How to Progressively Learn Sign Language
Learn to communicate with your hands and heart
By Winny Wint Htae
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Sign language is such a fulfilling language to pick up since you will be able to communicate with the deaf community better with it. James Ong, an executive in the department of Deaf Access Services at Singapore Association for the Deaf (SADeaf) encourages people of all ages to pick up sign language because it is as easy as “a baby picking up spoken language from [a] mother’s talking”.
Since sign language being one of the most useful languages to learn, here are a few tips and tricks to progressively picking up sign language and becoming proficient in it.
Firstly, taking up sign language classes is the easiest way to start. Sign language classes are available at SADeaf. Singapore Sign Language Programme at SADeaf teaches Singapore Sign Language (SgSL). SgSL is a combination of three sign languages which are Shanghainese Sign Language (SSL), American Sign Language (ASL) and Signing Exact English (SEE) and also some signs created locally.
The course instructors do not speak when teaching sign language and instead, participants have to learn through classroom instructions and lessons even involve role-play in order to reinforce the learning experience. The Programme offers three different types of classes to suit your needs.
If you are determined to learn SgSL, the SgSL would be great because it has regular classes instead of being a one-time class. If you are worried that you will not be able to catch up because you are a beginner, the SgSL Course comprises of three levels of classes according to your skill level! Besides the SgSL Course, the Programme also offers half-day or full-day workshops for people who are not looking to take regular classes.
Through this course, you will be able to learn basic SgSL grammar and vocabulary and this will definitely be of great help to get you started on your sign language journey. Other programmes such as Deaf Awareness Programme and Deaf Awareness and Sign Language Programme are also available at SADeaf.
Basic hand signs in sign language that can be used in daily life.
If you would like to teach yourself how to sign instead of paying to attend classes, looking for online resources would be best. There are many videos online on sites such as YouTube that teach SgSL and they are easy to follow. While you might miss the chance to interact with others like you could in a classroom setting, learning by yourself gives you the chance to learn SgSL at your own pace.
YouTuber Lilly Goh has many videos teaching SgSL. If you would like to learn ASL which is the most common sign language, there are websites that offer tutorials and quizzes so you can have your own ASL class at home! Shaheedah Bte Rahmad, 18, who is a member of a sign language club suggests using a website called Handspeak, which she uses to practice her own signing, to learn signing. You can also learn ASL while on the go with apps such as ASL Coach which teaches you the ASL alphabet.
Being proficient in the ASL alphabet is a great way to start your sign language journey because it allows you to make up simple words using the alphabet.
Signing “thank you” in sign language alphabet
The most important step in learning to sign is to practice regularly. Rahmad advises beginners to “practice when [you are] free and try to sign more”.
One of the ways to squeeze in more practice is to join a sign language club in school like Rahmad. That way, you will be able to hold conversations with other learners which will speed up the process of learning signs with frequent use. Chang Wei Tze Jovan, 19, who is also in the same club as Rahmad also gave a tip. According to him, “the best way to [become fluent in sign language] is by practicing it and applying it in real-life scenarios by communicating with the deaf community”.
By practicing it regularly and incorporating it into your life often, you will get used to signing faster and will become fluent in no time! These are just some tips and tricks to becoming fluent in sign language but you should also have fun learning a new language!