Frequently Asked Questions About Online ASL

With the advent of distance education, you can now learn just about anything if you have internet access. American Sign Language is no exception. With online ASL courses, you can now master the intricacies of sign language from the comfort of your home. Of course, ASL is a complex language, and you might be wondering just how it can be taught properly online.

To answer your questions, we’ve come up with this FAQ about online ASL.

• What format are online ASL courses taught in? The best online ASL courses use videos to teach students signs. That’s because American Sign Language uses 3 dimensional hand motions as well as facial expressions to facilitate communication. ASL can’t be properly taught through traditional print illustrations. So, when signing up for online ASL, make sure you course provides videos with every lesson.
• What are the benefits of learning ASL online? When you take an online American Sign Language course, you’ll enjoy a host of benefits. Most notably, you can learn at your own place. This is a huge advantage over traditional, in-person ASL classes. Also, when you take an online ASL course, you can work it around your busy schedule. Lastly, signing up for an online class gives you access to the best instructors no matter where you’re located. So, even if you’re in a community that doesn’t offer ASL classes, you can still get quality instruction if you have the internet.
• Who can take an online ASL course? Everyone can enjoy learning ASL online. Whether you’re a deaf student, a parent of a deaf child, a teacher, someone looking to become a certified ASL interpreter, or you just love learning, online ASL instruction can help. The great thing about taking ASL online is you can pick and choose which lessons are right for you. From beginner to advanced level lessons, you can learn it all online.
• Why should you learn ASL? A common misconception is that only deaf students and parents of deaf children need to learn ASL. That’s simply not true. Everyone can benefit from learning this beautiful language. You could choose to learn ASL as a way to give back to your community. For example, you could use your knowledge of American Sign Language to interpret church services for the hearing impaired. Or you could simply spend time at a local school for the deaf. But that’s not all. You can also choose to learn ASL for the sake of your career. There is always a demand for certified American Sign Language interpreters.
• How long does the course last? One great thing about online ASL lessons is that it’s not like a traditional class that lasts a few weeks. You simply pay a low monthly subscription, and you can access unlimited lessons for as long as you subscribe. This allows you to further your ASL education beyond what you’d be able to accomplish in a typical local classroom course.

Hopefully, this article helped demystify online ASL. Just always make sure you choose an online educator with strong experience successfully teaching Sign Language courses.