The ASL course on Udemy is a video-based course conducted by a teacher that covers all of the fundamentals for any novice, such as the alphabet, numbers, colors, family, and emotions. It also contains a history of ASL's development, which provides a fascinating background on the language that is frequently left out of other courses.

The course also includes a Q&A part for each video, as well as a downloadable workbook to review what you've seen, making it fairly comprehensive and allowing you to ask questions if you get lost. Rather than merely showing you how to mimic the signs, as some other courses do, this course explains how they're made, breaking them down into the motions and how to position your hands. It also goes beyond just picking up individual words or phrases to teaching how to utilize each sign in whole sentences and discussions.

Total viewing time for the course videos is 2.5 hours (not including your own study time). At full price, it's $49.99, although it's usually on sale for $13.99.

Website: https://www.udemy.com/

Reasons to buy:

+Includes a brief introduction to the history of ASL
+Breaks down each sign clearly
+Q+A section useful if you get stuck

Lingvano is an ASL learning program that tries to teach you the language in as little as a few minutes each day. Students learn through interactive games and quizzes in bite-sized lessons, comparable to language-learning apps like Duolingo. Each lesson also has a valuable webcam function, which allows you to use your computer as a mirror to check if you're learning the new signs correctly.

The platform is user-friendly on all devices (desktop, smartphone, and tablet), allowing you to study on the go, and it's appropriate for total novices. The course is divided into five modules, each of which contains roughly 12 lessons, for a total of around 60 lessons (for paying subscribers). You should be able to hold basic ASL discussions and describe a variety of viewpoints and items in the world around you by the end of the course.

You can watch a few lessons for free, but you'll need to enroll to have full access to the site. The cost of accessing the entire course varies based on whether you pay monthly, quarterly, or annually.

Website: https://www.lingvano.com/asl/
Reasons to buy:
+Easy-to-use, interactive course
+Learning via short clips and language games
+Low commitment (a few minutes a day)

In the area of sign language teaching, Gallaudet University is well-known. Since 1864, the institution has been providing degree-level education for deaf and hard of hearing students in Washington, D.C. It also offers a free, basic online education for anyone interested in learning the fundamentals of sign language, as well as paid online college classes in ASL.

The latter includes mandatory attendance at planned lessons as well as video-based assignments that contribute to a pass/fail mark. The advantage of these programs is that they develop a strong sense of community and allow you to interact with a live tutor. The disadvantage is that, unlike a lot of online learning, these sessions do not allow you to choose your own timetable. Courses are also expensive, with prices ranging from $316 to $950 for a full semester.

If you're serious about learning to sign, the college-credit classes will provide you with thorough training and all of the learning resources you'll need; if you're simply curious about ASL, the basic free course will likely suffice. Although you'll only learn a few words and phrases, the immersive approach and thoughtful touches in the videos and quizzes show why this is a world-leading platform for teaching ASL.

Website: https://www.gallaudet.edu/asl-connect/

Reasons to buy:

+Free online course covering ASL basics
+Options to upgrade to more in-depth lessons
+Strong focus on ASL grammar and conversation markers

When it comes to ASL classes, there are a lot of serious films out there, but Sign It defies the trend by making instruction enjoyable. The website's videos feature a variety of performers who act out amusing situations that you can follow. It's also affordable, with five lesson bundles starting at $49.99.

The majority of the lessons are delivered through a combination of videos and quizzes. The fact that the videos feature a range of actors means you can learn how different people sign words, which is a pleasant bonus that you won't find on other sites.

However, there are a few elements that are missing from the website. It lacks any form of interactivity or feedback, which would make determining whether or not you are signing things correctly a lot easier. You can't download and view lessons on the fly because they're only available online through your browser.

Website: https://www.signitasl.net/

Reasons to buy:

+A comprehensive introduction to ASL for beginners
+Features a variety of instructors and conversation topics
+Reasonably priced for amount of content

On Skillshare, Able Lingo provides a variety of classes in both ASL and American English. Its ASL classes give you the option of learning the language from the ground up, starting with individual signs and working your way up to full sentences. You can also do the opposite, learning important useful phrases and then breaking them down later. It also includes sections on ASL culture and grammar to help you comprehend the language more fully.

