Lingvano.com .. My First Learning Experience.

I did not realize when I started this assignment how many variations there would be when it came to learning sign language online. I mean… They should all basically be the same right? They will all be on video, start out with basic signs and work their way into teaching sentences. HOWEVER. I have been amazed at the different variations of teaching styles I have seen.

For this week however, my focus will be on a site called Lingvano.  I mentioned this site last week, and have used this time to explore it a little and memorize my first words in sign language. I liked the simplicity of the site. They use interactive lessons to teach small ten minute segments of words. You can practice each word as little or for as long as you like, and then hit the next button at the of the page. Predictably they use video to teach the words, which makes sense as facial expression and lip reading in sign language is just about as important as the sign. After every few words, they do mini tests to be sure you understand the meaning of the words before they move on.

Another interesting feature of this website is that they explain how the word order is different in sign language then it is when we speak. When I spoke sign language years ago, I was not aware of this, and so I would speak in sign language the way I would in English. For example, I would say: “Are you deaf?” A non-hearing person would sign, “You deaf?”  That is because American sign Language has it’s own grammar and Syntax. (This basically means what word comes after another word.) So far I have learned some greetings, (most of which I knew) and how you would ask a person if they were deaf. (I did not know these signs) Finally they moved into some easy dialog. (Hello, How you) or Hello, how are you. I know that you are bored with the technicalities by now.. .so how about a video of a little girl learning some signs… 😀 I was ten just like Marin when I learned sign language with my friend Debbie. She loves language like me, so although she was a little shy about being on video… she was happy to learn some signs…

My daughter attempting to do some sign Language.

While this is the free version I am using, there is a paid version. For $25.17 a month, you can gain access to unlimited access to all lessons, a vocab trainer and an ASL dictionary. I really like this website. I feel it is fairly well done, and the lessons build on themselves quite well.

Next week, I will be learning about a website called Sign Language Blitz.