Hi guys, Laura here, now today I'm answering viewer questions and this one
I've actually got a lot. So recently Sabina Alvarez had asked how do you start
teaching yourself sign language on your own? So if there's no classes in your
area how would you start learning. That's a great question, and Ryan's Rants asked
what's the best phrases and vocabulary to start learning, another great question
which I do get often. So, what I would say to you guys if you don't have a class in
your area obviously taking a class is the best thing you can do, because you
get to practice and interact and it's just so much easier, but if that's not an
option, thankfully we have the internet now and
there are so many great resources, so some of the online resources that I
really like is: Bill Vickers he has a really great website called lifeprint.com
and he's actually posted lessons on there that you can go through and teach
yourself and it's great because he sort of puts it in a logical order of
what you should learn first and then sort of growing from there. He also has
an amazing YouTube channel, I'm going to put all of these links in the
description box below, so that you can just go and visit them. He has a
wonderful YouTube channel and his teaching is very clear and concise so if
you just go and sort of start from the beginning with him and watch his lessons
I'm sure you will learn a lot. The other youtuber I really like is ASL that, and
he has a lot of great lessons and his signing is very clear and he goes nice
and slow and he's very repetitive so that's another great one. And of course
there are tons out there that are fantastic, if you know of any that you
love please leave them in the comment section so others can check them out.
It's just a matter of sort of searching and finding a youtube channel that you
can connect with, and that'll make it a lot easier that
you like the way that the teacher teaches and the assignments are clear to you.
And of course when you're over at those channels learning and you just have a
quick question you're not sure how to do a sign or what the difference between
signs are then pop on back here and I'm happy to explain them to you. Now I've
talked in other videos about how I don't teach sentences and phrases and all of
that with sign language because I mean that should be left up to a deaf
individual who is obviously fluent or you know, somebody who has taken
interpreting or Teachers College or any of that stuff, so I just don't feel a) I
don't feel qualified to teach and I don't think that it's a respectful thing
to do, because there are so many fabulous deaf resources out there that you can
learn from. But I'm here to help explain or clarify any questions that you guys
have, as far as where to start, well those channels will definitely be
able to give you some advice on where to start, just start with lesson one! And I
would say that you need to sort of understand a little bit about how sign
language works because it's not just simply about learning signs and you
can't put those signs into English sentences and that sign language, that
would be signed exact English which is different than ASL, ASL has its own
grammar and sentence structure, so you're gonna have to learn all about that.
Facial expression is HUGE in signing it can mean the difference between you know,
it could be the same sign, but it could mean something different based on how
your face is or how your body is moving. There's really so much to know like, you
know yes/no questions, you would put your eyebrows up and sort of tilt your head
forward a little bit, and if you're asking sort of information questions
like WH questions, why when where what your eyebrows
go down and you would tilt your head in as well, so there's just that is very
complex and something that you really should learn from the beginning as well.
And position like where it signs sort of in this area here, but obviously you
want to start with signs like how are you, what's your name, my name is, learning
how to spell your name, can you sign slower I'm a new signer they you know
directions you know where's this place it's always a good one.
And I think you know early on when I was learning sign language we started out
with you know family, directions and then you know names of things you know names
of things in schools or in buildings or in houses and just build up from there.
So I know that there are online signing courses as well that you can take that
have modules that you go through and you do the lessons and then you take the
test and then you go on to the next lesson
and you get some sort of certificate. I know those exist as well that you pay to
take but as I said, there's lots of really great free online resources that
you can access, so the key is just to start. Starting is great, find a friend
that maybe is interested in learning with you so that you have somebody to
practice with, and just practice every day follow along with the youtubers and
yeah just ask questions and practice and just do it. So if you guys know of any
resources that you love please list them below and I'm always happy and curious
to check out other ones as well. If you have any other questions leave them in
the comment section I will get to them eventually, and if I forget or if I
haven't answered your question in a little while please ask it again because
sometimes I forgot to write it down or I just
missed it because I do get a lot of questions all the time and a lot of
comments so I don't mind if you ask me a few times just keep bugging me and I'll
eventually get to it. As always you guys subscribe to my channel to be notified
when I post new videos and thanks for watching. Bye for now!!