Question:
Does anybody know a good computer tutorial, on learning sign language? Or
even a website that has lessons set up. I am interested in learning
Answer:
Others here have made good suggestions especially finding someone
to sign with. Check your news paper for clubs. Where I live, there is a
gathering of deaf people every week at local malls. There are several sites
on the web for learning ASL. Just search ASL and deaf using any search
engine.
I am a hearing signer and have several deaf friends including a coworker.
Here's how I learned ASL. The first thing anyone should do is learn the
alphabet. I got as many ASL books about it as I could find. I had a couple
of dictionary types and one called Learning American Sign Language by Carol
Padden
and Tom Humphries.(I hope I have the authors names correctly) I memorized
as many signs as I could and practiced them for a few months and then tried
to sign to the deaf coworkers at my place of employment. The book Learning
American sign language was important because it taught me that asl has it's
own set of syntax and grammar rules. Facial expression and body language
are all important as well.
The hardest part has been learning to interpret.
After nearly six years, I am beginning to be able to communicate almost
comfortably.
Although I am far from being fluent, I really enjoy signing. I think the
best part is that it is a visual language, which allows people to
communicate from across the room in a noisy environment without yelling:).
Let me know if you can't find the sites on the web. I can find them again
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