However, it isn't so much a course as it is a collection of lessons that you can dip in and out of. Lessons are divided into groups based on signs and phrases, such as 'First 120 Basic Signs' or '20 Common and Useful Nouns.' This means you can start learning almost anywhere or only learn the parts of the language that interest you; nevertheless, this may not be a good idea for someone who wants to follow a logical, planned course from beginning to end.

Skillshare is a subscription-based platform, so you can't buy a single course, but once you pay, you receive access to all of them. For one month, it's free, then $32 per month or $168 annually.

Website: https://www.udemy.com/

Reasons to buy:

+Provides an extensive range of ASL signs, phrases and sentences
+Offers a dynamic way of learning, rather than just progressing through set topics

ASLdefined is a website that provides video-based classes at a minimal cost. The platform's annual subscription costs only $36 and gives you access to a variety of classes, quizzes, and retention exercises. There's also an app you may use, though we found it challenging to hold a smartphone and sign with one hand at the same time as novices, so it's probably best used as a "refresher" tool.

There were a few elements on the site that we believed were lacking. We couldn't be sure we were signing correctly without any interactive feedback. There's also no way to slow down video playback, which might be aggravating if you're having trouble catching something the first time around. It's rarely a problem because the majority of the videos on the website are fairly clear, but when it does happen, it might stymie your progress. Furthermore, we didn't find any information that addressed any aspects of deaf culture or analyzed the complexities of signing that would show us how to be "active listeners" in talks.

The platform offers a free trial, which is a wonderful way to try it out before committing to a membership. If you find it's a good fit for your learning style, you won't have to spend a lot of money to continue using it.

Website: https://www.asldeafined.com/

Reasons to buy:

+Signing dictionary of 17,000 + words
+Fingerspelling and hand shaping practice

Unlike many ASL courses that are geared toward complete beginners, Signschool lets you to choose your difficulty level: beginner, intermediate, or advanced. The portal seeks to kick-start or advance your ASL knowledge using short, easy-to-digest information, such as video courses, lessons, grammar modules, and interactive problems.

Many classes, like Lingvano, include the option to turn on your camera and practice ASL while watching the video, which provides a beneficial and dynamic practice of utilizing the language in a "real world" situation.

Although the platform has a lot of potential, it's still in beta, therefore it doesn't provide as extensive or complete a learning experience as some of its competitors. You can, however, access all current course content for free, making it a useful supplement to any ASL classes or subscriptions you may have.

Website: https://www.signschool.com/

Reasons to buy:

+Different difficulty levels
+Allows you to sign along via your webcam
+Offers special modules on grammar
+Offers quizzes and games

On the Start ASL portal, you can take a variety of free courses, which is ideal for beginners. The site includes a mix of video and text-based instruction, as well as clear descriptions of finger spelling techniques.

Unfortunately, the layout of the site is also quite disorganized. In the middle of a lesson, students are frequently directed to read and download text books and switch between resources. For young learners or those who are brand new to sign language, it might be perplexing and even daunting. Many of the films also include discussions filmed from a side-on position, which isn't as clear as face-on footage because the actor's hands aren't visible.

The platform has some positive aspects. To augment your study, you can get 1:1 video call tutoring and participate in online deaf community events. Prices start at $24.95 per month for the basic package and go up to $49.95 per month for the all-access package.

What's even better is that by simply joining up for the platform, you can have access to a lot of the online learning content for free. You'll get access to a variety of vocabulary and grammar classes. While the lesson plans aren't as well-organized as the other sources, they're a fantastic resource for anyone with a basic comprehension of ASL and the patience to go through them.

Website: https://www.startasl.com/

Reasons to buy:

+ Useful tips on fingerspelling
+ Opportunity for 1 to 1 signing practice over Skype
+ An ASL community for meet-ups and practice partners
+ Excellent grammatical explanations