Hello ASL Heroes!!! Hey, I could really use your help. If you’ve enjoyed having access to an expert in ASL you can help me continue my work for you. A small (or more if you can afford it) donation from you would instantly make a big difference here at the studio because teachers don’t earn much and I could use some help paying for server and domain hosting for Lifeprint.com. You can help out a humble (not to mention kind, caring, generous, compassionate, helpful, friendly, fair, and hard-working) ASL teacher -- just go here right now and a few clicks later you too will be a true “ASL Hero!” www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=64QMBRBXQSV6G Or, if you prefer "Cash App" you can use: cash.me/$Lifeprint Or use Patreon at www.patreon.com/ASLU Every little bit helps so much! Thanks! - Dr. Bill p.s. Want to have your very own USB drive with four semesters worth of ASL instruction for just $79.95? See "SuperUSB" in the ASLUniversity bookstore at: lifeprint.com/bookstore/bookstore.htm Take care and love to you all. :)
Hi Dr. Bill, just gave you a donation yesterday. Wanted to say that these videos are incredible, and I can really see a difference even in these videos from the ones you posted a few years ago of the same content. Obviously the recording quality is better, but you've also gotten a little more patient, the pace is a little slower/a little easier for near-beginners... as a fellow educator (I teach ESL, which maaaany people mishear as being ASL,) I really hope that I continue to hone my skills and that there is a noticeable improvement in the quality of my education year after year. All of your stuff is great and so valuable, no matter when it was made, but that element is something I really admire. You're a fantastic teacher.
Jessica, Thank you for the donation and even more for the nice feedback. I do indeed strive to improve as a teacher. As you know, there is so much involved that isn't apparent on the screen. Best wishes and warm regards to you. - Dr. Bill
For the past two or three years i have been watching your lesson videos on youtube. I only got close to lesson 40 and would go back to lesson 1 through almost lesson 40 over and over again. Hard to remember all the signs but i just keep going over the lessons. i dont have anyone to practice signing with me. I have enjoyed your class on youtube.
Hello "Charmed!" Perhaps you might want to consider setting a goal to watch all 600 or so of the videos in the official ASLU master playlist. Here's the link: ua-cam.com/play/PL6akqFwEeSpiLwRFA3ZvuOWMwPXwI7NqA.html Warm regards and happy viewing!
@@sign-language so are you saying watch All the videos. than just repeat the whole series of videos over again and again and again? Theirs so many signs just trying to remember up to almost 40th lesson. I will give it a try and watch them all. wow 600 or so didnt know their were than many.
If you need assistance in remembering the signs in the lessons, see item 3 below. ----------------------------------------- How to use ASL University to learn sign language for free: 1. Visit Lifeprint.com and become familiar with the ASL University website. 2. Bookmark the official ASLU UA-cam master playlist: ua-cam.com/play/PL6akqFwEeSpiLwRFA3ZvuOWMwPXwI7NqA.html 3. For quick reviews (to prevent memory extinction) bookmark the "Signs" channel playlist page: ua-cam.com/users/Lifeprint-signsplaylists 4. If you use a desktop or laptop computer you can look up signs using this page: www.lifeprint.com/search.htm 5. If you use a mobile device you can look up signs using this page: www.lifeprint.com/search/index.htm 6. If you can’t find a sign after using the search options at Lifeprint.com then consider applying to join the Lifeprint-ASLU Facebook group and asking your question there. See: facebook.com/groups/Lifeprint.ASLU/ 7. Go through the ASLU Lessons for free: www.lifeprint.com/asl101/lessons/lessons.htm ----------------------------------------- Ways to support the ASL University channel: * For donation options, see: www.Lifeprint.com/donate.htm * Click the “thumb up” (like) icon on videos at UA-cam.com/billvicars * Click the “subscribe” button at UA-cam.com/billvicars (if you haven't done so yet) * Click the “Share” link and share the videos.
