I work as an American Sign Language (ASL) Interpreter in the Los Angeles area. A lot of folks don’t know what that means and assume that I teach or tutor ASL. I do not plan on teaching or tutoring any time in the near future. If a person is interested in learning ASL, which I think every single American should do (along with learning Spanish), I recommend they go learn from a DHH (Deaf or Hard of Hearing) teacher/tutor.
Here’s the list I send to folks who reach out to me. Hopefully this will give you an idea of where to start whether you live in the Los Angeles area or not.
Online Classes
https://www.signlanguagecenter.com/
FB Groups/Pages
https://www.facebook.com/groups/523282964453555
https://www.facebook.com/aslclubcoc
https://www.facebook.com/groups/276829669933522
GLAD sometimes does (affordable) classes:
Bill Vicars on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvd8SHzSp07_U55qFI0-dDA
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If you want a traditional class, try to learn from a D/deaf/Hard of Hearing teacher. Most of the Community Colleges in CA are taught by reputable teachers and the classes are affordable.
https://www.lacitycollege.edu/Departments/Modern-Languages/Programs/American-Sign-Language
https://pasadena.edu/academics/divisions/languages-and-esl/american-sign-language.php
https://piercecollege.edu/departments/modern_languages/ASLProgram.asp
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A video I think every single person should watch:
“Signing Black in America”
Great place to start with the alphabet:
Numbers:
Deaf Culture
Article from Gallaudet
https://www3.gallaudet.edu/clerc-center/info-to-go/deaf-culture/american-deaf-culture.html
Article from NAD (National Association of the Deaf)