American Sign Language?

Question

Hey guys,

My friend and I want to take sign language but the only course available at our school conflicted with our schedules. Does anyone know any good ASL videos or software that teach sign language? Thanks.

Answer 1

Here are some excellent sites that are free:

a good site with large, descriptive drawings:

http://www.lifeprint.com/asl101/pages-layout/signs.htm

Good sites with alphabetized video clips:

http://www.aslpro.com/cgi-bin/aslpro/aslpro

http://commtechlab.msu.edu/sites/aslweb/browser.htm

Classifiers:

http://www.jal.cc.il.us/ipp/Classifiers/


The Gallaudet dictionary comes with a free DVDrom:
http://www.amazon.com/Gallaudet-Dictionary-American-Sign-Language/dp/1563682826/sr=8-1/qid=1166813157/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/103-6934139-1964646?ie=UTF8&s=books

Answer 2

I've just finished my second year of American Sign Language and there's nothing like getting it taught to you from an actual person from the deaf community.
When you learn any new language, you have to learn the community and cultural bits as well. Not just the language.
ASL is used more in the deaf community than SE--signed English. There's a huge difference between those two.
The ASL videos and websites are just there as supplementary material, not to teach. So I encourage you to wait so that you can actually talk with others, sign with others, in a class setting.
Doing it in the classroom is so totally different than doing it amongst deaf people and those who have deaf parents. Imagine what it will be like if you tried to teach yourself by watching videos that may use outdated signs or SE and not ASL.