Has anyone learned (fluently) American Sign Language as an adult?

So, I am single sided deaf (only since about 2006 and it was very sudden). Thinking that it might be a good idea to learn American Sign Language just in case anything should happen to the hearing in my other ear, but not sure how difficult it is to teach an old dog new tricks, so to speak lol.

If you became fluent in ASL later in life (perhaps due to having a deaf child or spouse), how did you go about learning? Did you take classes? If so, where? Or did you use DVDs? If so, which ones? A combination of methods?

I took some ASL classes after school when I was a kid, but I don't remember anything really worthwhile. I know the alphabet and a few relatively useless words like "hot dog" and "dead"

Anyway, just figured I'd ask here to see if I can find a starting point.

Thanks!

Re: Has anyone learned (fluently) American Sign Language as an adult?

You may want to check Nassau or suffolk community college for either continuing education classes or see if you could sit in on classes and just not be greaded ( old people used to do That all the time at my collegel) also once you start learning you may want to keep doing it all the time as you speak at home. If you don’t keep doing it you’ll lose what you learn. Good luck, I would love to learn ASL just to know it.

Re: Has anyone learned (fluently) American Sign Language as an adult?

Thank ou! I didnt even think to check the community colleges lol.

I always wondered why schools didnt offer the option to take ASL as a "foreign" language. Actually, when I took it as an after school activity in elementary school, i remember thinking that i didn't understand why it wasnt just taught as part of English class right from the start... Never expecting back then that I would suddenly lose half of my hearing as an adult!

Thanks for the suggestion!

Has anyone learned (fluently) American Sign Language as an adult?

I took classes at Suffolk and became fluent and with asl it wasn't if you don't loose it you loose it partly because there are multiple routes of learning (visual kinesthetic and auditory) all with the same response. I enjoyed my classes at Suffolk and still am able use it to this day- granted I took the class's for credit but I think they have non credit adult learning as well

Has anyone learned (fluently) American Sign Language as an adult?

I did but I can say I'm fluent. It was my language while in college. Stony Brook had classes, Nassau and you can call Mill Neck a school for the deaf. They offer classes

Re: Has anyone learned (fluently) American Sign Language as an adult?

Hofstra has a continuing Ed program in ASL. Its great strictly sign language no speaking allowed. They have 4 semesters and then there are other types of classes you can take it you wanted to obtain a Certificate.

Has anyone learned (fluently) American Sign Language as an adult?

Me. Took it at dowling college.

Has anyone learned (fluently) American Sign Language as an adult?

The Cleary School in Nesconset has ASL programs, highly recommend!

You can take the first course online...



Cleary School for the Deaf ASL classes

Message edited 5/13/2015 11:06:18 AM.

Has anyone learned (fluently) American Sign Language as an adult?

Also Mill Neck school for the deaf

Has anyone learned (fluently) American Sign Language as an adult?

Also Mill Neck school for the deaf
https://millneck.org/our-services/deaf-education/

Has anyone learned (fluently) American Sign Language as an adult?

Thanks all! Now I have some places to start! It seems so daunting, learning a whole new language. But I think it will be good to learn. Just found out my neighbor is hearing impaired also. He knows sign language, so I will have someone to practice with. Yay!

Re: Has anyone learned (fluently) American Sign Language as an adult?

My friend teaches ASL at Nassau and at the high school where I work (it's offered as a foreign language there). Students generally become fluent in just a couple of years, as opposed to about 6 for Spanish or French. You can do it!

(as an aside, I started doing an online course and it was a great introduction to ASL. Dr. Bill Vicars's site Just because it's online doesn't mean it's easy - you really have to commit about an hour of uninterrupted quiet time per lesson, and then you have to practice. I practiced with my friend at work and in front of a mirror. Maybe try the first few lessons to see if it's something you want to continue with?)

Has anyone learned (fluently) American Sign Language as an adult?

I'm not fluent but know a lot of common words. My special needs niece had major verbal delays and we all learned to sign when she was little. My MIL and SIL took classes at a community college( in Florida) and my niece's home therapists also helped us all learn.