Course Options
Most people become proficient in their first language before ever having a grammar lesson. Linguistic research has shown that through communicating in the target language, grammar rules are inherently learned as the student uses that language. (That's why most children who aren't even school age yet can form complete, coherent sentences.) The classes we provide are focused on the USE of ASL as a tool for communication. While we will teach basic principles of ASL grammar, we will not expect students to learn the details of every specific rule.
Classes offered here will be geared toward specific age-groups. We run on a 4-month semester schedule. For example, Beginning ASL I runs September-December, Beginning ASL II runs January-April, and so forth. Class offerings are dependent upon sufficient demand. More information, as well as registration for classes, will be available on August 1st.
Beginning ASL (I & II)
Toes in the water...
This class will take you from knowing little or no ASL to being able to have a basic sign language conversation. Students will learn classifiers, fingerspelling, body positioning, facial expressions, vocabulary, and a little about Deaf culture. This class will have some instructions in English (especially for younger children). However, since we will be emphasizing the use of ASL for communication, there will also be plenty of 'ASL Only' segments as well (don't worry - you can do it! :). Some informal quizzes will be given to help students see how they are doing. There are no prerequisites for this class. All students should be mature enough to participate for at least 30 minutes at a time.
STANDARD ($40/month) includes:
LITE ($25/month) includes:
(Please contact us for whole family rates)
Intermediate ASL (I & II)
Wading pool open...
This class will continue where Beginning ASL II left off. You'll improve your conversational ASL skills by adding vocabulary/classifiers and improving your use of signing space, facial expression, body positioning, ASL sign order, etc. Through continued ASL communication opportunities, along with feedback and direct instruction, you'll increase your skill and confidence in ASL. This class will be taught using the 'NO VOICE' rule almost the entire time, for a better immersion experience.
STANDARD ($45/month) includes:
LITE ($30/month) includes:
(Please contact us for whole family rates)
Advanced ASL (I & II) (Not currently offered for Fall 2017)
Is that a diving board?...
This class will help students continue to improve both their receptive and expressive skills and provide more specific feedback on all aspects of their signing. Explorations will be made into more of the topics that are likely to be encountered in everyday life, including those requested by the students. These will form the subject matter for our ASL conversations. Signing skills will be evaluated and polished further as we go, helping the student to attain a natural feel for the language. The goal for this class is to become so comfortable with ASL that at night you dream in sign (okay, that's not really a requirement, but that's the idea :).
STANDARD ($50/month) includes:
LITE ($35/month) includes:
(Please contact us for whole family rates)
ASL Chats (Included with class registration)
Look Ma! I'm swimming on my own!...
This option is for students who want to be able to practice with other students taking the course. At the posted times, students in the same skill levels will be able to log into Zoom and practice the signs they have been learning. ASL Chats are included for all students. While they are optional, we strongly urge you to participate in them. We also encourage students to exchange contact information with each other and set up their own separate practice sessions as often as possible. The more time you can spend actually using ASL to communicate, the faster you will learn, and the more fluent you will be.
How do classes work? You choose the class you want to sign up for and get registered here on this website, between Aug 1 - Aug 25. As part of that registration you will type in an email address. An email with a link will be sent to that address. About 5-10 minutes before it is time for your class, just click on the link, follow directions and sha-bam! You're in! Almost any device with a webcam, connected to high-speed internet, will work with Zoom (What's Zoom?).
Satisfaction Guarantee We are trying something new and we really want it to be valuable to you and others, so please let us know how we can help make that happen. If at any time during the first month of class you are not satisfied, just let us know and we'll refund your fee from that month. We also understand that sometimes life changes in ways we're not expecting, so if you (sadly) won't be able to continue, you can drop the class at any time, and we'll give you a prorated refund for anything you've already paid for.
Classes offered here will be geared toward specific age-groups. We run on a 4-month semester schedule. For example, Beginning ASL I runs September-December, Beginning ASL II runs January-April, and so forth. Class offerings are dependent upon sufficient demand. More information, as well as registration for classes, will be available on August 1st.
