For nearly a decade, Doug Wintemute has specialized in helping students and professionals make sound education and career decisions. In addition to Forbes Advisor, his work has been featured on many online publications, including ZDNet, Bankrate and.
Doug Wintemute Education WriterFor nearly a decade, Doug Wintemute has specialized in helping students and professionals make sound education and career decisions. In addition to Forbes Advisor, his work has been featured on many online publications, including ZDNet, Bankrate and.
Written By Doug Wintemute Education WriterFor nearly a decade, Doug Wintemute has specialized in helping students and professionals make sound education and career decisions. In addition to Forbes Advisor, his work has been featured on many online publications, including ZDNet, Bankrate and.
Doug Wintemute Education WriterFor nearly a decade, Doug Wintemute has specialized in helping students and professionals make sound education and career decisions. In addition to Forbes Advisor, his work has been featured on many online publications, including ZDNet, Bankrate and.
Education Writer Brenna Swanston Deputy EditorBrenna Swanston is an education-focused editor and writer with a particular interest in education equity and alternative educational paths. As a newswriter in her early career, Brenna's education reporting earned national awards and state-level accol.
Brenna Swanston Deputy EditorBrenna Swanston is an education-focused editor and writer with a particular interest in education equity and alternative educational paths. As a newswriter in her early career, Brenna's education reporting earned national awards and state-level accol.
Brenna Swanston Deputy EditorBrenna Swanston is an education-focused editor and writer with a particular interest in education equity and alternative educational paths. As a newswriter in her early career, Brenna's education reporting earned national awards and state-level accol.
Brenna Swanston Deputy EditorBrenna Swanston is an education-focused editor and writer with a particular interest in education equity and alternative educational paths. As a newswriter in her early career, Brenna's education reporting earned national awards and state-level accol.
Published: Apr 16, 2024, 4:55pm
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More than a half-million people use American Sign Language (ASL) in the U.S., according to research published in the journal “Sign Language Studies,” making ASL the nation’s third most common language. The ability to share a language with such an extensive community can come with personal and professional benefits.
Thanks to online learning, you can learn ASL whenever and wherever you want. You can find virtual ASL courses to fit your schedule and needs, whether you want to learn for personal use or work. Many ASL educators even offer free online sign language courses with certificates of completion to satisfy professional or continuing education requirements.
In this article, we’ll explore the best free and low-cost ASL courses and what other study options you might consider.
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ASL emerged in the U.S. in 1817 with the milestone opening of the American School for the Deaf in Connecticut. One of over 200 sign languages around the world, ASL stands as its own distinct language with its own rules, regional accents and slang. As a visual language, ASL uses facial expressions and hand and body movements to convey meaning.
Learning ASL can bring you closer to the Deaf community around you. You might pursue ASL classes to communicate better with a family member or a neighbor, or maybe you see the professional advantages ASL can bring.
Any industry and occupation that deals with the general public needs professionals who know ASL, including the healthcare, social services and communications sectors. These fields offer specialized opportunities for ASL users, and most public-facing positions can be improved with an understanding of ASL.
ASL courses can also satisfy professional development requirements for employers and certifications. To be eligible, classes typically need to qualify as continuing education units (CEUs) and award a certificate of completion. This type of formal documentation can demonstrate your commitment to personal growth and lifelong learning.
Consider these courses to start building a foundation in ASL.
Certificate Title: ASL 1-4
Program Length: Self-paced
Certificate Overview: Start ASL offers a complete four-level ASL course package that meets the standards laid out by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) and California World Language Standards. The program includes more than 250 lessons in ASL vocabulary, grammar and syntax, plus quizzes and exams.
You can access an interactive classroom, instructor feedback, and a learning community throughout the course. Once you finish each level, you receive a certificate of completion. Start ASL offers its ASL 1 course for free, but you must pay for a membership to access ASL 2 through 4.
Certificate Title: ASL Connect
Program Length: Self-paced
Certificate Overview: Since 1864, Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C., has been a global leader in education for the deaf and signing community. Gallaudet’s ASL Connect allows learners to explore a broad range of ASL lessons for free.
