Do you have a passion for learning new languages? Multilingualism is not only exciting but also beneficial in building a great personal and professional life. Learning new languages expands your mind, exposure, and worldview. It increases confidence, self-esteem, personality diversification, and career worth.
There are a variety of languages that you can learn to emerge as a dynamic individual. However, many people opt for learning verbal languages, often ignoring sign language. This exciting language is no less lingo. In fact, knowing sign language has far more benefits than verbal ones, as it helps you communicate without any barriers.
Want to learn sign language to up your personal and professional profile? Superprof hosts world-class sign language tutors online with exceptional knowledge and experience to teach you this skill.
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What Exactly is Sign Language?
It is a way of communication that uses hands, arms, facial expressions, and bodily gestures to convey necessary messages, feelings, emotions, and thoughts. This language does not use words, sentences, or any form of verbiage for communication. It exclusively uses elements such as hands and body gestures, and facial expressions to deliver a message/statement.
Typically, sign language is used in the following scenarios:
- When one or more communicators are deaf.
- When one or more communicators have speaking problems, disabilities, or specific medical conditions.
- When there is too much noise in the place of communication, it makes oral hearing impossible.
- When the communicators are at such a distance, they are visible but not audible.
- When the communicators do not share a mutually understandable language.
- When verbosity is not desired or opted for.
Sign language dates back to the 5th century when hand gesture was first used by Greek monks. However, Western societies reintroduced this form of communication in the 17th century. Today, sign languages have become common worldwide. In fact, every region has its own sign language, with different signs and gestures.
The three most common sign languages are:
| Sign Language | Description |
|---|---|
| American Sign Language (ASL) | Primarily used in the US and other English-speaking parts of Canada. |
| British Sign Language (BSL) | It is typically used across the UK |
| Australian Sign Language (Auslan) | It is typically used across the Australian region |
It has been estimated that American Sign Language has become the most popular language after English and Spanish in the States. Are you interested to learn this skill? Come straight to us, as Superprof has world-class American sign language tutors who can teach you this language in just a few months.
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Is Studying Sign Language a Good Idea?
If you want to learn a new language, there is no better choice than sign language. Sign language is beneficial for building a great personal or professional life and aids in other areas of life. Here are some benefits of learning sign language:
- You will be able to speak a language that does not require any form of wordiness
- You will be able to communicate with deaf people efficiently
- It enables you to communicate effectively with individuals having hearing and vocal problems
- Learning sign language opens several career opportunities
- You can grow your network, build new relationships and make new friends by mastering sign language
- Learning sign language is a great way to stimulate your mind, enhance cognitive abilities, and neural functionality
- Sign language is great for you if you are a professional swimmer or scuba diver, as this language is the only way of communication underwater.
What are Some Tips to Learn Sign Language Efficiently?
Several individuals think that learning sign language is no less than rocket science as it is not similar to verbal modes of communication. However, this is not true. A constructive learning approach and following the proper steps can teach you this language quickly.
Here are some valuable tips that can aid you in learning sign language:
Opt for Professional Education Services
Learning any new language from scratch on your own may not be the best idea as it is an utterly alien subject. It would be best if you had a constructive head start. This is only possible by opting for professional education services like enrolling yourself in a language school or course. You can easily kick start the learning experience by attending regular sign language classes.
Read Sign Language Books and Useful Content
Some excellent sources for sign language learning are books, articles, online content, and other forms of written content. Starting from beginner to advanced level, sign language books are a great way to understand and memorize different types of signs, making you a skilled individual in this field.
Learn the Sign Language Alphabet
One of the most necessary aspects of learning sign language is becoming familiar with sign language alphabets. The only way to make signs is by primarily knowing the alphabet so that you can make their shapes or indicate them through your body gestures and facial expressions.
Learn the 100 Basic Sign Language Words
Sign language is worth learning as a skill. An excellent way to learn sign language is by memorizing 100 basic words. This will enable you to do basic communication in sign language. Some elementary words that you can learn include "hello," "thank you," and "please."
Polish Your Observational Skills
Sign language is all about looking closely at the communicator's hand gestures and facial expressions to understand what is being conveyed, as there is no verbiage. Therefore, it is necessary to have excellent observational skills that need unhindered attention and clear-cut focus to catch the sign immediately and react without waiting to understand or give second thoughts.
Join Deaf Community
Sign language is not only limited to making hand, arm, or body gestures to establish effective communication. It is far more than that. Just like every other language introduces us to various cultures, this language also opens the door to the rich history and culture of deaf community. As a result, it is advisable to join a deaf community or center so that you can learn the language effectively. Not only will this aid in picking up different sign language concepts and signs, but it will also enlighten you about the origin, development, and evolution of this mode of communication.
Communicate With Deaf People or Those Who Know Sign Language
The key to acing a language is interacting with those who have mastered this skill so that you can practice, point out your grey areas, and assess how much more training you need. The most relevant people who speak this language include the deaf, those who have speaking problems or medical conditions or can be normal beings who have learned it.
Install A Sign Language App
The excellent innovation of mobile phones has bought the entire educational experience into your hands. Install a sign language app to get regular private sign language lessons through your smartphone. From daily lessons and sign dictionaries to fun sign language games and everyday learning reminders, a mobile app can help you learn this skill effectively.
Watch YouTube Videos
YouTube videos are another great use of technology to learn sign language smartly. There are a ton of clips, tutorials, and video content on YouTube which teaches signs, body gestures, and relevant communication methods of sign language. You only need to browse YouTube and watch videos to learn this skill.
Don't Be Afraid to Make Mistakes
Learning any new language can be challenging. Sometimes, you will feel that no matter how much you try, you will never be able to avoid communication mistakes through sign language. You might also feel demotivated due to common errors and mistakes in your sign language communication. However, don't be afraid to make mistakes; as the famous saying goes, "a person who never makes a mistake never learns anything new."
Practice Regularly
Sign language requires practice, involving various signs, alphabets, body gestures, and facial expressions. Thus, it is necessary to brace yourself in order to practice regularly. This will give you a solid command over the fundamentals of sign language and constructively prepare you for more advanced learning.
Get Private Sign Language Lessons
If you have exhausted every method of learning sign language but are still unable to get hold of this skill, it's time to hire a tutor to give you private sign language lessons. Hiring a private tutor is necessary to learn this tricky language as they will invest their sole attention, focus, and time in your learning. They will start by teaching you the basics, including learning the sign language alphabet, followed by different signs, body gestures, and facial expressions. A private tutor will also teach you the different skills required to become an expert in this language, including;
- Observational capabilities
- Quick understanding
- Little to no reaction and answering time
- The ability to memorize a ton of various signs.
Study With Superprof's Sign Language Tutor Online
Some of the things to know about learning sign language is that the best way to learn sign language is by hiring professional help. Are you tired of searching "sign language tutor near me?" Superprof is home to several sign language tutors online with extensive experience, expertise, and verified teaching reviews. Our top-tier platform encompasses not only world-class private tutors but also highly advanced technology, which makes it easy to deliver online sessions to students throughout the world. We use webcams to ensure smooth online lecturing, skype for better communication, Slack for homework, and other tools to provide a glitch-free and effective language learning experience.
Here is where to find online asl classes on Superprof.
Learning a new language can be tough, but not with us. Superprof prioritizes its student's effective learning over everything else, making us the go-to platform for every student globally. From providing American sign language tutors to other language tutors, we are exactly the online educational tool you need to become a pro multilingual.
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