Thanks Annesha! Well, here's hoping for your amazing future financial (and life) success! Until then, a few free ways to help out include: * Click the “thumb up” (like) icon on videos at UA-cam.com/billvicars * Click the “subscribe” button at UA-cam.com/billvicars (if you haven't done so yet) * Click the “Share” link and share the videos with all your friends and social media contacts. Plus let them know how they can learn ASL for free: 1. Visit Lifeprint.com and become familiar with the ASL University website. 2. Bookmark the official ASLU UA-cam master playlist: ua-cam.com/play/PL6akqFwEeSpiLwRFA3ZvuOWMwPXwI7NqA.html 3. For quick reviews (to prevent memory extinction) bookmark the "Signs" channel playlist page: ua-cam.com/users/Lifeprint-signsplaylists or more specifically: ua-cam.com/users/Lifeprint-signsplaylists?view=50&sort=dd&shelf_id=1 4. If you use a desktop or laptop computer you can look up signs using this page: www.lifeprint.com/search.htm 5. If you use a mobile device you can look up signs using this page: www.lifeprint.com/search/index.htm 6. If you can’t find a sign after using the search options at Lifeprint.com then consider applying to join the Lifeprint-ASLU Facebook group and asking your question there. See: facebook.com/groups/Lifeprint.ASLU/ 7. Go through the ASLU Lessons for free: www.lifeprint.com/asl101/lessons/lessons.htm Best wishes and warm regards to you on your journey! Excelsior! p.s. A few thought questions to post somewhere you will see everyday: What do I plan on accomplishing today? What is the best use of my time right now? What is the next physical action that will bring me closer to my goal? Five years from now what do I want to be doing? What actions should I do now to benefit my future self?
How to use ASL University to learn sign language for free: 1. Visit Lifeprint.com and become familiar with the ASL University website. 2. Bookmark the official ASLU UA-cam master playlist: ua-cam.com/play/PL6akqFwEeSpiLwRFA3ZvuOWMwPXwI7NqA.html 3. For quick reviews (to prevent memory extinction) bookmark the "Signs" channel playlist page: ua-cam.com/users/Lifeprint-signsplaylists 4. If you use a desktop or laptop computer you can look up signs using this page: www.lifeprint.com/search.htm 5. If you use a mobile device you can look up signs using this page: www.lifeprint.com/search/index.htm 6. If you can’t find a sign after using the search options at Lifeprint.com then consider applying to join the Lifeprint-ASLU Facebook group and asking your question there. See: facebook.com/groups/Lifeprint.ASLU/ 7. Go through the ASLU Lessons for free: www.lifeprint.com/asl101/lessons/lessons.htm Your comments, questions, or suggestions are always welcome. To contact Dr. Bill Vicars, see: www.lifeprint.com/asl101/pages-layout/contact.htm Ways to support the ASL University channel: 1. Click the “thumb up” (like) icon on videos at UA-cam.com/billvicars 2. Click the “subscribe” button at UA-cam.com/billvicars (if you haven't done so yet) 3. Click the “Share” link and share the videos. 4. Visit the “ASLU” bookstore at www.lifeprint.com/bookstore/bookstore.htm (feel free to suggest new products that you would like to see). 5. Buy some ASL University “official” clothing at: ASLU gear: teespring.com/stores/aslu 6. Subscribe to the ASLU subscription site: asl.tc (For information see: lifeprint.com/asltc/ ) 7. Donate via: www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=64QMBRBXQSV6G 8. For other donation options, see: www.Lifeprint.com/donate.htm If you have any friends who might be in a position to do so you might want to consider inviting them to donate -- thus supporting Deaf children and the promotion of free sign language resources via Lifeprint.com
What?!? --- and miss out on the numbering, the sign for Pah!, the facial expression training, the basic greetings review, the fingerspelling practice, the WH-facial expression, the yes/no confirmation expression, the review of the usage for the sign for "who," the sign for Deaf applause, the directional use of the sign for "meet you," the sign for Sacramento, the lexicalization of the spelling of Utah, the directional movement of the sign for "move," the use of the sign for "past" to mean "ago," the review of the "grow-up / raised" sign, the use of headshake for negation while signing "no," the use of the sign for "again" to request repetition, the teaching of the signs for "when" and "year," and the use of depiction and mime to give the instruction for the assistant to put her ring in her pocket, etc. Seems to me though that if I were an ASL student and wanted to learn and practice ASL to improve my ability to communicate visually -- that would be three and a half minutes well invested. Oh sure, I get it that there were some really awkward moments there watching me make various facial expressions waiting for the main camera to kick on for the live broadcast portion of the course. However, even the facial expressions section could be beneficial to most Hearing students who typically need to learn to be more expressive while signing. So, yah, sure, if someone wishes to they can certainly skip all of that (and more) by skipping ahead to the 3:33 mark. I daresay though that those first few minutes are three and a half of the best minutes of the whole video! (Wink)
@@sign-language I did not expect a reply so thank you. My dad knows some asl and Ive always wanted to learn. In recent years Ive tried looking at asl apps but none of them were good or you had to pay money to learn more. I love your videos. Ive learned so much already and you have a good sense of humor. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to learn asl. It will also become useful if I come across a deaf person who needs help and has no one that knows asl. I also just love asl, its fun. Everyone disregard my comment about skipping to 3:33. 😄
good evening Bill, i enjoy your videos and learning. thank you so much. i just wondered if your still online? i noticed been year or so last videos. i really appreciate you. I'm in Chicago and it was suggested by family to see if signs learning same for our part of the USA. I'm not fluent but I've learned enough over time, they look like what i seen from my sister. thanx take care
Yes! Good news! I'm certainly still online (2023) and have been posting videos. I've posted five videos in the past two weeks. To get all notifications from a subscribed channel, tap the "notification bell." The bell will then change to a ringing bell to indicate that you've selected all notifications. To see the new videos, try this link: www.youtube.com/@sign-language/videos?view=0&sort=dd&shelf_id=0 Or go to the "Videos" tab at my channel and click on the option to sort by "latest."
