Ever wanted to learn American Sign Language? You are not alone! According to the Modern Language Association's study of colleges and universities, ASL is the third most studied language in the United States!

Adults, children, and entire families chose to study ASL for many different reasons. They might be learning sign language to communicate with deaf and hard-of-hearing loved ones, to connect with the Deaf Community, or for the joy of learning something new. 

Whatever your reason, I have 5 recommendations to get you started on the right path to learning ASL:

1. Take a Class and Learn ASL From an Expert!

All languages are complex, and ASL is no different. You need a qualified teacher to explain grammar rules, teach vocabulary, and help you learn conversational skills.

When looking for a qualified teacher, find a class taught by a Deaf person or a hearing person actively involved with the Deaf community. You should expect them to have a background in the teaching of ASL or Deaf Education. Working with a skilled, fluent, ASL user is the key to becoming fluent yourself.

The best ASL classes will teach you much more than just vocabulary. (After all, speaking French is much more than simply saying "baguette" correctly!) You will also learn ASL idioms, cultural rules, and etiquette that will make socializing with Deaf people easier and more enjoyable. Don't waste time, and money, on programs and people that won't bring you closer to your goal of interacting with the Deaf community.

2. Interact With Deaf People!

The point of learning a language is to connect with native speakers. Get out there and meet some Deaf people!

What? Are you worried about making a fool of yourself? Don't be! There are "silent" events held across the country every month, and they are meant to build up the community of ASL users. You can look up local events and join in with a good learner's attitude and the cultural rules you learned from your ASL class. (If you don't know the cultural rules I'm talking about, head back to recommendation #1 and learn from a REAL teacher).

Remember that Deaf people are the owners and creators of signed languages. They don't owe you any favors and aren't required to teach you- but they are often generous in their friendship and guidance.

3. Use Apps As Support Services

There are lots of great ASL Apps out there, but you need to understand their strengths and limitations. An app can help you remember a sign you have previously learned, look up a sign you need, and/or quiz you on your memory of a sign's meaning.

You cannot use ASL apps like you would Rosetta Stone!! Why? Language programs for oral languages are built around voice recognition software that will correct you when you make a mistake. Not so with ASL apps and video-only programs. One small mistake and you can go from signing MARRY to HAMBURGER. Learn from a teacher and keep your apps as dictionary support!

4. Get In Touch With Your Emotions

No, really, your feelings are not off-topic at all! ASL incorporates facial expressions and body language into its very grammar. This may sound strange until you think of the way oral languages work. When we speak English, we tend to end yes/no questions with a rising pitch. In ASL, our eyebrows take up the job.

In order to share your feelings, the intensity of your reaction, or signal a topic change, you need to use your face and body more than you might be used to. Embrace this opportunity and start working on your body language!

• Take an acting class.
• Play more charades.
• Watch the ways little kids tell stories and try and copy them (no serious faces to be found there!).
• Act out emotions and pretend you are in a silent movie.
• Video yourself signing and keep track of your improvements in facial expression.

Put in the work- and you won't regret it!

5. Practice Signing Voice-Off!

ASL and English do share some similarities in sentence structure, but there are also many differences. For this reason, when you are ready to practice applying your new vocabulary to sentences, you should sign without voicing. Focus on making your ASL as great as it can possibly be! You will learn more quickly and correctly this way.

2 Things That Won't Help You Learn ASL:

1. Teaching Yourself ASL

I'm not qualified to teach anyone Japanese (not even myself), and if you are reading this, chances are you aren't qualified to teach yourself or anyone else ASL. Reading a dictionary or watching random video clips isn't going to change this fact.

You need to use a language to really learn it! Who will you use it with? Your skilled ASL teacher and the Deaf community!

2. Bad ASL Programs

Learn to tango by just watching a video once a week for 4 weeks? If this sounds like a scam, then so should ASL courses that promise success without any opportunity for interaction or feedback. Don't waste your time and money! You are trying to learn a complex language, so learn from teachers that care about your progress and provide opportunities to practice with others.