Sunday, November 13, 2011

Techniques to Learn Sign Language Easily

By Fabienne Reed


It doesn't have to be difficult to learn sign language, but it will take some practice and a new way of thinking if you aren't used to it. We will cover several methods which can help you learn quickly, whether you want to learn it for career reasons or to communicate with a hearing impaired person in your life. Learning sign language will feel just as natural as talking does now, once you get the hang of it.

Learning sign language is similar to learning any new language in many ways. For one thing, how much time you practice is the most important factor. If you only attend a class once or twice a week, or only open a book every once in a while, it will be hard to retain anything. Whether spoken or signed, learning a language takes daily practice. If you don't know anyone to practice with, you may want to seek out people who know sign language. Whether you know them or not, chances are there are people in your area who use it. Inquire about deaf communities nearby or look on the internet and try to attend events where sign language is used.

You may be able to learn sign language at an adult education class or through a local community college. These are good introductions to sign language as you will get to learn from a qualified instructor as well as practice with classmates. These type of classes are not usually designed for people who need to become certified for careers as interpreters, as for these you have to attend a university program. To learn the basics of sign language, however, they can be very effective. You can learn a lot and meet others to practice with, even if the class is only for a few months. Such a class is a great way to begin learning sign language.

Since words are not spoken, it's important to understand that facial expressions are critical when learning sign language. While the literal meaning of words are conveyed with the hands, deaf people are used to expressing themselves with facial expressions more than other people. Therefore, as you learn to communicate through sign language, you need to be sure that your facial expressions match your words. On a similar note, eye contact is very important when talking to hearing impaired people. These challenging aspects of learning sign language, but it's good to know about them.

It may be surprising to discover just how many people communicate with sign language. That's why learning is so beneficial whether you are learning for your career or for reasons that are personal to you. Sign language isn't the most difficult language to learn but you'll need consistent practice to get it right. This article has given you some basic pointers about learning sign language, but the only way to really learn it is to get lots of practice.




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