ASL Education
September is Deaf Awareness Month. What better way to celebrate than by ramping up your ASL education?! We have compiled a list of classes that can help you discover the magic of ASL this fall. Whether you prefer to learn through daily posts on social media, or through in-person or virtual classes, whether you are a complete beginner looking to start or whether you are a seasoned ASL speaker looking to practice, we’ve got you covered!
We encourage you to follow these course creators on social media for a daily dose of ASL education. You may also want to check out the fantastic resources we have to help you alongside your studies! Moreover, this great article lists additional resources you may be interested in.
ASL courses are a great way to learn for persons of all levels and ages! Some prefer in-person, but others prefer virtual courses. Some prefer set times, and others prefer self-paced courses. Whatever your preference is, we hope you’ll find what you’re hoping for below!
1
Beginner Course With ASLMeredith
Virtual course – self-paced – $179
15% off till the end of September with coupon code ASLPICBOOKS!
Learn ASL from the ground up with ASLMeredith, a certified instructor of ASL. You can go from zero to conversational in just a few weeks. Learn the foundational vocabulary and grammar needed to begin communicating—confidently!—using ASL.
2
Black Bear Healing Home’s 5-class Course for Parents of Children Aged 0–5
Virtual or in-person – Monday to Friday, 9:30 AM–3 PM EST – Pay what you can ($50–200)
Private sessions can be set up according to your schedule, either through Zoom, or in person in Lanark County, Ontario or west-end Ottawa. You may inquire about weekend and evening availability.
3
BirthSmarter – Sign Language for Littles: Using ASL to Boost Communication in the First Two Years of Life
Virtual class – October 22, 12 PM–1 PM EST – $50 (alternative pricing available with pay-what-you-can options)
This class is a fantastic introduction to sign language for babies!
4
Sign Club For Children
Virtual class – self-paced – FREE for a limited time.
Sign Language Club is for children and students. It is open to students with no prior ASL exposure. The purpose of the club is to bring awareness to the language through fun, engaging activities. This can be used for an after-school Sign Club, homeschool curriculum, daycare activity, and much more! Hurry to get it free while it is in beta testing! But no worries, as a member at ASL Teaching Resources, you’ll still be able to access all the fun and much more for your kids.
5
ASL LIT & Conversation with Rafie (advanced)
Virtual class – Mondays & Wednesdays, 6–7 PM EST – $37 per class (discounts for packages)
This course focuses on the major grammatical features of American Sign Language (ASL) to develop communicative and interactive competencies in the culture and language of the Deaf. It includes a focus on ASL literature by introducing students to ASL storytelling, such as ABC Stories, Number Stories, Classifier Stories, Handshape Stories, Narratives, and ASL poetry. Students will:
Manage more complicated interactions using expanded American Sign Language (ASL) grammatical structures.
Demonstrate and be able to use Classifiers in a signed story.
Develop analysis, receptive, and expressive skills in ASL storytelling.
Students may choose once/week if needed, though classes will build as we believe that meeting at least twice/week will improve language competency.
6
ASL 1+2 with Susan (beginner, advanced beginner)
Virtual class – Mondays, 7:30–8:30 PM EST – $37 per class (discounts for packages)
This course introduces the basics of American Sign Language (ASL) and is designed for students who have a basic knowledge of ASL (or are just beginning their journey). Learning will be approached via visual-gestural communication techniques, visual discrimination, and visual memory exercises with emphasis on learning to think in pictures for expressive and receptive communication. ASL questions, commands, and other simple sentence structures are introduced to develop rudimentary conversational skills in ASL. Information about the Deaf Community and Deaf Culture will be introduced.
7
8ASL Fingerspelling ++ with Susan (mixed level)
Virtual class – Wednesdays, 7:15–8:15 PM EST – $37 per class (discounts for packages)
This course is designed to help students of all levels to develop comprehension and pro fingerspelling skills used in American Sign Language. We will expand the emphasis on using fingerspelled and abbreviated words as well as lexicalized signs in ASL within a range of contexts. Classifiers, idioms, and ASL gloss will also be explored along with Deaf Culture. This course can be taken on its own or as a helpful supplement to other classes.
8
Creative ASL
Virtual class – Wednesdays, 4:30–5:15 PM EST – $37 per class (discounts for packages)
An interactive class where sign language is taught through conversation, games, music, and literature while supporting pragmatic language, socialization, and more.
9
ASL Playgroup for Deaf and hearing toddlers through school age
Virtual - Fridays 5:15 – 6pm for 10 weeks, Sept. 16 – Nov. 18 (10 weeks)
This special class provides a place for little ones to naturally practice emerging conversation and interactive play through ASL, songs, movement, and stories. Take learning to the next level while socializing with Deaf and hearing friends, and discover the joy of language. Toddlers through school age are welcome!
NOTE: Mybabyfingers (#5–9 in this list) also offer a sliding scale for families in need and special accommodations for persons with disabilities. Don’t hesitate to inquire about this! Our classes are typically 10 weeks (the Creative ASL for kids with disabilities is ongoing).
10
Fingerspelling 101 with Ashley Clark
Virtual class – self-paced – $25
This is a fantastic course for beginners to get started with fingerspelling! Self-paced and affordable, this class gives students lifetime access and a full refund if you are unhappy with the course within 30 days of purchase. A great deal all around!
Social media: Instagram
I hope you will take advantage of these amazing opportunities to further your ASL education. If you have any suggestions for classes to add to this list, don’t hesitate to contact me!
Thank you, we hope you are inspired to join a class today!
You may also enjoy:
American Sign Language is a beautiful and powerful language, an untapped resource with limitless potential.
Every child has a gift to give
ASL Picture Books is helping them discover it.
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