Hey Bill! I adore the stuff you put out, it's been an invaluable tool. I had a quick question regarding closed captioning. I noticed for some of your lesson videos you provide captions and some you do not, is this on purpose? I know you're busy and make a ton of content and lessons, so this isn't a criticism, I was just wondering. Thank you so much!!
My preference would be to provide ZERO captioning on any of the videos since I want people's eyes on the instruction and their brains frantically striving to figure out the signing. English captions cause some people's brains to switch into neutral and coast. It gives the illusion of "getting it" but then later in real life when they meet a Deaf person and start looking down for the captions -- surprise -- in real life Deaf people are not captioned. (Not yet anyway.) Does that mean I don't see the value in using captions to provide context to expedite learning? Of course I see that value. If someone watches my stuff for a minute or more they will realize that I do provide a form of captioning (or text-based support) via my slides and occasional typing. In other words when I want students reading something -- I type it out or show them the text on a PowerPoint slide. Otherwise I want them watching the signing -- not looking down at the bottom of the screen and missing the signing. Another thing? Within the relatively near future -- AI will finally empower the auto captioning of signed videos!!! I know of half a dozen companies or organizations that right now at this very moment have apps or programs in beta testing and it won't be long before UA-cam (or a third party) makes it possible to auto-caption signed videos. That will save me thousands of hours that I can then invest in creating more content instead of typing captions for videos that I don't really want people reading in the first place. Some people want to scratch that "itch" of being able to understand 100% of the content on my videos. I'm okay with them getting 85% and moving on -- if it means I can create 2,000 hours more content -- instead of 2,000 hours wasted typing out captions so that people can catch every little sign in each video. If people watch enough of the videos -- the few signs they miss tend to be covered again in a later video -- or can be picked up by going to my website at Lifeprint.com and clicking on the individual lesson links. HOWEVER -- it is a deep sticky topic and I've expanded a bit in articles at the links below: See: www.lifeprint.com/asl101/topics/captioning-to-caption-or-not-to-caption.htm Also see: www.lifeprint.com/asl101/topics/captioning-you-should-caption-your-youtube-videos.htm
@@sign-language Thank you so much for this reply. My mother is a language teacher and I showed her what you had to say and she nodded enthusiastically. I tend to be one of those 100% people you mention above, but if 85% achieves a more authentic way to learn then I will absolutely do my best! (Don’t let the perfect prevent the good, and so on) You’re doing incredible work!!
Public speakers should spit out their gum before speaking to an audience. Public signers should remove any distracting jewelry such as sparkly rings or dangly bracelets. It is good to reduce impediments to clarity. Brief conversations between signers do not need removal of jewelry but for an extended-length ASL instructional video that may be watched thousands of times -- a few seconds invested taking off a ring or similar distraction is time well invested.
Doing "blue" upright is no big deal. It takes a bit more effort though. I think the trick is to just hold the hand/arm up in a very natural relaxed position and then do the twisting of the "B" without worrying about being either vertical or horizontal -- just somewhere in-between and very relaxed.
Hello Chandler! I used to write a blog about teaching ASL. The content is getting rather "dated" these days but might still be of interest to you: aslpah.com/ (That site is still active as of May, 2021.)
Removal of rings means one less distraction for the studio audience. Rings catch on clothing or other jewelry. They sparkle. They influence the movement of the fingers. It might seem insignificant but in general I'd rather just do a bit of prevention so the audience can focus on the signing rather than on someone's sparkly jewelry. Once I saw someone with freshly clipped nails bloody themself by signing "girl" and creating a scratch down their cheek / chin area from their thumbnail being sharp. I've taught class live in front of 5,000 people with a bloodied hand (the area between the thumb and index finger) from cutting practice cards in a hurry and needing to throw a bandaid and some KT tape (kinesiology tape, I keep a few inches of it in my wallet) on it to sort of staunch the flow. Once I was moving a table as part of set up for a class and the legs collapsed and the table slid down my shin. I could feel a small trickle of blood slide down my shin as I taught class that day. I do fewer live broadcast classes these days but for a semester or two there we had a time slot watched by viewers of 3 different cable companies "live." The show either goes on or it doesn't. I chose to go on. I got in the habit of trying to minimize accidents, distractions, and interruptions.
