How to Learn American Sign Language: 6 Ways to Learn ASL Effectively

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Do you want to learn American Sign Language but haven’t found the right resource for you?

You can use this guide to find a way to study ASL that fits your learning style and language goals. Whether you prefer a more traditional method like books or courses, or want to explore more modern ways to learn like apps, online tutors, and YouTube videos, this guide can help you find a method that’s right for you.

Here at Langoly, our team has over 5 decades of combined language learning experience, and we’ve tested and reviewed over 600 language products. We’ve helped millions of readers through the language learning process, and this article will help you find the best tools to learn ASL.

Best ASL App

Try Rocket Sign Language

Best ASL Course

Try Udemy

Best ASL tutors

Try italki

American Sign Language (ASL) is the recognized language of deaf and hard-of-hearing people in the United States. ASL is a visual language that does not use spoken sounds. Instead, it uses hand signs, body movements, and facial expressions to communicate. It also consists of fingerspelling (or dactylology), which you can use to spell out specific names or words that don’t have a sign yet.

There are many reasons to learn ASL. First of all, more than 500,000 people in the United States are deaf or hard of hearing. Learning sign language will enable you to communicate with the Deaf community more easily. Chances are you know, or have interacted with, someone who is deaf or hard of hearing. Many people learn ASL to communicate with a family member, student, friend, or coworker.

How to Learn ASL: Achieve Fluency with These 6 Proven Methods

There’s no magic formula to learn a language overnight, but there are some ways to learn ASL faster and more efficiently. It’s a good idea to use more than one resource. Using a language app or watching YouTube videos can help you learn the signs and how to combine them into phrases, but there’s no substitution for practicing with a real person. You can take lessons from an online tutor, find a group in your community, or find a 1-on-1 practice partner.

The methods and resources included on this list were selected because of their effectiveness to learn ASL. We follow a strict testing methodology to make sure any products we recommend are high quality and worth your time. Any of the products you see below will help you master the different aspects of American Sign Language.

1. Use the Best ASL Apps

Using an app is one of the best ways to start learning ASL. They are easy to use and begin with the basics. Most apps are engaging and include interactive lessons that make practicing fun. Rocket Sign Language, ASL Bloom, and The ASL App are three of the best options out there. They use videos to show how to correctly sign and are addicting so you’ll want to practice every day.

Commitment: Low
Price: Low-Medium
Convenience: High

Try Rocket Sign Language

Try ASL Bloom

Try The ASL App

See more ASL apps

Rocket Sign Language

Rocket Sign Language has the best overall course that will help you learn ASL the right way. Each lesson features videos of people signing with detailed explanations of how to combine signs into sentences. Rocket also includes tons of information on Deaf culture, such as how to join a conversation with people who are signing and the importance of signing space. This takes their course a step further than many other apps. You can try Rocket Sign Language for free for 7 days or read more about it in this review.

ASL Bloom

ASL Bloom is an excellent choice for beginners because they don’t presume you have any prior knowledge of ASL. The app was designed to help families and friends of deaf children learn how to sign. The videos show exactly how to make a sign and the spaced repetition will help you remember them long-term. In addition to the lessons, there are practice quizzes and flashcards, as well as a sign bank where you can search for a specific sign. You can read more about the app in this ASL Bloom review and try the first 3 units for free.

The ASL App

The ASL App was designed by deaf people to help friends and family who want to learn to sign. It’s a simple app that includes vocabulary lists such as colors, education, and pop culture. You click on a list to watch video flashcards that you can sign along with. Each video can be repeated, saved to a favorites list, or slowed down so you can see how to sign the word or phrase correctly. Some videos also include additional information and context on how to use the sign. You can try the first few lessons for free on The ASL App to see if you enjoy using it.

2. Take an Online ASL Course

An online ASL course is a helpful option if you like to learn in a structured way. The lessons and study material are laid out for you so you always know what to study next. Most courses use a combination of live or pre-recorded classes, plus additional study material to complete outside of class to help reinforce what you learned in the lessons. Udemy, Start ASL, and ASL Deafined have well-structured and developed courses to fit a variety of language goals.

Commitment: High
Price: Medium-High
Convenience: Medium