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

Langoly is supported by our readers. We review products independently, but we may earn affiliate commissions if you buy through links on this page. As an Amazon Associate, Langoly earns from qualifying purchases. Please read our full disclosure for more information.

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.

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

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

See more ASL courses

Udemy

Udemy is a massive online platform that has all types of educational courses and has almost 100 options for ASL courses. Some of the most popular courses include “Learn & Master Sign Language” and “First 500+ ASL Signs.” Each course has a detailed description, including how many hours of video lessons are included and what is covered in each unit. You can also read past student reviews and see how many people have taken the course to make sure you are getting a quality option. Watch a preview video of each course on the Udemy website, or read more about the overall platform in this Udemy review.

Start ASL

Start ASL is a developed platform that features online ASL courses for all levels. It’s a comprehensive site that puts together all the resources you need to study ASL effectively. You learn the grammar and sentence structure to sign fluently, not just vocabulary. The courses are self-paced so you learn at your own speed. There are video lessons, quizzes to check progress, dictionaries, and much more. Start ASL has quite a few free lessons and other resources available for free.

ASL Deafined

ASL Deafined structures its courses for different types of learners: deaf students, family members of deaf children, and people with a special interest in learning ASL. There are over 300 lessons for each of the groups. You also get retention activities, a progress chart, an ASL dictionary, and more. The yearly subscription price is very affordable, and you can access the lessons on the ASL Deafined app. You can sign up for a free 3-day trial to see if ASL Deafined is a good choice for you.

3. Find an Online ASL Tutor

One of the best ways to sign fluently in ASL is to practice with a teacher. This way, you can practice having a conversation and receive immediate feedback. Now, there are tons of online options available to connect with a tutor. Italki, Take Lessons, and Superprof have experienced teachers who can offer you individualized classes.

Commitment: Medium
Price: Medium-High
Convenience: Medium

italki

italki is a general language-learning platform that connects language learners with tutors. You can find tutors that teach ASL, as well as tutors that teach other variations of sign language. While italki is used more for languages like Spanish and German, there are currently 16 ASL teachers. They all have excellent ratings from past students. You can search their profiles to find a teacher that’s right for you. Most teachers offer a discounted trial class to see if they are a good fit. You can also read more about the platform in this italki review.

Take Lessons

Take Lessons is an educational platform that connects students and teachers of various subjects. There are currently 45 teachers available that teach ASL. Each teacher creates their own lessons and sets their class time and prices. You can read their bios to find out their experience with ASL and if they are deaf and/or their connection with the deaf community. There isn’t a free trial class available, but you can try the teacher with a 30-minute class and many teachers offer a new student special.

Superprof

Superprof is a growing platform that connects language learners and teachers. There are currently 52 tutors available to teach you ASL. They set their own price so there is a wide range and you can find one that fits your budget. You can get to know the teachers through their bios and reviews from past students before you decide to take a class. Some teachers even teach face-to-face lessons if they live in your area. Most teachers offer a free trial lesson, and some have special deals if you buy multiple classes at once.

4. Study with High-Quality ASL Books

Books are a convenient way to study ASL. You can take a book anywhere and practice at any time. They often provide detailed descriptions and illustrations so you are learning the how and why of the language. American Sign Language for Beginners, American Sign Language Dictionary, and Barron’s American Sign Language are a few of the most popular options available.

Commitment: Low
Price: Medium
Convenience: Medium

American Sign Language for Beginners

American Sign Language for Beginners is a helpful choice if you’re just starting to learn ASL. It has 30 days of lessons to get you signing the basics in a month. Each daily lesson takes less than 30 minutes to complete and teaches a vocabulary and grammar topic. There are pictures of all of the signs to see what they should look like. There are also useful tips and practice activities included. You can learn more about the book here.

American Sign Language Dictionary

The American Sign Language Dictionary is a reference with over 5,000 signs included. Each sign is illustrated with a written explanation of how to make it correctly. It’s a useful reference for both beginners and more advanced learners. The words are in alphabetical order so you can look up a word or phrase and see the corresponding sign. It’s one of the most comprehensive ASL references around. You can learn more about the American Sign Language Dictionary here.

Barron’s American Sign Language

Barron’s American Sign Language is a comprehensive textbook that can help you learn all aspects of ASL. In addition to learning vocabulary signs, there is instruction on grammar, how to combine signs into phrases, and information on the Deaf culture and community. There are online practice activities and graded video quizzes so you can receive feedback on how you are progressing. The lessons are challenging and might be better for people who already know the basics of ASL. See what you think about the book here.

5. Watch ASL YouTube Videos

Watching YouTube videos is a fun way to learn ASL, and it’s completely free! There are instructional videos that teach basic signs, while others are more informational and talk about Deaf culture. With most videos, you can turn subtitles on/off to fit your level. Finding a quality YouTube channel can be time-consuming, but the channels listed below have great instructional videos to get you signing fast.

Commitment: Low
Price: Low
Convenience: High

Learn How to Sign

Meredith is a certified ASL teacher who makes videos that show you how to sign correctly. She starts with basic words and phrases and gets into more advanced topics. There are even quizzes to test your knowledge and check your understanding. There are also videos that teach grammar and fingerspelling. She posts a new video every week so there’s always new content.

Bill Vicars

Dr. Bill Vicars teaches sign language through immersion. In each video, he teaches an ASL student new signs. That way you can see how he signs it and see corrections of common errors. His videos are humorous and he makes learning entertaining. He even has videos of how to sign dad jokes in ASL. There are hundreds of videos already uploaded on the Bill Vicars channel.

Signed With Heart

Signed With Heart was created by Ashley, a deaf woman born to a hearing family. She has both instructional videos and vlogs showing her daily life. It’s a great way for more advanced learners to practice because her vlogs show her signing naturally and you can turn the captions on and off to check for understanding. You can check out all her videos on the Signed With Heart YouTube page.

6. Find an ASL Practice Partner

It’s no secret that practice makes perfect (or at least gets you closer to it). The same applies to learning ASL. If you want to become communicative, you’ll need to practice with other signers to reach a certain level of fluency. But if you don’t know anybody that communicates in ASL, it might be hard to practice. Now, there are plenty of options to find someone to practice with, either in-person or online.

Commitment: Low
Price: Low
Convenience: High

Meetup

Meetup is a social platform that lets members join groups according to their interests. You can search in your area to find an ASL group that meets in person. If there isn’t one near you, there are many online events you can attend. Some events are purely social, and others are educational that teach you how to sign. Most events are free, but some might charge a small fee to cover costs.

Social ASL

Social ASL was made to bridge the gap between the Deaf and hearing communities and connect signers. When you create an account, you have the option to choose if you are looking for friendship or dating and find others with the same intentions. There is an app available and you can make video calls to other members through the app.

Sign Language Forum

The Sign Language Forum can be used to post questions and talk about ASL-related topics. Many people post requests for a practice partner. There are also video chat rooms that you can join right from the website. You can choose a room based on your level, or join a mixed-level chat. It’s easy to sign up and is free to use. There are also other interesting ASL resources available on the site.

How to Learn ASL: Final Thoughts

I hope this list helps guide you to the best way for you to learn ASL. There are many reasons to learn sign language, and learning this unique language can be a rewarding journey. Just as with learning any language, it takes time and dedication to reach a certain level of fluency. My best advice is to focus on why you are learning ASL and enjoy the journey.

Want to learn more? Check out our ASL resource page.

How to Learn ASL: FAQ