"Play" is typically done with two hands (unless you are holding something in one of your hands.). "Yellow" is typically done with one hand. Some signers may add a bit of mouth movement (but that is totally optional).
To sign "cities" instead of "city" you use a separate quantifier. (The sign CITY stays the same). For more info see: www.lifeprint.com/asl101/pages-layout/pluralization.htm
It is a fact that the majority of my on-camera students are female -- and most of them are college-aged. Why? Because, I teach / taught at a public university where few older-than-20-year-olds take ASL classes. On the occasion that an older person actually registers for the college class -- they do not tend to volunteer to sit in front of the camera and be broadcast to millions of people. (And I'm not going to try to pressure anyone to do so). Interestingly, in ASL programs at schools that do not require a second language for graduation a typical ASL class will consist of mostly females. Thirty years ago it used to be 24 females and ONE male. I kid you not. Back then I felt lucky to get "any" males in a class. Now that ASL qualifies to fill the 2nd language requirement at universities that have such a requirement the ratio has balanced out a lot for the ASL 1 and 2 courses but as soon as we reach ASL 3 -- woosh! the number of males drops and we are back to mostly girls again! (ASL 3 and higher levels are usually not needed to fill the "foreign language graduation requirement). Long experience has shown that there are typically a lot more females sitting in an ASL class who actually plan on and want to become proficient in ASL versus many of the males sitting in class that are only there because they are being forced to by a graduation requirement. This can be empirically demonstrated by comparing and contrasting the registration statistics between colleges that require a 2nd language (and allow ASL to serve as a second language) and colleges that don't. Does that mean I don't work with guys in front of the camera? Of course I do. The ones that volunteer tend to do an awesome job! Here are some "guy" videos for you: ua-cam.com/video/NArwrI2lD-4/v-deo.html ua-cam.com/video/q_wlTFQeKmA/v-deo.html ua-cam.com/video/FUHOI951gQ4/v-deo.html ua-cam.com/video/YL34J7gWZ3k/v-deo.html ua-cam.com/video/k00LmFE7zlM/v-deo.html ua-cam.com/video/dYpLVnOSJAE/v-deo.html ua-cam.com/video/bkCOSHze8ZA/v-deo.html I've got others videos with "guys" but just wanted to share those with you in response to your question.
Thanks for the thorough response. It is a little strange that the student population is so dominated by females. I am a 65-year old retired educator who never really learned to talk efficiently with my deaf sister and I am trying to make up for that now by learning ASL. I have tried a lot of UA-cam options for learning and you are by far the best and I really appreciate that I can get such a quality education in ASL for free. Thank you for making this possible and I will definitely donate at some point.
Also, the ratio of signers depends to some extent on location and societal factors. For example, I recall many years ago when I lived in and taught ASL in Utah a workshop presenter from out of state visited and was surprised at (and commented on) the significant number of males sitting in the audience of an ASL interpreting workshop. The presenter was used to a much higher ratio of females (from giving workshops in other states). What was behind the phenomenon at the time in that location was the fact that quite a few males over the years had been called by the local dominant church to learn ASL and serve two year missions working with individuals who are Deaf. These young men returned home basically fluent in ASL after two-years of daily signing and many of them took up interpreting as a career.
Hello ASL Heroes!!!
Hey, I could really use your help.
If you’ve enjoyed having access to an expert in ASL you can help me continue my work for you. A small (or more if you can afford it) donation from you would instantly make a big difference here at the studio because teachers don’t earn much and I could use some help paying for server and domain hosting for Lifeprint.com.
You can help out a humble (not to mention kind, caring, generous, compassionate, helpful, friendly, fair, and hard-working) ASL teacher -- just go here right now and a few clicks later you too will be a true “ASL Hero!”
www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=64QMBRBXQSV6G
Or, if you prefer "Cash App" you can use: cash.me/$Lifeprint
Or use Patreon at www.patreon.com/ASLU
Every little bit helps so much!
Thanks!
- Dr. Bill
p.s. Want to have your very own USB drive with four semesters worth of ASL instruction for just $79.95? See "SuperUSB" in the ASLUniversity bookstore at:
lifeprint.com/bookstore/bookstore.htm
Take care and love to you all.
:)
Love your videos so so much! I'm a stay at home mom and can't go to classes in person. My son is deaf so learning asl has been huge for us.
