ASL - What is the learning curve?

[Liz CA]

It could be useful for me to acquire basic ASL skills for some clients. What time frame can I expect for basic skill acquisition? Suppose I would be able to learn / practice daily for 30 min - 1 hr?

[Beaniemom]

Basic vocabulary can be relatively easy to pick up if you continue to use what you are learning. The grammar of ASL can take awhile to become comfortable with in my experience.

 

ETA: A great way to learn is to use ASL with native signers. If there is someone you are comfortable working with it can be a great help. I was fortunate to have several very patient Deaf individuals who helped me when I was first learning.

Edited January 16, 2016 by Beaniemom

[Kiara.I]

As far as I can tell, there's no good way to predict that.  It depends a lot on you.

How's your ability to pick up languages in general?

How's your spatial ability?

How's your manual dexterity?

 

For instance, my mother when I tried to show her signs, would see the movements *between* the signs and try to copy them as the signs.  I can't understand how, because I never had that challenge.

 

Practicing daily will definitely help.

 

But also, what do you mean by basic skill acquisition?  Do you mean a lexicon of nouns and verbs that you can use for clarifying gestured or poor verbal communication?  Or are we talking actual ASL, grammar and everything?

[Liz CA]

As far as I can tell, there's no good way to predict that.  It depends a lot on you.

How's your ability to pick up languages in general?

How's your spatial ability?

How's your manual dexterity?

 

For instance, my mother when I tried to show her signs, would see the movements *between* the signs and try to copy them as the signs.  I can't understand how, because I never had that challenge.

 

Practicing daily will definitely help.

 

But also, what do you mean by basic skill acquisition?  Do you mean a lexicon of nouns and verbs that you can use for clarifying gestured or poor verbal communication?  Or are we talking actual ASL, grammar and everything?

 

I am bilingual and acquiring language skills has always been easy for me BUT I see ASL as somewhat different. Also, I won't have as much time to devote to it as when I was learning another language.

By basic, I mean be able to communicate - however not necessarily grammatically correct - basic requests or questions, i.e "How are you feeling today?" "Any side effects from your medications?" "How would you rate your anxiety level on a scale...?"

Writing this out now, it seems a little more than basic. :) I am not too concerned being grammatically correct but I would like to get good enough to make myself understood.

 

[alisoncooks]

I think it wouldn't take long to get a decent grasp of work related phrases in signed English. That's a bit different than ASL, but most deaf/hard of hearing individuals should be able to understand you, I'd think.

[Guest]

Go to lifeprint.com 

 

Dd wanted to learn when she was about 7 or 8, and a girl at church who was an interpreter suggested it. She was able to pick up the basics fairly easily, and I followed along with her as well. As someone else said, the only catch is learning proper "ASL grammar". That website gives you lessons, then walks you through "conversations" and shows you how to speak with ASL versus the way we talk verbally. 

[scoutingmom]

And every deaf person I have ever signed with has been patient and good at understanding my attempts. First sign I would learn in your case is 'hurt', which is signed when possible at the location of pain.... and could be asked with a questioning look

 

Sent from my SM-T530NU using Tapatalk

[Incognito]

As you're thinking about it, take a little time to learn the alphabet and practice finger spelling.  I don't know how long it took me to realize how important the alphabet is in ASL.  So many of the signs use the different letters in how they are made, that it makes everything much easier if the alphabet is automatic (and, of course, finger spelling is a useful tool when you are not fluent).

 

 

[Rosie_0801]

By basic, I mean be able to communicate - however not necessarily grammatically correct - basic requests or questions, i.e "How are you feeling today?"  "Any side effects from your medications?" "How would you rate your anxiety level on a scale...?"

Writing this out now, it seems a little more than basic. :) I am not too concerned being grammatically correct but I would like to get good enough to make myself understood.

 

 

Making yourself understood wouldn't be so hard. Understanding a signed reply would be though, because a lot of medical talk will rely on classifiers instead of vocab. 

 

Your workplace doesn't provide interpreters?

[Renai]

Making yourself understood wouldn't be so hard. Understanding a signed reply would be though, because a lot of medical talk will rely on classifiers instead of vocab. 

 

Your workplace doesn't provide interpreters?

 

The "understanding a signed reply" is the kicker, I agree. That is where I have the hardest time as well. I live in an area with many Deaf, and the state deaf school, so have opportunities to try to communicate. As well as I do other languages, I think I'd do better in a class for this one because of the receptive language issue.

[LibraryLover]

Yes. Receptive is the kink. 

[LibraryLover]

Go to lifeprint.com 

 

Dd wanted to learn when she was about 7 or 8, and a girl at church who was an interpreter suggested it. She was able to pick up the basics fairly easily, and I followed along with her as well. As someone else said, the only catch is learning proper "ASL grammar". That website gives you lessons, then walks you through "conversations" and shows you how to speak with ASL versus the way we talk verbally. 

 Dr Bill is the best. I've spent (literally) hours watching his Youtube vids. 

Edited January 16, 2016 by LibraryLover

[Liz CA]

Thank you all. I am off to lifeprint now to see what it is. If things get very complex, they would probably call in an interpreter but quick, preliminary communication skills would help.

[Rosie_0801]

Play a lot of charades (but no "sounds like x") and think a lot about the shapes of things and how to represent those shapes with your hands.

Edited January 18, 2016 by Rosie_0801

[amo_mea_filiis.]

Sign a lot in front of a mirror.

 

There's (probably several) a Deaf message board and they have a running thread of written ASL. So basically it's ASL grammar with English words, if that makes any sense. I learn best by reading, so that thread is a great tool.

[Carrie12345]

I can't speak to fluid, effective communication, but I find I've retained as much sign language (learned in elementary school 30 years ago, give or take) as I have German and French (learned in high school, 20 years ago, give or take.)  Which isn't to say A LOT, but that I think my language abilities are pretty consistent, whatever the language.

[bugfree]

I found LifePrint too difficult.  I could participate in http://www.signlanguage101.com/ lessons for a long time, but the LifePrint lessons for only 10 minutes or so.  As far as how long it will take.... that is a hard thing to tell. 

Edited January 21, 2016 by bugfree