Learn Sign Language Online

Can't get to a class and need to learn sign language online? Scroll down below as we've located some online resources to help you get started.

Have you been signing with your little one and suddenly realize that you have caught the signing bug? You are not alone! ASL is such a beautiful language that it is not uncommon to discover that you want to learn more than just baby signing. We find that this happens with a large majority of parents and caregivers who begin their sign language journey as a method of early communication but quickly fall in love with the language as their little ones begin signing and asking for more. The language seems to be addictive and the more you are exposed to it, the more you might find yourself searching for ways to expand your knowledge beyond basic sign language vocabulary.

We've been there, too! While it is always a good idea to take an ASL class that offers personal interaction, we understand that it is not always possible to do that. Some communities do not offer formal ASL instruction so locating a class in your area might prove to be a difficult task. To that end, we have searched the internet in an attempt to locate some resources where you can learn sign language online from sources we believe to be reliable. We hope these will at least help get you started on your journey to expand your ASL learning beyond baby sign language.

Among our favorite resources to learn sign language online is ASL University, also known as Lifeprint. The site is a free online curriculum resource for American Sign Language students, instructors, interpreters, and parents of deaf children. The site has two ASL Level courses for a total of 30 lessons. In addition, it has practices for fingerspelling and numbers as well as practice quizzes. Dr. Vicars (the founder and webmaster) is an associate-professor of American Sign Language and Deaf Studies at a university in Sacramento, California (he calls it his "day job!). Dr. Vicars is also Deaf so the signs you see on his website are truly reliable as they come from someone whose primary language is ASL.

Another fantastic website is called Handspeak. The creator and webmaster is native Deaf so the signs shown are all ASL. The site contains articles, blogs, information about Deaf Culture as well as an ASL word of the day and phrase of the week. Handspeak is a paid subscription site; however, a few sections of the site are free including the expansive dictionary, the word of the day, and the phrase of the week.

Start American Sign Language is a wonderful website where you can learn sign language online. A great thing about this site is that it is an absolute FREE resource. In addition to interesting information about Deaf Culture and history, the site provides free ASL classes online. There are three ASL levels, each containing approximately 12 units along with a downloadable workbook for each unit. The site also contains units on fingerspelling. If you are looking to get your feet wet with learning ASL, Start American Sign Language is a great place to start.

Signing Online offers four levels of online courses. It is a paid subscription, but the cost if very reasonable. It is video based learning that leads you through a step-by-step process of learning vocabulary along with the grammar and syntax of ASL. It also shows conversations signed in ASL, which is a great way to test your receptive skills. The site allows interested visitors to look at trial versions of their course tools which includes the dictionary, glossary and information on fingerspelling and numbers.