ASL 1 Beginner — Kids (Ages 7–12) · 45-Week Course
$15 per class or $675 for all 45 classes
ASL 1: 45-Week Beginner American Sign Language Course
Join our 45-week ASL 1 course, designed to help beginner learners build a strong foundation in American Sign Language through a combination of weekly live instruction and self-paced learning materials.
Students meet live once each week for a 30-minute interactive lesson while also receiving access to lesson materials, videos, games, activities, and practice resources they can use between classes.
Students may join at any point during the year. Previous lessons and materials remain available so new learners can catch up at their own pace while jumping right into the current weekly live class.
No prior ASL experience is required.
Throughout the course, students progress from beginner foundations such as the ASL alphabet, fingerspelling, numbers, and everyday vocabulary to short sentences, questions, conversations, storytelling, and basic ASL grammar.
Lessons are taught through clear teacher modeling, visual demonstrations, slides, movement, interactive activities, games, and real-time signing practice. Students are encouraged to participate at their comfort level while gradually building confidence using ASL with others.
Taught by Deaf and CODA instructors, this course goes beyond memorizing individual signs. Students also learn about Deaf culture, facial expressions, signing space, sentence structure, and the visual communication skills that make ASL a complete language.
What Students Will Learn 🤟🏽
- ASL alphabet and fingerspelling
- Numbers and number concepts
- Greetings and introductions
- Family, food, animals, colors, emotions, weather, school, and everyday vocabulary
- WH-questions and Yes/No questions
- Basic ASL grammar and sentence structure
- Facial expressions and non-manual markers
- Signing space and directional movement
- Classifiers and visual descriptions
- Short conversations
- Expressive and receptive signing skills
- Visual storytelling
- Deaf culture and community awareness
Live Class + Self-Paced Practice 💻
Each week may include live ASL instruction, lesson slides, vocabulary review, practice videos, games and activities, optional independent practice, and review materials from previous lessons.
If a student misses a class or joins after the course has already started, they can use the available materials to review and catch up while continuing with the weekly live lessons.
Our Goal 🎯
By the end of ASL 1, students should have a strong beginner foundation and greater confidence understanding and producing ASL. Learners will work toward communicating through simple conversations, asking and answering questions, describing people and objects, and sharing short stories using ASL.
What Your Learner Will Do
- Fingerspell Their Name – Students will confidently use the ASL alphabet to fingerspell their first name and recognize simple fingerspelled words.
- Learn and Recognize Basic Signs – Students will be able to sign and understand at least 10 common ASL words and phrases, such as greetings, family members, and everyday actions.
- Use Facial Expressions in Signing – Students will demonstrate basic facial expressions to show emotion and meaning in ASL communication.
Prerequisites: No prior ASL experience is required. This course is open to beginners as well as students with some ASL knowledge. Lessons will be customized based on your group’s skill level, just come ready to learn and have fun!
Syllabus
6 Units · 45 Lessons · over 45 Weeks
Unit 1: ASL Part 1-Mastering the ABCs
Week 1: Placement Quiz
This short assessment helps us understand each student's current signing skills, including fingerspelling, vocabulary, receptive understanding, and basic conversation.
Week 2: ASL Alphabet and Introduction Phrases
Students will be able to finger spell the manual alphabet by memory. Students will be able to finger spell their name. Students will learn how to sign greetings and Introductions.
Week 3: Vocabulary Builder
Students will learn everyday common words in ASL.
Week 4: ASL Numbers 1-10
Students will be able to introduce themselves Students will be able to sign the numbers 1-10
Week 5: Vocabulary Builder
Students will learn various signs for food in ASL.
Week 6: Inside the Deaf World: A Culture of Connection
Students will know the basics about Deaf Culture.
Week 7: Not Just Fingerspelling: Unlocking Lexicalized Words in ASL
Students will be able to recognize lexicalized fingerspelling.
