If you are deaf or you have a loved one who is deaf, then you will surely be able to understand the struggles and pains of those conditions. It can be difficult to communicate with deaf people if you are not fluent in American sign language. To eliminate such hurdles, learning ASL can be the only way. This article will talk about some of the best ASL courses you can find online and how they can help you expand your knowledge.
ASL not only helps you communicate better with your close ones but is also a valuable skill to own. You can add this as a marketable skill on your resume, and it will surely put you on top. Being able to communicate with the deaf community helps you understand their problems. You might be able to reach out to them better and communicate better and also help them. Of course, there are numerous benefits of being fluent in sign language.
8 Best Online ASL Courses
1. Gallaudet University Online ASL courses
The Gallaudet University Online ASL courses are on top of the list for many reasons. But mainly because Gallaudet University specializes in education for the deaf. Their online courses are specifically designed to eliminate the communication barrier between the deaf and those that are not impaired. While these courses are not free, they are one of the best free sign language classes on the internet.
The courses last for a total of eight weeks. They are offered as ASL I and ASL II twice every semester. You can even learn through these courses during the summer. But keep in mind that they are offered only once during the summer. These sign language classes are non-degree credit.
Throughout the course of this program, the students will engage in various activities. They will be required to make partners and work as a pair in some of the activities as well. All this is going to be done through ASL pals. Paired activities have many benefits and will enhance the group and communication skills of the students.
The students will get weekly assignments, and they will be required to meet the deadlines weekly. So the students are going to be engaged and busy throughout the course of the program. Keep in mind that it isn’t an easy-going course that will be covered just by going through the lectures. Every student must participate and submit all relevant assignments and assignments.
The students are taught courses like fingerspelling and visual-gestural communication. So I can assure you that this online ASL course will teach the students a lot about sign language in an interactive way. It’s going to be tough but worth it. It is not a free course, so you will have to keep the registration fee in mind before doing anything.
Key Strengths
- Interactive
- Good curriculum
- Flexibility
- Fruitful
2. American Sign Language University Online ASL Courses (ASLU)
If you’re on a budget and still want to learn sign language, then I believe ASLU might be the right option for you. They provide low-cost, yet very effective online classes for both beginners and pros. It is possibly one of the best ASL courses for beginners.
The ASLU courses are prepared and delivered by professionals who know exactly what they are doing. They will explain it all in a clear and understandable way. Dr. Bill Vicars is the man responsible for the creation of this course. He happens to be deaf as well. And who can understand the struggles of being deaf more than a deaf person? Perhaps this is what makes the course so engaging and interesting.
The ASLU course can be used through either self-study or a proper course. The proper course with interactive sessions is a paid course. All the curriculum material is very well planned and structured. Dr. Bill has done his best to ensure that students get the most out of this course and end up being fully educated on sign language.
If you are on a budget and are okay with self-studying, then you can get all the course material free of charge. But if you need a teacher or instructor to help you out, then you can go for the paid course, which costs $483. So it’s a dual package!
Details of all the lessons can be found on the main page of the website. The course is pretty easy to follow, thanks to the instructional video provided by Dr. Bill Vicars. Everything is explained thoroughly, and you can check out the names of all the courses and what they cover. A very comprehensive overall demonstration is given.
Whether you are a teacher or student, the ASLU online course can prove to be very beneficial for both. As a teacher, you can use the course materials to give your students a better understanding of sign language. Use the structured curriculum as a supplement to your teaching, and it will help your students a lot.
Key Strengths
- Both free and paid
- Instructors available
- Instructional video
- Well structured
- Professional
If you’re looking for the best free sign language online course, or simply just the best online ASL courses, then the ASLU will not fall short in any category.
3. SkillShare ASL Online Course
The SkillShare Online ASLclass is also one of the best free online ASL courses that you can find on the internet. It provides you with a comprehensive and full-fledged understanding of sign language and its usage. You will be able to communicate with deaf people much more easily using this course.
The SkillShare Online ASL class is a slow and easy-going course which gives students ample time to learn each and everything. Students will not be overburdened by complexity or overwhelmed by numerous assignments. For example, each alphabet will be taught slowly so as to let it sink in.
All the hand signs are observed slowly and from all angles, so there will be no confusion when talking to an actual deaf person. The students will be able to understand hand positioning much better in this way. The course will not just be about listening to online recorded lectures. In fact, a number of assignments and activities will be assigned to the students, which will boost their understanding.
