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American Sign Language Basic Class Series

Intro to American Sign Language: An 8-Week Adult Course

American Sign Language (ASL) is a visual‑spatial language used primarily by Deaf and hard‑of‑hearing communities in the United States and Canada.

The Center for Hearing and Communication will offer an eight‑week American Sign Language course, held on Thursdays from April 2 through May 21, 2026. Each session will meet for one hour.

Lessons will include, but are not limited to, the following:

Instruction on the ASL Alphabet and Numbers
• Mastering fingerspelling (A–Z)
• Learning numbers and how to use them in context

Everyday Vocabulary
• Greetings such as hello, goodbye, please, thank you, and more
• Family-related signs, including mother, father, brother, sister, etc.
• Basic verbs like eat, drink, go, want, and like
• Colors, emotions, weather, and additional common terms

Conversational Practice
• Practicing short dialogues with classmates
• Introducing yourself
• Asking and answering simple questions

Deaf Culture Education
• Understanding cultural norms within the Deaf community
• Learning the importance of facial expressions and body language
• Developing proper etiquette when communicating with Deaf individuals

Games, Videos, and Interactive Tools
• Activities such as sign bingo, storytelling, and role‑playing

Homework and Practice Assignments
• Fingerspelling quizzes
• Vocabulary drills

American Sign Language (ASL) is a visual-spatial language used predominantly by the Deaf and hard-of-hearing communities in the United States and Canada. It is a complete and natural language with its own unique grammar and syntax, separate from spoken English. ASL is not a universal language; different countries and regions have their own sign languages. 

Black American Sign Language (BASL) is a dialect of American Sign Language (ASL) that developed within historically segregated African American Deaf communities. It features unique characteristics in handshape, placement, movement, and facial expression, reflecting both the influence of older Southern dialects of ASL and the experiences of the Black Deaf community. (Black ASL Project, Gallaudet University)

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