Fluent in American Sign Language?

Question

I am a student in health sciences and I would like to become fluent in ASL as it will be very beneficial to me in my career in the future (I am only a freshman in college right now). Is it too late for me to learn or will I, as an adult, still be able to become fluent? I know sometimes spoken languages are hard to learn as an adult. Also what is the best way to learn?...from a friend who is fluent, my aunt who is near fluent, my 9-year-old deaf cousin, an ASL teacher, class at a college...? Thanks for your help!

Answer 1

Learning ASL would be about the same difficulty as learning a spoken language. It's a language, you just use your hands instead of your mouth to "pronounce" the words. I didn't start learning foreign languages until I was 40. I don't think it's to late for you.

What is the best method to learn is mostly about you. If you are very self-motivated, you can learn it on your own. Just buy copy of the book, "Joy of Signing", and go for it. If you're not self-motivated, taking a class would be well worth the money.

Answer 2

As the previous answerer said, learning ASL will be as difficult as learning another spoken language. If you are a more visual person, it will be slightly easier, but to become truly fluent will take MUCH longer.

The best way to learn is...all of the above. USING the language with native speakers is the best way to learn though. Your friend and aunt, if hearing, are probably not native speakers unless they have deaf parents. Your 9 year old deaf cousin may be a native speaker, if they've been exposed to fluent signing since birth, but a 9 year old isn't totally fluent in any language.

Taking a class is a great way to learn the "proper" way to sign, but just as with all foreign languages, what it is taught in the classroom and actually used tends to be quiet different. The best thing to do is to start picking it up from people and in classes, and then go to deaf events where you can meet native signers. Good luck!

Answer 3

I took a class in college. The best way to become fluent is use. Also, one of our projects was to sign a song. This really really helped cement the signs for me. Since i took ASL a long time ago, if i am ever stuck for a word, I just remember the song and it comes back to me.

Answer 4

I have taken 3 semesters of ASL. I've forgotten a lot of it because I don't use it all the time. You can definitely become fluent...but you have to use it or you won't remember it all - just like any other language :)

Answer 5

That is just pure rubbish for someone not to believe that ANY form of Sign Language is not considered a second language. How dare they. Sign Language is what defines deaf culture. A fascinating, moving, and fun language and community of people. Perhaps you can send those buffons at your potential college a video of you signing, perhaps to some else, or even better, a video of you signing HELPING a deaf/hearing-impaired person. Prove to them that sign language is a very unique, developed, and animated language that needs to be noticed as a second language. Good luck!

Answer 6

good idea, i work in a hospital and i though the same thing. i looked into it and, the best way what Ive been told is all the above. they tell me its easy to learn, but the people who say that know ASL already. but I'm still going to try.

Answer 7

asl is really easy to learn. start out with the alphabet, then gradually go into harder signs. i learned it really fast and i am very fluent. i would suggest learning it from you deaf cousin or from your friend.
hope this helps :)

Answer 8

u can still learn. i just started 2 years ago and im better then all my friends