Without a doubt, activities help students apply their knowledge better. And the SkillShare Online ASL class is one of the best free online courses in this regard as it gives students a lot of activities and slow learning. The SkillShare Online ASL class also consists of tests that will assess the performances of students. Tests also make students more focused on the whole process.
By the end of this course, a lot of learning outcomes will be achieved. Students will: know the alphabet from memory, will be able to recognize multiple words and letters, will be able to fingerspell words and be more educated on all sign language uses.
The SkillShare Online ASL class leaves you with a strong foundation of sign language. The students will be clear about the basics and much ready to pursue advanced courses in ASL.
Key Strengths
- Free
- Activities and assignments
- Slow
- Tests
- Good foundation establishment
The SkillShare Online ASL class provides you with one of the best online ASL class experiences. If you are deaf or know someone who is deaf, then this online course will help you communicate with them much better.
4. ASL Deafined Online Course
The ASL Deafined Online Course takes an even more structured approach to ASL learning. The best thing about this course is that it has divided learners into categories and takes a different learning approach for every category. For example, you get a different kind of curriculum or methodology if you can hear but are learning for your child.
Lessons are divided, and you get a different vocabulary set for each group. The ASL Deafined Online Course provides you with a dictionary in which you can look up upto 15,000 different words and see how to express them in sign language through videos. The videos give an exact and accurate depiction of how to express these words using sign language.
Needless to say, there is a lot to learn through the ASL Deafined Online Course. The “My vocabulary” option lets you save the words that you know already. Apart from this, you will also have plenty of theme activities and lessons to get you going. Depending on your category, you will get several activities that will help you apply your ASL knowledge. The best thing about activities is how they test your retention. You can’t expect to learn much merely through reading. Activities are a good way to apply and test your retention.
Every learner gets a progress chart. This progress chart will help you take a look at where you are at and how far you have come. It also helps you assess yourself and see where you need improvement. Of course, every learning activity is pointless unless you keep track of your progress. The ASL Deafined Online Course has been designed in a unique and smart way to help you keep track of yourself.
You can take this course through Deafined’s app. The fee is $36 for one year. But if you’re a teacher, it comes down to $12! If you are unsure about what you are about to jump into, then you can have the 3-day trial. Observe what it’s like, and if you think this course will be beneficial to you, get the subscription.
Key Strengths
- Free 3-day trial
- Progress charts
- Video dictionary
- Strong curriculum
- Structured learning
- Theme activities
The ASL Deafined Online Course is definitely one of the best online classes you can opt for. It provides users with an opportunity to be more active in the deaf community through fluent communication.
5. UDEMY American Sign Language Basics Online Course
Sign language can seem so complicated and difficult. That is why most of us are hesitant to learn it. All the new concepts can be overwhelming. This won’t be much of a problem if you are taking the UDEMY American Sign Language Basics Online Course, though. This course was designed to facilitate beginners and make the learning process less frightening.
The UDEMY American Sign Language Basics Online Course is taught by a professional ASL instructor who goes by the name JP Cappalonga. He has constructed this course in such a way that by the end, all the basics of ASL will be crystal clear. You will learn things like basic phrases, introductions, fingerspelling, counting, and much more.
The course requires you only to watch the videos that have been attached and practice. You do not need to purchase additional learning tools or take into account books and other materials. It’s pretty simple: watch and practice. After every lesson, students will be asked to practice what they studied and apply it.
The UDEMY American Sign Language Basics Online Course is a very interactive course. You will be introduced to many deaf people and be asked to communicate with them. This will let you know more about deaf culture and allow you to be more active in the deaf community. So the UDEMY American Sign Language Basics Online Course is a very fulfilling and heartwarming course.
The UDEMY American Sign Language Basics Online Course is a highly rated course having a rating of 4.4. This is proof that it is not useless and will surely help the students achieve a better understanding of deaf culture.
Key Strengths
- Deaf culture insights
- Interactive
- Highly rated
- Good curriculum
- Simple
- No tools needed
The UDEMY American Sign Language Basics Online Course is a good value for money. If you have a deaf person in your circle, then this course will be helpful to them and you both.
6. ASL Meredith
In the category of the best ASL courses for beginners, the ASL Meredith is perhaps the best option. It is an online ASL course that is designed to be “self-paced” for the people, and it is designed fundamentally for learning the core foundations of conversation, grammar, and vocabulary.
The creator of this course is a certified ASL instructor, having a Master’s degree in teaching ASL to people as a foreign language. The creator has a lot of teaching experience in terms of in-person classes and online teaching. With a diverse experience in teaching ASL, the course that was designed is absolutely perfect for beginners as they will be able to grasp the lessons with ease.
