ASL Beginner-Level Mini-lessons

An edutainmental series of these self-study mini-lessons are offered for learners who are interested in learning ASL as a second language (L2) online and who are new to ASL.

These self-paced, self-learning lessons are for your personal and educational interests only whether you are an ASL student, a parent of deaf children, or an individual in a remote area. You can enjoy learning at your own pace.

These mini-lessons are a paid section, currently work in progress. A sign-up may be available in the future.

This section is being renovated.

A word of advice: online lessons are, in any way, no substitute for face-to-face instruction and live interaction in real life. I strongly recommend that you take a face-to-face course to attain a high level of communicative competency. However, these self-study lessons may be beneficial supplementary materials or extra practice for ASL students and individuals alike.

These online tutorials are only a scratch or a small amount from real life classroom where you would acquire the language more, consume a lot of information, practice live interactive communication, turn-taking, and so on. These lessons do not necessarily reflect the same from your real life instructor's curriculum.

The most efficient communicative competency is two-way interactive communication with a native or near-native instructor and fluent signers in Deaf/ASL community. It's an opportunity where you can acquire the target language in an immersive environemnt, develop and use your language through two-way interactive conversations and meaning negotiation, receive corrective feedback, develop your language structure, and understand subtle pragmatics, contextual meanings, and other complex aspects.

Syllabus, awareness quiz, homework

Learning strategies and survival vocabulary.

Introducing oneself and fingerspelling name.

NAME, WHAT?, WHO; all alphabetical letters; NICE, MEET-YOU
Using a wh-question signal.
Fingerspelling one's name.
Understanding pronouns and spatial referencing.
Pointing; acting out: strategies of asking what the sign is for.
SIGN, WHAT; BOOK, CHAIR, DOOR, COMPUTER, PAPER, etc.
Understanding a basic OSV structure.
[action] IX-me #DO++ WHAT?
[object]/\ YOU [verb] (giving a command)
Tell when: IN-PAST/BEFORE, NOW, FUTURE/WILL
Counting 1 to 12. NUMBER, NEXT, BEFORE/PREVIOUS
Farewell: BYE.

Greetings, pronouns, etc.

Asking what means, disscussing, GIVE, etc.

Topic: Stategies on asking what a sign means and asking for clarification. Vocabulary: MEANING, EXPLAIN MORE, EXPLAIN AGAIN, CONTEXT+DEPENDENT or DEPEND+CONTEXT... Topic: Use a verb inflection for GIVE.

Idenifying a person; colors; basic vocabulary for people

Identifying a person; colors

Identifying a person: basic description and basic colors.
WHO: WOMAN, MAN, GIRL, BOY, PEOPLE, PERSON.
SHIRT, PANTS, GLASSES, HAT
COLOR, BLUE, YELLOW, etc.

Identifying a person; colors.
Needs and wants; GIVE, ASK, TELL

Topic: Expressing basic needs and wants.

Count 10-30, how many years; learning ASL.

Talking about weather.
OUTSIDE, SNOW, RAIN, NICE, CLOUDY, SUNNY, etc.
Seasons of the year: SPRING, FALL, WINTER, SUMMER.
Talking about home.
HOME, HOUSE, #APT, #CONDO, ROOMMATE etc.
LIVE WITH, #PET
Talking about non-numeral age.
NEW, YOUNG, OLD, VERY-OLD,
Talking about studies.
STUDY, GRADUATE
Talking about work: basic occupations.
WORK, SERVE, CLEAN, COOK, etc.
Work in progress
Count cardinal numbers from one through 100.
- Tell age.
Count cardinal numbers from 1 to 30. Review 1-10. Introduce HOW-MANY, PLUS.
Tell frequency: days and weeks.
Work in progress
Topic: Talking about home country. Voc: BIRTH, HISTORY Numbers: Tell a year. Culture: Watch the documentary Audism Unveiled.
Shopping for clothes.
BUY, PAY, COST
Tell a price in dollars and cents.
Describing people.
APPEARANCE, TALL, SHORT, SLIM, CHUBBY, etc.
Oral exam: tips
Final exam: study tips

Got any question or a tutorial request? Send your email to Handspeak. Got some memorable anecdotes, learning tips, and/or invaluable advice to share with others students and instructors? Instructors are welcome to contribute tutorial posts, tips, and/or ideas. Email me.