details precisely."

"The video quality was sometimes frustrating, making it hard to distinguish signs."

Focus mostly on signs, less on structure.

"I found the explanation of sentence structure very limited."

"This felt like mostly memorizing vocabulary."

"lack of focus on grammar and sentence structure means I can't really *talk*..."

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 Basic American Sign Language with these activities:

A Basic Course in American Sign Language

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Familiarize yourself with core ASL concepts and vocabulary before the course begins.

View Learning American Sign Language DVD to... on Amazon

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Obtain a copy of 'A Basic Course in American Sign Language'.
Read the introductory chapters on ASL grammar and culture.
Practice basic vocabulary and sentence structures.

Practice Fingerspelling

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Improve your fingerspelling speed and accuracy to aid in vocabulary acquisition and communication.

Browse courses on Fingerspelling

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Review the ASL alphabet chart.
Practice fingerspelling common words and names.
Use online resources or apps to test your fingerspelling skills.

Explore ASL University Online

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Supplement your learning with free online ASL lessons and resources.

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Visit the ASL University website.
Browse the available lessons and resources.
Complete lessons that align with the course topics.

Three other activities

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Show all six activities

The Gallaudet Dictionary of American Sign Language

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Use this dictionary as a reference to expand your ASL vocabulary and understanding of signs.

View Putting Knowledge to Work on Amazon

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Obtain a copy of 'The Gallaudet Dictionary of American Sign Language'.
Familiarize yourself with the dictionary's organization and features.
Use the dictionary to look up signs you encounter in the course or elsewhere.

Create a Video Introducing Yourself in ASL

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Solidify your understanding of introductions and question words by creating a video.

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Write a script for your introduction, including your name and how you are.
Practice signing your introduction until you are comfortable.
Record a video of yourself signing your introduction.
Share your video with classmates or friends for feedback.

Compile a List of 50 New ASL Signs

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Expand your ASL vocabulary by researching and compiling a list of new signs.

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Use online resources, dictionaries, or books to find new ASL signs.
Write down the sign and a brief description of its meaning.
Practice signing each new sign.
Organize your list of signs for easy reference.

Career center

Learners who complete Basic 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 can hear. This role requires a strong understanding of American Sign Language, and this course helps build a foundation for that. It covers the basics of vocabulary, sentence structure, and elements of Deaf culture, which are essential for interpreting effectively. The course's focus on the ASL alphabet, question words, colors, introductions, and other basic topics gives learners a strong starting point. This role provides a direct and meaningful way to use the skills you will learn in this course.

See salaries and explore the career path for Sign Language Interpreter

Deaf Studies Instructor

A deaf studies instructor teaches courses related to the Deaf community, including American Sign Language, Deaf culture, and the history of Deaf people. The introductory skills in ASL taught in this course build a foundation for the career role of deaf studies instructor. Learning the alphabet, common vocabulary, and basic sentence structure are necessary steps to building mastery of ASL. The course's introduction to Deaf culture also provides a starting point for gaining crucial knowledge to convey to students in a classroom setting.

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Recreational Therapist

Recreational therapists use recreational activities to improve the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of their clients, and this can include those who use sign language. This course helps build foundations in ASL by teaching vocabulary, sentence structure, and elements of Deaf culture. This can be particularly useful when planning and conducting recreational activities with clients who are Deaf or hard of hearing. Learning basic vocabulary like colors, animals, and sports, as taught by this course, helps improve communication in recreational settings.

See salaries and explore the career path for Recreational Therapist

Special Education Teacher

A special education teacher works with students who have a variety of learning differences, including those who are Deaf or hard of hearing. This course may be useful in building a foundation for communicating with students, or connecting with their families. The course provides an introduction to American Sign Language, including the alphabet, question words, numbers, colors, and basic vocabulary. This could be useful in a classroom setting. This course also offers an introduction to Deaf culture, which can help a teacher better understand and support their students.

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Social Worker

A social worker provides support to individuals and families facing a variety of challenges, and those who are Deaf or hard of hearing may be among these. This course may be useful, as it introduces American Sign Language. By learning the basics of the alphabet, question words, introductions, colors, numbers, and other topics from this course, a social worker will build a foundation to effectively communicate with clients who are Deaf or hard of hearing. The course's introduction to Deaf culture will help the social worker provide informed support.

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Early Childhood Educator

An early childhood educator works with young children in a variety of settings. Some of those children could be Deaf or hard of hearing. This course helps build a foundation in American Sign Language. Learning how to sign the alphabet, common vocabulary words, numbers, and how to introduce yourself will build foundational skills to communicate with the children, and assist with early language development. This course introduces basic elements of Deaf culture, which helps you understand the needs of the children in your class.

