Learning to sign is easier than ever, thanks to the Internet.
The visual language, designed to aid the deaf or hard of hearing, is a set of gesticulations and hand movements that correspond to the spoken word.
There are numerous ways to learn American Sign Language (ASL) outside the old classroom method. From free online lessons to video tutorials, a world of possibilities is open for those aspiring to teach themselves this hands-on language.
1. YouTube videos
One of the easiest ways to learn quick sign language is through YouTube tutorials. The video hosting site has dozens of teachers serving free lessons on how to sign the alphabet, common phrases, numbers and more.
Dr. Bill Vicars: The hard-of-hearing ASL expert has numerous degrees in deaf-centric studies, according to his bio on Lifeprint. His love of the language is evident on his YouTube page, which hosts a plethora of ASL lessons.
Expert Village: The YouTube channel is home to lessons on pretty much anything, and is a great source of ASL videos for beginners. There's an extensive series on common phrases, the alphabet and numbers.
My Smart Hands: This channel is technically designed for young girls, but it's got easy usability and animated features that give ASL learning a childlike twist.
2. Web resources
ASL Pro: Don't let the site's old school appearance fool you. ASL Pro is a free tool with a wealth of quizzes, fingerspelling practices and a super detailed dictionary complete with video examples for how to sign hundreds of words.
Start ASL: This free resource comes with workbooks, a dictionary with videos and an alphabet. In addition, the site offers up background sections on the history of ASL and deaf culture, making your lessons well-rounded.
Curious: Sign in with Facebook or email to use Curious' services. The site has a detailed set of free videos showing how to sign simple things, such as greetings and introductions. For those willing to pay a little more (bundle offers range from $20 to $50), there are interactive features with quizzes and lessons.
Keep a sign language lesson in your back pocket by downloading an app onto your smartphone. On the go lessons can help you stay refreshed on little things, like how to sign a certain number or letter.
ASL Coach: This free iOS app keeps things short and sweet, teaching you how to master the alphabet.
Want to test out your skills? We learned the ASL alphabet and gave fingerspelling a shot. Can you figure out what we spelled out in this Vine video? Answer below.
Answer: Mashable rules!
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