These Hands Can Talk! - Beginning American Sign Language 1:1
What's included
Meets on Demand
schedule meetings as needed45 mins
per sessionTeacher support
Class Experience
Beginner Level
Ready to learn a new language? In this class your learner will be introduced to American Sign Language, a beautiful visual language that makes use of the hands and face to communicate. We will learn the basics of ASL communication including fingerspelling, the do's and don'ts of deaf communication, and basic greeting signs, colors, numbers, food and family signs. We'll touch on a bit of ASL word order and grammar and note the ways in which ASL differs from English. Class sessions can last anywhere between 1 to 10 weeks. PLEASE NOTE that depending on the time of year, a full ten-week class that meets on a weekly basis may not be available, so it is best to contact me before enrolling. Below is a breakdown of each weekly session up to the full 10 weeks: Week 1: Greeting and time of day Signs and a bit of ASL history. - We will go over a bit of ASL history, and the do's and don'ts of ASL communication. - We will learn greeting signs pertaining to the time of day. - We will conclude class with an interactive game. Week 2: Fingerspelling - We will work on fingerspelling the entire manual alphabet along with corresponding signs to go along with each letter. - We will review the content from last class and apply the newly gained skill of fingerspelling to introducing oneself in ASL. - We will conclude class with an interactive game. Week 3: Colors - We will review the content from last class by introducing ourselves to each other in ASL. - We will learn how to sign colors and practice our fingerspelling receptive skills by signing the colors and recognizing the fingerspelled color words. - We will conclude class with an interactive game. Week 4: Numbers - We will review the color signs learned in the last class. - We will learn to sign the numbers up to 21 (there's a fun reason why we stop on 21 instead of 20!) - We will conclude class with an interactive game. Week 5: Family - We will review the number signs learned in the last class. - We will learn signs pertaining to family and will practice our fingerspelling receptive skills by recognizing fingerspelled family signs. - We will conclude class with an interactive game. Week 6: Feelings and Review - We will review the family signs learned in the last class. - We will learn signs pertaining to feelings and will practice our fingerspelling receptive skills by recognizing fingerspelled food signs. - We will review the content learned over the course of the class through an interactive game. Week 7: Food signs - We will review the family signs learned in the last class. - We will learn signs pertaining to food and will practice our fingerspelling receptive skills by recognizing fingerspelled food signs. - We will conclude class with an interactive game. Week 8: Animals - We will review the food signs learned in the last class. - We will learn animal signs. - We will conclude class with an interactive game Week 9: Clothes - We will review the Animal signs learned in the last class. - We will learn clothes signs. - We will conclude with an interactive game Week 10: School and jobs - We will review the clothes signs learned in the last class. - We will learn school and job signs. - We will conclude with an interactive game
Learning Goals
Students will learn the basics of ASL communication.
Other Details
Supply List
A sheet of paper and a writing utensil may be required during some sessions.
Language of Instruction
English (Level: A1)
External Resources
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
Sources
Information concerning ASL history will be referenced from Gallaudet University's "Through Deaf Eyes" documentary and Bill Vicar's page on his online university, Lifeprint.
Through Deaf Eyes - https://youtu.be/PL5d8kyZUQk?si=0_nQKoH7xyERFwYJ
Bill Vicar's ASL History page - https://www.lifeprint.com/asl101/pages-layout/history1.htm
An ASL fingerspelling practice site by Bill Vicars - https://asl.ms/
Fingerspelling receptive practice YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@5GuysASL
(Receptive skill videos may be shown in class, but students are not required to access the link themselves)
Teacher expertise and credentials
2 Degrees
Bachelor's Degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences from Drexel University
Associate's Degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences from Community College of Philadelphia
I started learning ASL when I was 2 years old and developed a passion for it ever since. I continued my involvement with the deaf community and learning ASL through attending meetups with Deaf individuals, self-study on Dr. Bill Vicar's (well-known and respected deaf ASL teacher) online university, and a community college class.
Reviews
Live 1-on-1 Lessons
$45
per sessionMeets on demand
45 min
Completed by 3 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 5-18