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Wednesday, February 12th
Skillshare is an online learning platform where you can explore thousands of courses across a wide variety of topics, from creative arts like painting and writing to technical subjects like coding and web design. Think of it as your personal classroom on the internet, where experts and professionals share their knowledge through video lessons, giving you the chance to learn new skills or improve existing ones at your own pace.
Over 30 sign language courses
It's pretty easy to see what Skillshare offers for American Sign Language classes. Our search brought up 31 different courses, which you can sort by number of students. The most popular course, with over 22,000 learners, is called American Sign Language Level 1, provided by Intellezy. You'll also find courses like First 500+ Basic Signs, Business Signs, and Fingerspelling.
Courses from certified ASL educators
By clicking on a course, you can get some more information about the topics covered, the total number of lessons, the video runtime, and the background of the course provider. Meredith Rathbone of Learn How to Sign, for example, is "YouTube's Most Watched ASL Teacher” and has a Master in Education specializing in Deaf Education and is nationally certified as an educational interpreter.
Could do with more feedback from users
Many of these courses include a few handpicked testimonials from other learners on Skillshare, but we would have appreciated it if Skillshare had a built-in section for reading all reviews from learners to get a more balanced impression of the course quality. But, if you choose a course and end up not liking it, you won't be out any extra money - your subscription gives you access to everything Skillshare has to offer.
$30 a month, or $100 a year
We wish it was easier to see how much Skillshare costs, though. To get an idea of pricing in your region, you'll need to make an account. Once we did this, we were offered two pricing structures of $8.25/month billed at $99 annually, or $29/month billed monthly. That's really expensive if you're only intending to use Skillshare for sign language lessons. You would probably want to consider taking another course about one of your other interests to make the cost worth it.
Shady business practices = avoid Skillshare
Regrettably, Skillshare's rating with the Better Business Bureau remains at a low "F", the same as our previous review. This seems to be due to shady practices such as automatic renewal of trial memberships and a website that inexplicably fails to process user requests to cancel before the renewal cut-off. Skillshare has left about 80% of these complaints against them unanswered. We don't think Skillshare is worth the potential headache and drain on your wallet - try one of the better sign language courses in our review.
Maybe you've decided to learn sign language because you have a deaf child, or perhaps there's a new student at your school who is hard of hearing and you'd like to befriend them. Or it could be that you're simply fascinated by this beautiful, expressive language and want to expand your communication skills. Whatever your reason, learning sign language opens up a new realm of possibilities for connection and understanding.
Learning sign language is unlike picking up any spoken language. You're not just memorizing vocabulary and grammar; you're learning to convey and interpret messages through gestures, facial expressions, and body language. Imagine expressing complex emotions or detailed narratives with your hands and face - it's a whole new way of thinking and communicating.
Also, keep in mind that sign language is not universal; each country, and sometimes regions within countries, has its own sign language with distinct rules and grammar. This means that learning American Sign Language won't necessarily enable you to communicate with someone who uses British Sign Language (BSL), for example.
Online sign language lessons have surged in popularity over the years. This can be attributed to several reasons that make these lessons an attractive option for a diverse range of learners. But one of the main reasons for the popularity of online sign language lessons is the unparalleled convenience they offer.
Sign language learners can access courses over the internet from anywhere in the world, eliminating the need for physical attendance at specific locations. This flexibility is particularly beneficial for people with busy schedules, letting them learn at their own pace and at times that suit their personal and professional commitments.
Another reason why online sign language lessons are so popular is they can provide a wealth of resources and interactive tools that enhance the learning experience. These can include video tutorials, live classes, interactive exercises, and community forums, all designed to foster a deeper understanding and proficiency in sign language.
The multimedia approach of online sign language lessons caters to different learning styles, ensuring that both visual and auditory learners can all benefit from the courses. High-quality video demonstrations by native signers help learners grasp the nuances of signs, facial expressions, and body language, which are crucial aspects of effective communication in sign language.
If you're considering online sign language lessons, you'll find them a flexible, accessible way to learn. Maybe your schedule is packed, and you need to fit lessons in between other commitments. Or you live in a place without a strong Deaf or hard-of-hearing community to practice with. Online lessons offer the chance to learn from the comfort of your home, with resources like video tutorials that show you exactly how to form each sign, and interactive courses that provide feedback on your signing skills.
When you're choosing an online sign language course, keep these points in mind:
Top Consumer Reviews has taken a close look at the available options and ranked the best sign language lessons to help you on your way. Whether you're just starting or looking to deepen your knowledge, we hope this guide aids you in finding the perfect sign language lessons to fit your life and learning goals.
Select any 2 Sign Language Lessons to compare them head to head