I love that you have the volume unmuted. It's nice to hear the interaction.
Hi Dr. Bill, just gave you a donation yesterday. Wanted to say that these videos are incredible, and I can really see a difference even in these videos from the ones you posted a few years ago of the same content. Obviously the recording quality is better, but you've also gotten a little more patient, the pace is a little slower/a little easier for near-beginners... as a fellow educator (I teach ESL, which maaaany people mishear as being ASL,) I really hope that I continue to hone my skills and that there is a noticeable improvement in the quality of my education year after year. All of your stuff is great and so valuable, no matter when it was made, but that element is something I really admire. You're a fantastic teacher.
Jessica,
Thank you for the donation and even more for the nice feedback. I do indeed strive to improve as a teacher.
As you know, there is so much involved that isn't apparent on the screen.
Best wishes and warm regards to you.
- Dr. Bill
For the past two or three years i have been watching your lesson videos on youtube. I only got close to lesson 40 and would go back to lesson 1 through almost lesson 40 over and over again. Hard to remember all the signs but i just keep going over the lessons. i dont have anyone to practice signing with me. I have enjoyed your class on youtube.
Hello "Charmed!"
Perhaps you might want to consider setting a goal to watch all 600 or so of the videos in the official ASLU master playlist.
Here's the link:
ua-cam.com/play/PL6akqFwEeSpiLwRFA3ZvuOWMwPXwI7NqA.html
Warm regards and happy viewing!
@@sign-language so are you saying watch All the videos. than just repeat the whole series of videos over again and again and again? Theirs so many signs just trying to remember up to almost 40th lesson. I will give it a try and watch them all. wow 600 or so didnt know their were than many.
@@sign-language Thank you for sending the link to the playlist. I saved it so I can go back and look at all of them.
If you need assistance in remembering the signs in the lessons, see item 3 below.
-----------------------------------------
How to use ASL University to learn sign language for free:
1. Visit Lifeprint.com and become familiar with the ASL University website.
2. Bookmark the official ASLU UA-cam master playlist:
ua-cam.com/play/PL6akqFwEeSpiLwRFA3ZvuOWMwPXwI7NqA.html
3. For quick reviews (to prevent memory extinction) bookmark the "Signs" channel playlist page:
ua-cam.com/users/Lifeprint-signsplaylists
4. If you use a desktop or laptop computer you can look up signs using this page: www.lifeprint.com/search.htm
5. If you use a mobile device you can look up signs using this page:
www.lifeprint.com/search/index.htm
6. If you can’t find a sign after using the search options at Lifeprint.com then consider applying to join the Lifeprint-ASLU Facebook group and asking your question there. See:
facebook.com/groups/Lifeprint.ASLU/
7. Go through the ASLU Lessons for free:
www.lifeprint.com/asl101/lessons/lessons.htm
-----------------------------------------
Ways to support the ASL University channel:
* For donation options, see: www.Lifeprint.com/donate.htm
* Click the “thumb up” (like) icon on videos at UA-cam.com/billvicars
* Click the “subscribe” button at UA-cam.com/billvicars (if you haven't done so yet)
* Click the “Share” link and share the videos.
@@sign-language Thank you so much for all the helpful links.
I'm very thankful for these videos. When I can I will donate. I really appreciate you Dr. Bill!
Thanks Annesha!
Well, here's hoping for your amazing future financial (and life) success!
Until then, a few free ways to help out include:
* Click the “thumb up” (like) icon on videos at UA-cam.com/billvicars
* Click the “subscribe” button at UA-cam.com/billvicars (if you haven't done so yet)
* Click the “Share” link and share the videos with all your friends and social media contacts.
Plus let them know how they can learn ASL for free:
1. Visit Lifeprint.com and become familiar with the ASL University website.
2. Bookmark the official ASLU UA-cam master playlist:
ua-cam.com/play/PL6akqFwEeSpiLwRFA3ZvuOWMwPXwI7NqA.html
3. For quick reviews (to prevent memory extinction) bookmark the "Signs" channel playlist page:
ua-cam.com/users/Lifeprint-signsplaylists or more specifically: ua-cam.com/users/Lifeprint-signsplaylists?view=50&sort=dd&shelf_id=1
4. If you use a desktop or laptop computer you can look up signs using this page: www.lifeprint.com/search.htm
5. If you use a mobile device you can look up signs using this page:
www.lifeprint.com/search/index.htm
6. If you can’t find a sign after using the search options at Lifeprint.com then consider applying to join the Lifeprint-ASLU Facebook group and asking your question there. See:
facebook.com/groups/Lifeprint.ASLU/
7. Go through the ASLU Lessons for free:
www.lifeprint.com/asl101/lessons/lessons.htm
Best wishes and warm regards to you on your journey!
