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American Sign Language in Los Angeles

Is it hard to learn sign language?

Learning sign language is just like learning any language in the world. In fact, when learning American Sign Language, or ASL, it is different from learning British Sign Language or Australian Sign Language. It is important to understand as well that ASL does not follow the same grammatical rules of English - conjugations and syntax follow a different set of rules.

But just like learning any language the road is long, but it can be effortless and fun, and in the end, you have acquired a skill that allows you to enter a whole new world.

Studying sign language can be as little as fifteen minutes a day. If you are consistent with your study, fifteen minutes a day is all you need. You can find a video on youtube or you can sign up to a website or app that teaches you the basic words and expressions.

The best way to make learning sign language easy is to start learning with a teacher. Learning with a teacher will allow you to have a more organized experience and it will keep your motivation and consistency in check. Learning a new language is all about motivation and consistency.

Is it too late to learn sign language?

It is never too late to learn anything, especially something like a new language. Learning sign language, just like learning any language, can be done at any age.

Communication might be the most important aspect for human beings. When we learn - almost by osmosis - our native language, we might start as early as we are exposed to that language. It is our tool to communicate and so we naturally want to learn it, so we can communicate. Learning another language is not different.

And if you are past fifty, learning a new language such as American Sign Language can have great benefits for your mental health and mental capabilities. For example, bilingual people have shown growth on the cerebral cortex and the hippocampus.

Taking ASL lessons with an American sign language teacher is now easier than ever before. You can visit a platform such as Superprof and find a long catalog of teachers. Lessons can be via webcam and they can use material that is found online. Learning with a teacher will keep you focused and motivated and it is a great opportunity to see for yourself the benefits of a new skill.

How long does it take to learn sign language?

Learning a new language does not happen overnight. It may take months or years to master a language. And even when you can have a conversation in another language, you might still be lacking in other areas of the language. Therefore it is hard to tell when someone has finally mastered a language.

But the focus should not be how long it takes, but rather clear objectives you set for yourself. Say for example, being able to tell the story of my last summer vacation in another language. Okay, now you have a goal, and learning how to tell that story in American Sign Language will be your path to learn words and expressions, conjugation and syntax for ASL.

Another key element in learning American Sign Language is using that language to communicate. You can start with very simple words, using maybe the signs for the alphabet (but be sure to know that the alphabet you learn is just a way to connect English to ASL as a complement and not a replacement). Communication and using the language to communicate will keep you making sense of your learning.

Finally, learning with a teacher can be a great resource when learning a language. Because learning a language can take as little as fifteen minutes per day, but it has to be consistent, learning with a teacher can keep your consistency in check.