In addition to its free introductory lessons, Gallaudet offers paid courses and non-degree credits for ASL 1 through 6. These courses run through asynchronous or synchronous eight-week or 15-week classes. They all feature live virtual language sessions with instructors.
For educators, Gallaudet also offers a post-bachelor’s certificate in ASL & English bilingual early childhood deaf education: birth to age 5.
Certificate Title: Learn ASL Online
Program Length: Self-paced
Certificate Overview: Sign Language 101 provides free access to beginner lessons covering ASL basics. Sign Language 101 offers paid standalone courses and workbooks for more advanced learners. Students can save time and money by purchasing course bundles as well.
Each course holds accreditation from the International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training (IACET), and each one leads to a certificate of completion. You can access these courses online anytime, and they may qualify as CEUs.
Certificate Title: ASL 1-4
Program Length: Self-paced
Certificate Overview: Since 1987, ASLU has provided ASL instruction and resources to students across the country. Over the years, the platform has expanded and now includes free study materials and lessons, including ASL 1 through 4 self-study courses and example quizzes. You can also access the ASLU dictionary and fingerspelling charts for free.
As an ASLU student, you can watch the video lessons at any time and study with practice sheets, activities and quizzes. However, if you want to receive certificates of completion, the actual course quizzes and the final exam, you must pursue the tuition-based ASLU courses.
Your options for free courses might be limited; check out these low-cost options as well.
Certificate Title: Learn and Master Sign Language
Cost: $39.99
Program Length: Self-paced
Certificate Overview: Udemy‘s ASL course package includes over 47 hours of on-demand videos and interactive lessons. The course covers ASL basics and advanced subjects, with over 2,000 words, fingerspelling tutorials and question-forming assistance. The training explores commonly used words, phrases and dialogue in topics like food, travel and sports.
After purchasing the course, you gain access to quizzes, practice exercises and community support. The self-paced course offers mobile and TV access, along with a certificate of completion.
Certificate Title: The Complete American Sign Language Course Online (ASL Masterclass)
Cost: $59.99
Program Length: Self-paced
Certificate Overview: Registering for Cudoo‘s complete ASL course online gives you lifetime access to over 100 hours of educational content. The course includes ASL 1 through 3, ASL for babies and toddlers, scuba diving hand signals, and an ASL e-book. Upon completion, you receive a certificate of completion. The training qualifies for CEUs at nearly 200 colleges and universities.
Students can access learning materials, lesson videos and practice exercises from the learner dashboard anytime. Cudoo also offers a 14-day money-back guarantee.
Certificate Title: American Sign Language Made Simple
Cost: $199
Program Length: Self-paced
Certificate Overview: This course by ASL Meredith allows students to learn conversational vocabulary and grammar on their own time with pre-recorded lectures. Learners can finish the content in about six weeks. The one-time fee offers access to over 50 lessons, quizzes and practice assignments, plus a certificate of completion.
You can also access Meredith’s YouTube videos for free, which cover a wide range of ASL basics and lessons.
Formal courses aren’t the only way to learn ASL. In fact, if you don’t need to show a certificate of completion to your employer, you might find options that better suit your learning style or interests.
Below, we list some of the many ways to learn sign language for free:
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You can learn sign language for free online through structured courses and standalone lessons. You can also study on your own by watching YouTube videos or using free ASL apps and games.
You can use several free ASL apps to learn the language, such as the ASL App or Lingvano. These apps use interactive lessons to teach basic and conversational ASL from your computer or mobile device.
It can take years to become fluent in ASL, but getting a general understanding of the language might not take very long at all. According to the National Association of the Deaf, many ASL learners pick the language up in about a year, but that depends on how much they study and how fast they learn.
The best place to learn sign language depends on your needs and learning style. If you need a free online sign language course with a certificate, you might consider Start ASL, as they provide a free ASL 1 course and certificate to get you started on your language journey.