The courses of ASL Meredith are self-guided, and therefore, the students have the liberty to take as much time as they need, according to their own pace and requirements. The course consists of a total of 6 modules that consist of video instruction, quizzes, and also practice assignments.
The course requires an estimated time of 6 weeks for completion. The beginner class has a rate of around $180 and has a lifetime access feature. ASL Meredith also offers a plan in which the entire payment can be made in small amounts over the course of 4 months.
All in all, when we consider all that this course offers, it can be said that it is among the best ASL courses available for everyone. It’s the best option for beginners, and it offers quality learning at an affordable rate. So, consider this as one of your key considerations when looking for a good ASL course.
Key Strengths
- Beginner-friendly course
- Affordable pricing
- Self-guided course
- lifetime access
ASL Meredith is one of the best online courses for both beginners and non-beginners alike. Thanks to its affordability and ease of understanding, it has achieved a high rank among the list of ASL courses.
7. Sign It ASL
Homeschoolers often face a lot of obstacles in terms of not being able to grasp the course content with ease. If you are considering the best ASL course for homeschoolers, the Sign It ASL is probably the best as it is integrally designed with homeschoolers in mind. It is also a self-paced ASL course that has quality content.
The Sign It ASL also has a partnership with the National Center for Hearing Assessment and Management & Signing Time Foundation, due to which it is absolutely free for the families living in the USA, with children under 36 months of age who have any degree of hearing loss.
This ASL course has around 10 modules. These modules contain stories, conversation practices, vocabulary, quizzes, and also lessons on the deaf culture, and much more! The lessons are taught by deaf advocates, performers and actors, to ensure perfecting learning.
The Sign It ASL is also priced moderately. The first three units are available to the people for a price of around $50, with lifetime access! However, if these 3 units are bought as a bundle, they cost less; around $120.
Considering the partnerships with different institutes and foundations, it is clear that the course content of Sign It ASL is top-notch in every regard. The instructors are the best in the field, and the content is designed for smooth learning to ensure that each and every student is able to grasp the lessons with ease and comfort. So, make sure that you consider it one of the best options available currently as it is truly one of the best ASL courses.
Key Strengths
- easy to grasp
- highly skilled instructors
- affordable
- Free for some
The Sign It ASL course is a fantastic course that is easy to grasp and understand for both beginners and those who already have a know-how of sign language.
8. SignOn ASL
Some people prefer a one on one video lesson for an efficient learning experience. But there are only a handful of ASL courses that allow the learners to have this sort of lesson. The SignOn ASL is one of the few ASL courses that offer one on one learning. SignOn came into being specifically for the purpose of connecting the learners with the deaf community to ensure smooth and effective learning in every regard.
Each and every learner is connected with one of the many SignOn’s deaf ambassadors according to the requirements of the learner. The sessions are around 30 minutes long to make sure the retention of the lesson is perfect.
Every ambassador or teacher at SignOn is deaf, and according to SignOn, it is essential to make sure that the learners are able to get realistic and actual learning that will help them in life and avoid misconceptions of any sort.
The pricing of SignOn ASL is affordable, considering the quality of learning they offer. A single session costs about $25, and the buyers get a good discount if they purchase the sessions in the form of a bundle.
All in all, these one on one lessons offer quality learning for the students. The instructors are experienced, and the pricing is also good. So, if you prefer a one on one form of learning, then SignOn ASL is the best option for you. Consider it as one of the best ASL courses that you can go for.
Key Strengths
- One on one learning
- Experienced instructors
- Affordable price
- Well designed course content
The SignOn ASL is yet another fruitful course that focuses on retention and interaction. For an affordable price, you will be put in touch with highly qualified and experienced instructors who will let you know all that you need regarding sign language.
In essence
Learning ASL not only allows you to communicate better with the deaf community but also makes you more sensitive towards the hurdles that the deaf and hard community faces. While the whole process may be complex and difficult, the right courses will make it much easier. While all the online ASL courses discussed above are very detailed and comprehensive, there are three in particular that are super easy to understand and will make your ASL learning much easier.
- The Gallaudet University Online ASL courses because they are flexible and interactive
- The ASLU Online ASL Courses because of their free/paid option, professional curriculum, and structure
- The SkillShare ASL Online Course because it is free, slow going, and highly professional
Hopefully, you will pick just the right online ASL course for yourself. This will help you be more sensitive and educated on the matters of the deaf and hard community.
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