Week 8: Show What You Know! – ASL Review Quiz Unit 1
A fun wrap-up quiz to check students' understanding of vocabulary, fingerspelling, numbers and Deaf culture.
Unit 2: ASL Part 2-Types of Signs
Week 9: Colors, Time, & Routine
Students will learn how to sign colors and time, and practice daily routines in ASL.
Week 10: Show What You Know: ASL Review
Review all vocabulary from the past 9 weeks and test your knowledge with a fun quiz.
Week 11: Vocabulary Builder
Signs related to school.
Week 12: Conversation Phrases and Practice
Students will practice ASL phrases.
Week 13: ASL Numbers 11-20
Students will be able to sign numbers 11-20
Week 14: Discovering Parameters Part 2
Students will learn sign parameters 3 to 5
Week 15: Answering Questions in ASL
Students will be able to answer simple introduction questions
Week 16: Show What You Know! – ASL Review Quiz Unit 2
A fun wrap-up quiz to check students' understanding of vocabulary, fingerspelling, numbers and Deaf culture.
Unit 3: ASL 2 Part 1-Sentences & Word Order
Week 17: Sentences and Word Order
Students will be able to sign simple sentences in various word orders
Week 18: Simple Sentence Review
Students will review sentences and practice signing.
Week 19: Vocabulary Builders
Students will learn question words in ASL
Week 20: How to Sign Questions
Students will be able to ask questions in ASL
Week 21: Vocabulary Builders
Students will learn the signs for colors and days of the week.
Week 22: Numbers 21-30
Students will be able to sign numbers 21-30
Week 23: Vocabulary Builders
Signs related to sports
Week 24: Show What You Know! – ASL Review Quiz Unit 3
A fun wrap-up quiz to check students' understanding of vocabulary, Questions, Grammar and fluency.
Unit 4: ASL 2 Part 2- Indexing
Week 25: What are ASL pronouns?
Students will be able to sign pronouns in ASL
Week 26: What is indexing and Directional Verbs?
Students will be able to use indexing accurately and index using directional verbs
Week 27: Numbers 31-100
Students will learn to count to 100
Week 28: Show What You Know! -Vocabulary Review
A fun wrap-up quiz to check students' understanding of vocabulary, ASL 1-3 Expressive and Receptive.
Week 29: More Indexing & ASL Verbs
Students will be able to recognize the gender of indexing signs
Week 30: Different Types of ASL Verbs
Students will be able to recognize types of ASL verbs and Students will be able to sign verbs accurately
Week 31: Vocabulary Builders
Signs related to family and friends.
Week 32: Show What You Know! – ASL Review Quiz Unit 3 Part 2
A fun wrap-up quiz to check students' understanding of vocabulary, Questions, Grammar and fluency
Unit 5: ASL 3 Part- 1 Identifying People & Negation
Week 33: What is Negation & Reversal in ASL
Students will be able to recognize and sign negation
Week 34: Vocabulary Builders
Physical Features &Clothing
Week 35: Describing People
Students will be able to recognize people being identified Students will be able to identify people
Week 36: Numbers 100 and Above
Students will be able to count numbers above 100
Week 37: Conversation Practice Part 1
Students will go over examples of common phrases and sentences
Week 38: Conversation Practice Part 2
Students will practice having a basic conversation
Week 39: Vocabulary Builder
Signs related to Animals
Week 40: Show What You Know! – ASL Review Quiz
A fun wrap-up quiz to check students' understanding of vocabulary, Questions, Grammar and fluency.
Unit 6: ASL 3 Part 2-"Final Project "
Week 41: Pick & Plan
Introduce all 4 project options
Week 42: Draft & Prep
Students start working on signs or gathering materials
Week 43: Build & Practice
Students start working on signs or gathering materials
Week 44: Finalize & Polish
Record final videos, rehearse presentations, finish game sets
Week 45: Presentation Week 🎉
Celebrate each student’s creativity and work