Excelsior!
p.s. A few thought questions to post somewhere you will see everyday:
What do I plan on accomplishing today?
What is the best use of my time right now?
What is the next physical action that will bring me closer to my goal?
Five years from now what do I want to be doing?
What actions should I do now to benefit my future self?
How to use ASL University to learn sign language for free:
1. Visit Lifeprint.com and become familiar with the ASL University website.
2. Bookmark the official ASLU UA-cam master playlist:
ua-cam.com/play/PL6akqFwEeSpiLwRFA3ZvuOWMwPXwI7NqA.html
3. For quick reviews (to prevent memory extinction) bookmark the "Signs" channel playlist page:
ua-cam.com/users/Lifeprint-signsplaylists
4. If you use a desktop or laptop computer you can look up signs using this page: www.lifeprint.com/search.htm
5. If you use a mobile device you can look up signs using this page:
www.lifeprint.com/search/index.htm
6. If you can’t find a sign after using the search options at Lifeprint.com then consider applying to join the Lifeprint-ASLU Facebook group and asking your question there. See:
facebook.com/groups/Lifeprint.ASLU/
7. Go through the ASLU Lessons for free:
www.lifeprint.com/asl101/lessons/lessons.htm
Your comments, questions, or suggestions are always welcome.
To contact Dr. Bill Vicars, see: www.lifeprint.com/asl101/pages-layout/contact.htm
Ways to support the ASL University channel:
1. Click the “thumb up” (like) icon on videos at UA-cam.com/billvicars
2. Click the “subscribe” button at UA-cam.com/billvicars (if you haven't done so yet)
3. Click the “Share” link and share the videos.
4. Visit the “ASLU” bookstore at www.lifeprint.com/bookstore/bookstore.htm (feel free to suggest new products that you would like to see).
5. Buy some ASL University “official” clothing at: ASLU gear: teespring.com/stores/aslu
6. Subscribe to the ASLU subscription site: asl.tc
(For information see: lifeprint.com/asltc/ )
7. Donate via: www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=64QMBRBXQSV6G
8. For other donation options, see: www.Lifeprint.com/donate.htm If you have any friends who might be in a position to do so you might want to consider inviting them to donate -- thus supporting Deaf children and the promotion of free sign language resources via Lifeprint.com
Learning so much, great teacher
🤗 I sent the count down to when you were waiting for her to look at you! Deaf needs eyecontact!❤
My favorite color is purple& pink
3:33 is when the learning begins
What?!? --- and miss out on the numbering, the sign for Pah!, the facial expression training, the basic greetings review, the fingerspelling practice, the WH-facial expression, the yes/no confirmation expression, the review of the usage for the sign for "who," the sign for Deaf applause, the directional use of the sign for "meet you," the sign for Sacramento, the lexicalization of the spelling of Utah, the directional movement of the sign for "move," the use of the sign for "past" to mean "ago," the review of the "grow-up / raised" sign, the use of headshake for negation while signing "no," the use of the sign for "again" to request repetition, the teaching of the signs for "when" and "year," and the use of depiction and mime to give the instruction for the assistant to put her ring in her pocket, etc.
Seems to me though that if I were an ASL student and wanted to learn and practice ASL to improve my ability to communicate visually -- that would be three and a half minutes well invested.
Oh sure, I get it that there were some really awkward moments there watching me make various facial expressions waiting for the main camera to kick on for the live broadcast portion of the course.
However, even the facial expressions section could be beneficial to most Hearing students who typically need to learn to be more expressive while signing.
So, yah, sure, if someone wishes to they can certainly skip all of that (and more) by skipping ahead to the 3:33 mark.
I daresay though that those first few minutes are three and a half of the best minutes of the whole video!
(Wink)
@@sign-language I did not expect a reply so thank you. My dad knows some asl and Ive always wanted to learn. In recent years Ive tried looking at asl apps but none of them were good or you had to pay money to learn more. I love your videos. Ive learned so much already and you have a good sense of humor. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to learn asl. It will also become useful if I come across a deaf person who needs help and has no one that knows asl. I also just love asl, its fun. Everyone disregard my comment about skipping to 3:33. 😄
I’m early for all the uploads today. I’m about to head to my ASLI 102 class :)
good evening Bill, i enjoy your videos and learning. thank you so much. i just wondered if your still online? i noticed been year or so last videos. i really appreciate you. I'm in Chicago and it was suggested by family to see if signs learning same for our part of the USA. I'm not fluent but I've learned enough over time, they look like what i seen from my sister. thanx take care
Yes! Good news! I'm certainly still online (2023) and have been posting videos. I've posted five videos in the past two weeks.
