self improvement

How To Learn The Basic Words In Sign Language

It is not that difficult to learn some of the basic words in sign language and to be able to communicate with a deaf or partially hearing person at a simple level.

No, sign language is not a difficult language to learn, it is the ability to remember the sign actions that is the hard part.

As with learning techniques in general you will discover what techniques work best for you when matching up a sign action with the corresponding word.

The method I used to learn was purely by using tried and tested methods and regular practice. You will soon forget a lot of the words if you don’t keep practicing and using the language on a regular basis.

I practice with flash cards, communicating with other people who are learning sign language and via an online study course.

You can find plenty of free information and help online and I certainly recommend you do so. I personally started off by looking through the various websites and learning a good deal about sign language. But the most beneficial product for me was by far following a step by step program in my own time.

You can find out about the online course I used, at my personal blog: Learn-Sign-Language-Fast.com

I have also written more articles on sign language that you may find interesting and have uploaded some excellent video tutorials demonstrating dozens of basic words.

Just as people without any hearing loss learn the basic words when they visit a foreign country, sign language is no different.

The majority of people will want to learn the more commonly used phrases such as greetings, the time, directions etc. and then move on towards more intermediate words and phrases.

It is not as easy to learn sign language by reading a description or looking at a picture, than it is to watch a video of someone doing it. Video tutorials are becoming very popular and are a really good method of learning.

There are now plenty of places on the internet where you will find such videos to learn sign language, like YouTube and MySpace.

If it’s a certain word you wish to learn, there are some very good online dictionaries that provide video and/or written descriptions of signed words. Nearly all of them are for American Sign Language.

This is a list of just a few I have discovered:

* HandSpeak.com/sign * Lifeprint.com * Signingsavvy.com * Aslpro.com * Commtechlab.msu.edu/Sites/aslweb/browser.htm

Learning these basic words will provide you with a good platform to learning sign language. And because there is plenty of online help and information, you have an ideal opportunity to learn this exciting new language.

Learning American Sign Language (ASL) is not difficult to learn, especially for native English speakers and should not take very long to reach a competent standard.

To understand and communicate using sign language sets you apart form so many people and is a skill that is not just admired and respected, but can bring so much relief and satisfaction to others.

It really is surprising how many places you find yourself in having to communicate using sign, once you have learnt this new language.

The satisfaction of being able to converse with someone who is deaf, with even a basic level of sign language is just fantastic.

Believe me, if I can do it, so can you! If you want to learn ASL online just as I did, I can highly recommend it.

I’m rooting for ya!

Sarah Lancaster decided to learn a few basic words in sign language so that she could communicate with her infant nephew, who was predominantly deaf. For further information on how to learn ASL online and to download a FREE 6 Part Sign Language Course, check out Sarahs blog at: Learn-Sign-Language-Fast.com