How can I learn sign language?

Question

My friend is deaf and I want to learn sign language so I can talk to her. Where can I find information about this?

Answer 1

You don' t give enough details. Sign language isn't universal, so you would have to be careful that you know what you're trying to learn is the kind of sign language your friend uses. In the United States they use American Sign Language. Australian sign language is totally different and is called Australian Sign Language. British Sign Language is used in England/Great Britain. Other countries that speak English do not have the same sign language as we have. English Sign Language used in the U.S. is actually most like French Sign Language than anything else because the people who came here to set up sign language here were French. Just look up French Sign Language for their sign language, American Sign Language for the sign language in the U.S., British Sign Language for England, Australian Sign Language for Australia, etc. It depends what country your friend is from.

Answer 2

Well I'm only 11 so I don't take classes, but the way I learned sign language was actually from my deaf friends and some of their interpreters. I also learned from my deaf dad a lot of it, and from my mom who's an interpreter and knows fluent sign language. You can try books but it's a lot easier to just ask someone who knows sign language to teach you. I can now talk to my deaf friends. But if you want to learn sign language online the best site I've seen so far is aslpro.com

Answer 3

There are lots of books that can teach you sign language pretty well. My church does interpretive movement (using dance and sign language). The pastor's daughter is in charge of the choreography and my daughter is a part of the team. They study sign from a book, then they put it together with ballet-type movements. It's really beautiful. But anyway, my daughter is very young and she learns from the book.

Try Amazon.com and search for sign language books. Look in the used ones for a better deal.

Answer 4

I went to a local collage that was offering non-credit courses. Some even have credited courses. You can also get some great books and videos. Random House Webster's has a great sign language dictionary that shows you how to sign the most popular words.

Answer 5

If you use Yahoo search, you will probably hit a number of sites that show you pictures of the hand signs for many of the English words and expressions.

However, I find that it is rather difficult to learn sign language from books. I learnt it by enrolling for a course in my locality's School for the Deaf. The other good source is of course from the hearing impaired. Most of them appreciated my efforts in trying to communicate with them. They were therefore rather patient in teaching and guiding me. I am sure if your friend hears of your desire to learn the language, he/she will be most happy to guide you.

Nowadays, most of them use email and cellphone short messaging systems to communicate. Maybe one day, sign language will take a backseat.

Answer 6

hmm... maybe you can buy a sign language book, then practice it with her. or ask her to guide you

Answer 7

There are books that you can get from the library or look on line. Good luck!