IN THIS COURSE, you’re going to learn lots of essential signs and phrases used in parent and child environments. You’ll learn each individual sign step by step with clear explanations and examples of hand shape formation. The signs will be combined to form phrases, sentences, and questions. Along the way, we’ll experiment with extra vocabulary and practice switching between statements and questions. You’ll begin signing immediately and get lots of hands-on practice. There are multiple testing and review sections to guarantee improvement of your signing and recognition skills.

*** This course is designed to INCLUDE complete beginners without any prior knowledge of ASL. Previous ASL skills are welcome but NOT required.

IN THIS COURSE:

• Students will learn how to sign and understand essential parent and child phrases, expressions, and questions.

• Students will begin signing immediately with clear, step by step instructions of hand shape and hand placement.

• Students will learn correct facial expressions for asking “YES/NO” and “Wh” questions in American Sign Language.

• Students will get lots of practice using appropriate facial expressions to ensure clear ASL communication.

• Students will race a timer to improve proficiency as they review essential phrases and complete sentences.

• Students will see English sentences translated into ASL using ASL grammar rules.

• Students will learn signs individually to ensure comprehension, correct hand shape, and hand position.

• Students will be tested on their ability to sign and recognize material taught in the lessons.

AFTER TAKING THIS COURSE:

• Students will be able to sign and understand many useful parent/child phrases.

• Students will be able to appropriately switch between statements and questions.

• Students will be confident using facial expressions to boost their communication.

• Students will be more proficient as they continue improving their ASL skills.

QUESTIONS:

What is the main focus of this course?

• This course focuses on learning to sign and understand useful phrases and expressions commonly used in parent/child environments. Students will learn useful phrases, sign complete sentences, and communicate questions in ASL with appropriate facial expressions.

Do I need to have prior knowledge or experience with ASL before taking this class?

• No. This course is designed to include complete beginners without any prior knowledge of ASL. All necessary signs are taught step by step in the course.

Will this course test me on what is taught?

• Yes. This course contains multiple review and testing sections where students have the opportunity to demonstrate their ASL signing and recognition skills.

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR:

• Hello! My name is Michael. When I was three years old, my younger brother became sick with spinal meningitis. In the process, my brother became deaf with an almost complete hearing loss. This difficult situation provided a unique opportunity for my family and I to become fluent in American Sign Language (ASL). Unlike some deaf children, my brother was not sent away to a deaf or hard of hearing school. He grew up with us, his hearing family, and we were active in the deaf community.

• As a police officer and federal investigator, I often used ASL to communicate with and interpret for witnesses, victims, and perpetrators. I decided to create ASL courses because it’s a useful and practical skill to have. Like learning any language, it opens your mind and creates the ability to communicate with a whole new group of people.