To get all notifications from a subscribed channel, tap the "notification bell." The bell will then change to a ringing bell to indicate that you've selected all notifications.
To see the new videos, try this link:
www.youtube.com/@sign-language/videos?view=0&sort=dd&shelf_id=0
Or go to the "Videos" tab at my channel and click on the option to sort by "latest."
Hey Bill! I adore the stuff you put out, it's been an invaluable tool. I had a quick question regarding closed captioning. I noticed for some of your lesson videos you provide captions and some you do not, is this on purpose? I know you're busy and make a ton of content and lessons, so this isn't a criticism, I was just wondering.
Thank you so much!!
My preference would be to provide ZERO captioning on any of the videos since I want people's eyes on the instruction and their brains frantically striving to figure out the signing.
English captions cause some people's brains to switch into neutral and coast. It gives the illusion of "getting it" but then later in real life when they meet a Deaf person and start looking down for the captions -- surprise -- in real life Deaf people are not captioned. (Not yet anyway.)
Does that mean I don't see the value in using captions to provide context to expedite learning? Of course I see that value. If someone watches my stuff for a minute or more they will realize that I do provide a form of captioning (or text-based support) via my slides and occasional typing.
In other words when I want students reading something -- I type it out or show them the text on a PowerPoint slide. Otherwise I want them watching the signing -- not looking down at the bottom of the screen and missing the signing.
Another thing? Within the relatively near future -- AI will finally empower the auto captioning of signed videos!!!
I know of half a dozen companies or organizations that right now at this very moment have apps or programs in beta testing and it won't be long before UA-cam (or a third party) makes it possible to auto-caption signed videos. That will save me thousands of hours that I can then invest in creating more content instead of typing captions for videos that I don't really want people reading in the first place.
Some people want to scratch that "itch" of being able to understand 100% of the content on my videos.
I'm okay with them getting 85% and moving on -- if it means I can create 2,000 hours more content -- instead of 2,000 hours wasted typing out captions so that people can catch every little sign in each video. If people watch enough of the videos -- the few signs they miss tend to be covered again in a later video -- or can be picked up by going to my website at Lifeprint.com and clicking on the individual lesson links.
HOWEVER -- it is a deep sticky topic and I've expanded a bit in articles at the links below:
See: www.lifeprint.com/asl101/topics/captioning-to-caption-or-not-to-caption.htm
Also see: www.lifeprint.com/asl101/topics/captioning-you-should-caption-your-youtube-videos.htm
@@sign-language Thank you so much for this reply. My mother is a language teacher and I showed her what you had to say and she nodded enthusiastically. I tend to be one of those 100% people you mention above, but if 85% achieves a more authentic way to learn then I will absolutely do my best! (Don’t let the perfect prevent the good, and so on)
You’re doing incredible work!!
Letting you know I read and enjoyed your comment.
You 100% person you. ;-)
Is it okay to do the signs with my left hand because I’m left handed
Yes.
Yes!!! Good video 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Why do the students have to take their rings off?
Public speakers should spit out their gum before speaking to an audience.
Public signers should remove any distracting jewelry such as sparkly rings or dangly bracelets.
It is good to reduce impediments to clarity.
Brief conversations between signers do not need removal of jewelry but for an extended-length ASL instructional video that may be watched thousands of times -- a few seconds invested taking off a ring or similar distraction is time well invested.
Silly question, here:
I do the sign 'blue' with my hand vertical, not horizontal.
Is that a dialect thing, or is it just up to the signer?
Doing "blue" upright is no big deal.
It takes a bit more effort though.
I think the trick is to just hold the hand/arm up in a very natural relaxed position and then do the twisting of the "B" without worrying about being either vertical or horizontal -- just somewhere in-between and very relaxed.
@@sign-language Goooot it!
*tries it*
....actually, this is kinda fun!
Thanks so much!
@@calebrobbins6406 ĺĺĺ
Do you have any advice for someone who wants to get into ASL professionally? Be it teaching, interpreting, etc?
Hello Chandler!
I used to write a blog about teaching ASL.
The content is getting rather "dated" these days but might still be of interest to you:
aslpah.com/
(That site is still active as of May, 2021.)
Why must they take their rings off? In case they fall off?
Removal of rings means one less distraction for the studio audience.
Rings catch on clothing or other jewelry. They sparkle. They influence the movement of the fingers.
It might seem insignificant but in general I'd rather just do a bit of prevention so the audience can focus on the signing rather than on someone's sparkly jewelry.