See salaries and explore the career path for Early Childhood Educator

Guidance Counselor

A guidance counselor helps students navigate academic and career paths, and can provide support to those with disabilities, including deafness. This basic ASL course helps build a foundation for connecting and communicating with Deaf students using American Sign Language. Learning ASL question words helps initiate conversations. Learning the alphabet and other basic vocabulary improves communication between you and your students. An introduction to Deaf culture, also covered by this course, will help you better understand a student's needs.

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Community Outreach Coordinator

A community outreach coordinator works with the public to build relationships, provide resources, and advocate for community needs. This course may be useful if some of the members of your community use ASL. This role requires strong communication and interpersonal skills. The course will help you learn basic ASL vocabulary, sentence structure, and important elements of Deaf culture. The skills from this course build a foundation for more effective communication with the Deaf community, and helps you provide essential services and support to this population.

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School Counselor

A school counselor provides academic, social, and emotional support to students. Some students may be Deaf or hard of hearing. This course may be helpful in building foundations for communication with those students. By providing an introduction to American Sign Language, including the alphabet, question words, numbers, and basic vocabulary, this course will build a foundation to communicate more effectively. The course's introduction to Deaf culture helps ensure a school counselor can better support their students.

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Accessibility Specialist

An accessibility specialist works to ensure that environments and services are accessible to all people, including those who are Deaf or hard of hearing. This course may be helpful, as it provides a basic introduction to American Sign Language. Learning the alphabet, introductions, question words, and other vocabulary will provide the base to communicate with members of this community. Likewise, the course's introduction to Deaf culture helps to inform the accessibility practices you advocate for.

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Customer Service Representative

A customer service representative interacts with customers to provide information, answer questions, and resolve issues, and it is possible to interact with customers who are Deaf or hard of hearing. This course provides a foundation in American Sign Language. Learning the ASL alphabet, question words, how to introduce yourself, and numbers, gives you the basic communication skills necessary to assist Deaf customers more effectively. Basic phrases covered in this course can also improve your interactions with Deaf customers.

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Librarian

A librarian helps people find information and resources. This can sometimes involve people who are Deaf or hard of hearing. Having basic knowledge of American Sign Language from this course may be helpful to provide services to a wider population. This course teaches the basics of the ASL alphabet, question words, introductions, and numbers. This may be helpful in communicating with patrons who are Deaf or hard of hearing. The course's introduction to Deaf culture will also help you better understand those you serve.

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Speech-Language Pathologist

A speech language pathologist works with individuals who have communication disorders. This includes people who are Deaf or hard of hearing. While this course will not train you to be a speech language pathologist, it introduces the basics of American Sign Language. Learning the ASL alphabet, question words, how to introduce yourself, numbers, and basic vocabulary builds a foundation for communicating with clients. The course’s introduction to Deaf culture ensures a strong foundation for those working in this field. A masters degree in speech language pathology is typically required.

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Training Specialist

A training specialist develops and delivers training programs. This could be for a variety of topics and audiences, and could involve people who are Deaf or hard of hearing. This course may be useful, as it helps one build basic skills in American Sign Language. This course teaches the alphabet, question words, introductions, and numbers, which could be useful in interacting with and providing instruction to people who are Deaf or hard of hearing. Knowledge of Deaf culture, also covered in this course, will help inform the training you provide.

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Human Resources Specialist

A human resources specialist works with employees on a variety of matters including recruitment, onboarding, and employee relations. Some employees may be Deaf or hard of hearing. This course helps build a foundation in American Sign Language. Learning basic words and phrases such as the alphabet, numbers, and introductions, will help facilitate communication with employees. This course will give one the basic skills needed to interact and support Deaf or hard of hearing employees. The course's introduction to Deaf culture helps raise awareness.

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Reading list

We've selected two 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 Basic American Sign Language.

Learning American Sign Language: Beginning &...

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Widely used textbook for introductory ASL courses. It provides a comprehensive foundation in ASL grammar, vocabulary, and culture. Reviewing this book before the course can help students grasp the fundamental concepts more easily. It is particularly helpful for understanding sentence structure and the nuances of ASL grammar.

Learning American Sign Language DVD to accompany...

DVD-ROM

$$$

Putting Knowledge to Work

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This dictionary comprehensive resource for ASL vocabulary. It includes detailed illustrations and explanations of signs. While not essential for the basic course, it serves as a valuable reference for expanding your vocabulary and understanding the nuances of different signs. It is particularly useful for looking up signs that are not covered in the course materials.

Putting Knowledge to Work

Paperback

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Putting Knowledge to Work

Kindle Edition

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Basic American Sign Language

What's inside

Learning objectives

Syllabus

Traffic lights

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Reviews summary

Basic asl: foundations, vocabulary, and culture

Activities

Career center

Reading list

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