Learning a new language, in this case sign language (ASL) is synonymous with embarking on a trip to an unknown territory. How long it will take depends on different factors, some of these factors are- the means of transport (language tool), the pace/speed, and the interest of the individual who is embarking on this journey to arrive at the destination (as it concerns this topic; proficiency in ASL), etc.
With that being said, let’s see through this article how long it might take you to learn American Sign Language and how you can accelerate your ASL learning. But first, let’s discuss these factors that play a major role in your language journey
Exact Duration Taken to Learn a New Language (ASL)
According to the National Association of the Deaf, it can take a year or more to learn sign language. Ann English in Languagers says it takes about 60-90 hours to learn the basics of ASL. Amanda Steele suggests it takes about three months to three years to have a good knowledge of sign language.
The truth about the timing of learning ASL is that it majorly depends on YOU. As put succinctly by Fernanda Foggeti, “There is no magical trick to learning a new language from the beginning.”
So, how quickly do you want to learn ASL? You alongside the following factors we shall consider below are responsible for the speed of your ASL learning
Some Factors That Determine How Long it Takes for YOU to Learn ASL
Your Interest in/Your Reason for Learning
If you are learning ASL only to kill time, you’ll find that you have little motivation to continue learning when the honeymoon phase is over. Therefore, having a solid reason to learn (for example, to communicate with a deaf friend family member, or colleague, to join a deaf community, to get a job as an interpreter, etc.) can increase your learning speed.
Learning Uniqueness
As humans with different cognitive abilities, surrounded by different cultures and from different socioeconomic backgrounds, each of us learns at a different pace.
Some people might need a professional to teach them the new language, others can self-learn with a learning app, via games, or other learning platforms. For some, they grasp the language just from watching others (without actively/consciously going through language lessons).
The Resources at Your Disposal
To boost your morale to learn ASL like learning any other new language, it’s good to utilize additional learning resources. The reason is that these resources add fuel to the learning fire and it fills in any learning gaps you might have as time progresses.
Take note that your learning uniqueness determines what resources you’d want to use. Take a look at some language learning resources here.
Three Unique Tips to Accelerate YOUR ASL Learning
Give It (the language-ASL) Adequate Time A Day
There’s a popular quote that says “You become the best at what you spend most of your time doing.” It, therefore means that your proficiency in ASL requires your time and a great deal at that.
Kai Wenzel in his article “The Secret to Rapid Language: How Many Hours a Day Should You Study?” suggests that dedicating one to two hours a day to practicing (active listening, writing, speaking, and reading) a language will make you fluent in that language. Does that mean you shouldn’t spend more? There’s no harm in more, the harm is usually in the less.
Be Persistent, Patient, and Consistent
When you don’t feel like learning ASL on any particular day, that’s when you should learn it (and exceed the usual time). When you make a mistake during practice, repeat the lesson until you get it right. Let your determination to learn ASL show in every practice.
The time stretch some people experience learning a new language can be due to a lack of these factors. They let discouragement get the best of them.
Pair with Another Person or with a Group
If you can, get someone who is learning ASL or who wants to learn ASL and share your lessons with them. Seeing others take the same steps as you can encourage you. This is one of the reasons why classroom learning is supported.
If you can’t get one person, go for a group. The idea is to see others who are eager to learn the language, hear their stories about why they want to learn ASL, and help in their struggles in learning where they can.
You’ll be surprised to find that as you learn with others, they can be your tutors as you are theirs. Thus aiding the learning experience.
You Can Use a Journal to Keep Track of Your Learning Journey
Are you wondering how a journal is going to help you accelerate your learning of ASL? Let’s see the major ingredient that makes for a successful language journal in the first place.
- Writing frequently and only in the language being learned.
The purpose of a language journal is to keep a record of your lessons.
For a spoken language, it helps if you only write in the language you are learning based on what you learn per time (it could be daily or weekly using ONLY words from what you’ve learned).
But given that ASL isn’t a spoken language, how do you get the best out of a language journal? YOU write down (the words or phrases or sentences you have mastered and can confidently use ASL signs at a given time). This helps you not to go backward when you are supposed to be moving forward.
Conclusion
You should know and never doubt that ASL is a language worth spending your time learning. A lot of people seek to be multilingual for different reasons. So, first and foremost, it’s best that you examine your reasons for wanting to learn ASL. As discussed in this article, your reason is one of the factors that determines your learning period.
Don’t hesitate to be a part of the ASL learning community learning for the right reasons. SignBee Academy offers effective ASL learning resources that can help you.
Thumbnail Photo Credit to Image by Doug88888 on Openverse