Beginning ASL (I & II)
Toes in the water...
This class will take you from knowing little or no ASL to being able to have a basic sign language conversation. Students will learn classifiers, fingerspelling, body positioning, facial expressions, vocabulary, and a little about Deaf culture. This class will have some instructions in English (especially for younger children). However, since we will be emphasizing the use of ASL for communication, there will also be plenty of 'ASL Only' segments as well (don't worry - you can do it! :). Some informal quizzes will be given to help students see how they are doing. There are no prerequisites for this class. All students should be mature enough to participate for at least 30 minutes at a time.
STANDARD ($40/month) includes:
- One 60-minute class -OR- two 30-minute classes per week
- One optional 60-minute ASL Chat per week
- (Add $30/month for each additional family member)
LITE ($25/month) includes:
- One 30-minute class per week
- One optional 60-minute ASL Chat per week
- (Add $20/month for each additional family member)
(Please contact us for whole family rates)
Intermediate ASL (I & II)
Wading pool open...
This class will continue where Beginning ASL II left off. You'll improve your conversational ASL skills by adding vocabulary/classifiers and improving your use of signing space, facial expression, body positioning, ASL sign order, etc. Through continued ASL communication opportunities, along with feedback and direct instruction, you'll increase your skill and confidence in ASL. This class will be taught using the 'NO VOICE' rule almost the entire time, for a better immersion experience.
STANDARD ($45/month) includes:
- One 60-minute class -OR- two 30-minute classes per week
- One optional 60-minute ASL Chat per week
- (Add $35/month for each additional family member)
LITE ($30/month) includes:
- One 30-minute class per week
- One optional 60-minute ASL Chat per week
- (Add $25/month for each additional family member)
(Please contact us for whole family rates)
Advanced ASL (I & II) (Not currently offered for Fall 2017)
Is that a diving board?...
This class will help students continue to improve both their receptive and expressive skills and provide more specific feedback on all aspects of their signing. Explorations will be made into more of the topics that are likely to be encountered in everyday life, including those requested by the students. These will form the subject matter for our ASL conversations. Signing skills will be evaluated and polished further as we go, helping the student to attain a natural feel for the language. The goal for this class is to become so comfortable with ASL that at night you dream in sign (okay, that's not really a requirement, but that's the idea :).
STANDARD ($50/month) includes:
- One 60-minute class -OR- two 30-minute classes per week
- One optional 60-minute ASL Chat per week
- (Add $35/month for each additional family member)
LITE ($35/month) includes:
- One 30-minute class per week
- One optional 60-minute ASL Chat per week
- (Add $25/month for each additional family member)
(Please contact us for whole family rates)
ASL Chats (Included with class registration)
Look Ma! I'm swimming on my own!...
This option is for students who want to be able to practice with other students taking the course. At the posted times, students in the same skill levels will be able to log into Zoom and practice the signs they have been learning. ASL Chats are included for all students. While they are optional, we strongly urge you to participate in them. We also encourage students to exchange contact information with each other and set up their own separate practice sessions as often as possible. The more time you can spend actually using ASL to communicate, the faster you will learn, and the more fluent you will be.
How do classes work? You choose the class you want to sign up for and get registered here on this website, between Aug 1 - Aug 25. As part of that registration you will type in an email address. An email with a link will be sent to that address. About 5-10 minutes before it is time for your class, just click on the link, follow directions and sha-bam! You're in! Almost any device with a webcam, connected to high-speed internet, will work with Zoom (What's Zoom?).
Satisfaction Guarantee We are trying something new and we really want it to be valuable to you and others, so please let us know how we can help make that happen. If at any time during the first month of class you are not satisfied, just let us know and we'll refund your fee from that month. We also understand that sometimes life changes in ways we're not expecting, so if you (sadly) won't be able to continue, you can drop the class at any time, and we'll give you a prorated refund for anything you've already paid for.