Once I saw someone with freshly clipped nails bloody themself by signing "girl" and creating a scratch down their cheek / chin area from their thumbnail being sharp.
I've taught class live in front of 5,000 people with a bloodied hand (the area between the thumb and index finger) from cutting practice cards in a hurry and needing to throw a bandaid and some KT tape (kinesiology tape, I keep a few inches of it in my wallet) on it to sort of staunch the flow.
Once I was moving a table as part of set up for a class and the legs collapsed and the table slid down my shin. I could feel a small trickle of blood slide down my shin as I taught class that day.
I do fewer live broadcast classes these days but for a semester or two there we had a time slot watched by viewers of 3 different cable companies "live." The show either goes on or it doesn't. I chose to go on. I got in the habit of trying to minimize accidents, distractions, and interruptions.
@@sign-language Ah, okay! Well that does make a lot of sense then. I appreciate you taking the time to explain, Dr Vicars!
Is the best way to know the difference between "Play" and "Yellow" just context?
"Play" is typically done with two hands (unless you are holding something in one of your hands.).
"Yellow" is typically done with one hand.
Some signers may add a bit of mouth movement (but that is totally optional).
Thank you!
“47” + 4 = 51 :)
11:18 LOL i actually flinched. wp sir
I obviously need to get a concealed carry permit.
would cities be the same as signing city?
To sign "cities" instead of "city" you use a separate quantifier. (The sign CITY stays the same). For more info see:
www.lifeprint.com/asl101/pages-layout/pluralization.htm
@@sign-language cool thanks for the info and reply Dr Vicars
Love this guy but just wondering; Do any young men ever take his classes? All I see at the desk with him are young women.
It is a fact that the majority of my on-camera students are female -- and most of them are college-aged.
Why?
Because, I teach / taught at a public university where few older-than-20-year-olds take ASL classes.
On the occasion that an older person actually registers for the college class -- they do not tend to volunteer to sit in front of the camera and be broadcast to millions of people. (And I'm not going to try to pressure anyone to do so).
Interestingly, in ASL programs at schools that do not require a second language for graduation a typical ASL class will consist of mostly females.
Thirty years ago it used to be 24 females and ONE male. I kid you not. Back then I felt lucky to get "any" males in a class.
Now that ASL qualifies to fill the 2nd language requirement at universities that have such a requirement the ratio has balanced out a lot for the ASL 1 and 2 courses but as soon as we reach ASL 3 -- woosh! the number of males drops and we are back to mostly girls again! (ASL 3 and higher levels are usually not needed to fill the "foreign language graduation requirement).
Long experience has shown that there are typically a lot more females sitting in an ASL class who actually plan on and want to become proficient in ASL versus many of the males sitting in class that are only there because they are being forced to by a graduation requirement.
This can be empirically demonstrated by comparing and contrasting the registration statistics between colleges that require a 2nd language (and allow ASL to serve as a second language) and colleges that don't.
Does that mean I don't work with guys in front of the camera?
Of course I do. The ones that volunteer tend to do an awesome job!
Here are some "guy" videos for you:
ua-cam.com/video/NArwrI2lD-4/v-deo.html
ua-cam.com/video/q_wlTFQeKmA/v-deo.html
ua-cam.com/video/FUHOI951gQ4/v-deo.html
ua-cam.com/video/YL34J7gWZ3k/v-deo.html
ua-cam.com/video/k00LmFE7zlM/v-deo.html
ua-cam.com/video/dYpLVnOSJAE/v-deo.html
ua-cam.com/video/bkCOSHze8ZA/v-deo.html
I've got others videos with "guys" but just wanted to share those with you in response to your question.
Thanks for the thorough response. It is a little strange that the student population is so dominated by females. I am a 65-year old retired educator who never really learned to talk efficiently with my deaf sister and I am trying to make up for that now by learning ASL. I have tried a lot of UA-cam options for learning and you are by far the best and I really appreciate that I can get such a quality education in ASL for free. Thank you for making this possible and I will definitely donate at some point.
Also, the ratio of signers depends to some extent on location and societal factors. For example, I recall many years ago when I lived in and taught ASL in Utah a workshop presenter from out of state visited and was surprised at (and commented on) the significant number of males sitting in the audience of an ASL interpreting workshop. The presenter was used to a much higher ratio of females (from giving workshops in other states). What was behind the phenomenon at the time in that location was the fact that quite a few males over the years had been called by the local dominant church to learn ASL and serve two year missions working with individuals who are Deaf. These young men returned home basically fluent in ASL after two-years of daily signing and many of them took up interpreting as a career.
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