American Sign Language Beginner 2

  • In-Person, Online
  • $450 - $465

Continue to build on the American Sign Language (ASL) skills and knowledge you learned in American Sign Language Beginner 1.

In this course, focus on discussing living situations, locations and basic directions. Learn how to ask “What is the sign for ___?” and new fingerspelling letters.

This course covers unit 3 of Signing Naturally 1–6, which can be ordered from the UBC Bookstore.

Course outline

Signing Naturally 1–6, Unit 3 – Discussing Living Situations:

  • Telling where one lives
  • Giving commands: locations
  • Communicating with the face
  • Discussing one’s residence
  • Giving basic directions: around the classroom
  • Talking about roommates and pets
  • Giving basic directions: Expressing Needs
  • Telling how long
  • Travelling to school or work 
  • Asking what is the sign
  • Fingerspelling: moving letter Z
  • Cardinal numbers: 30-66
  • Fingerspelling: down letters P, Q, Y

Textbook

This course requires the purchase of Signing Naturally 1–6, which can be ordered from the UBC Bookstore. This course covers unit 3.

How am I assessed?

This is a non-credit course without letter or numerical grades. You receive feedback on your sign language skills from your instructor during class, and on homework you complete outside of class. At the end of the course, you prepare and sign a short presentation to demonstrate that you’ve learned the required skills to move on to the next level.

Record of completion

A record of completion will be emailed to students who participate and satisfy the course requirements within two weeks of the course end date. Course completion means 80% attendance and/or 80% completion of mandatory assignments.

Expected effort

Outside of class time, you should allow one to two hours per week to practise signing, complete homework and textbook exercises, watch and record videos, and prepare presentations.

Technology requirements

To take this course, you’ll need access to:

  • an email account
  • a computer, laptop or tablet under five years old and using Windows or Mac OS
  • the latest version of a web browser (or previous major version release)
  • a reliable internet connection
  • a video camera

One day before the start of your course, we’ll email you step-by-step instructions for accessing your course.

Course format

This course may be offered online, in-person, or a combination of both. Please see Available Sessions for details on the course format.

All of our ASL classes are taught by Deaf instructors experienced in teaching hearing and hard of hearing students. Spoken English is not used in class. Our instructors use ASL, gestures, slides and occasional written English (in the Zoom chat or on white boards in class) to support and help you learn to communicate confidently and comfortably in ASL. You'll also quickly learn signs to show understanding, to ask for clarification, and to ask your instructor to repeat something.

For your online classes, you log in to your class at scheduled times and participate by video with Zoom, a web conferencing app. For a virtual ASL classroom to be successful, we require you to turn on your video, and join from a place where you won't be disturbed and can remain for the entire class. Moving around can be distracting for your classmates and instructor, and make it difficult for you to participate.

Outside of class time, you can access other materials online at your own pace. Please note you can log in to your course for up to three weeks after the course ends. You'll no longer be able to access course materials in Canvas after this time.

Learn more about online learning at Extended Learning.

Available sessions

Available course sessions
Dates Days Time Format Tuition Description
Sat 10:00 am Online $450
Mon 5:30 pm Online $450
Tues 7:45 pm In-Person $450
Sat 10:00 am Online $465
Mon 05:30 pm Online $465
Mon 7:30 pm In-Person $465

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How can we help?

We’re here to answer your questions, discuss learning options and provide insights, recommendations and referrals.  

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