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Sunday, February 5th
This cleverly-named company was created to teach Deaf students, parents of Deaf children, and the community American Sign Language (ASL). It is set up for people of any age to begin learning and improve their skills until they are fluent. ASL Deafined reminds people that learning American Sign Language will enhance your life whether you or someone you know is deaf. It can improve your marketability in your career, open doors to meeting new people, and help you experience a new culture.
Free trial
To get a feel for ASL Deafined's platform and usability, you should definitely take advantage of the 3-day free trial they provide. No credit card information is required. All you need to do is create a username and password and answer some questions about your current knowledge of ASL. They even have a "second chance" box that allows you to get your free trial reactivated if you need a little more time to decide whether or not to commit to their service.
Ample material
After going through some video lessons and exploring the platform, we found that ASL Deafined has a lot to offer. All of the videos are signed by deaf experts, they have over 300 themed lessons for beginners to advanced users, retention exercises, progress charts, vocabulary banks, fingerspelling practice, quizzes, grammar exercises, and more. In short, you won't run out of things to learn here.
Lessons cater to skill level
Beginners are taught basic topics like the alphabet, numbers, colors, survival words, verbs, animals and clothing. Intermediate students have lessons to choose from about outdoor activities, illnesses, Christmas, the beach, and hobbies. Advanced learners are taught about deaf culture, famous deaf people, science, professionals, weather, money, and more. All video lessons are good quality, straightforward, and easy to navigate. Some videos move quickly, so you might need to rewatch them a few times to figure out which fingers to use and which directions to point.
Competitively priced
Considering all that is included, ASL Deafined is one of the least expensive options for learning sign language. The cost for educational users is just $12/year and the cost for individuals is $36/year. This includes unlimited activities, lessons, and games. (The site doesn't explicitly state the difference between "educational" and "individual" accounts.) It also includes continuous updates and versions. ASL Deafined can be cancelled at any time. If you're unhappy with your purchase, all you have to do is email customer service for a full refund.
Inexpensive and easy to use
ASL Deafined is not rated by the Better Business Bureau. We wish their website included reviews from people who used their service to learn sign language. Unfortunately, reviews on this site are pretty limited. However, in the feedback we were able to find, people say they are thrilled with the price of ASL Deafined's platform and how easy it is to go at your own pace. If you're looking for a place to start, this is an awesome resource. We highly recommend checking out ASL Deafined.
Whether you're interested in connecting with people in the Deaf community, trying to communicate with a non-verbal child, or facing hearing loss yourself, you're in good company. It's estimated that over 500,000 people in the US and Canada use American Sign Language (ASL).
If you're hoping to learn to sign, it's important to choose lessons that teach not just the signs themselves but also about Deaf culture and the differences between ASL and English. (It surprises many people when they learn that they don't correspond in a 1:1 fashion. In fact, ASL often uses a completely different word order, and facial expressions are a critical component of using ASL fluently.
Sign language lessons that include different instructors can help you see that individuals often have their own unique way of signing - just like someone from the South has a spoken accent that's very distinct from a New Yorker. Going back to the question of where to learn ASL, it might be possible to find classes nearby at a community college or even a library. Will they fit your schedule? Your budget?
Maybe, maybe not. Fortunately, there are many providers of sign language lessons online that let you study at your own pace, any time of day or night. (And hey, unlike other language lessons, you don't have to worry about disturbing people as you practice ASL in a quiet public place!)
What should you look for as you choose where to take sign language lessons through the internet? Here are some suggestions that can help you narrow down the options:
TopConsumerReviews.com has reviewed and ranked the best Sign Language lessons available today. We hope these reviews help you open new doors of communication as you learn to sign fluently in ASL right away!
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