There has never been a better time to learn American Sign Language (ASL) with the range of resources available to all levels of learners. Below are some fun ways to learn.
- Local meets/events: There are ASL groups in every major metro area and many smaller areas that welcome both deaf and hearing people. A quick search through Facebook, Meetup or similar event sites can locate a group in your area.
- Online lessons: There are numerous websites that offer online courses, usually for a fee. A whole world of online videos exists for teaching anything from a single letter to conversation by topic for free using online search engines.
- ASL apps: Lingvano and Pocket Sign are two that have free lessons as well as low-cost options for unlimited access. Preply offers 1 to 1 tutoring for a fee, in addition to basic ASL lessons.
- Community College classes: Nearly every community college has affordable, tiered ASL courses. While gaining college credit, students learn with others at similar levels of signing expertise.
- Deaf Schools: Periodically, local schools for Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) students provide ASL classes for a fee. Rocky Mountain Deaf School (rmds.co) in Denver or The Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind (www.csdb.org) in Colorado Springs offer classes for both professionals and the general public. Typically, classes occur outside of school hours – on evenings or weekends. These classes are great ways to learn about DHH culture while developing signing skills. For information on schedules and availability, contact schools directly.