An ASL Dictionary
Signing Savvy is a sign language dictionary containing several thousand high resolution videos of American Sign Language (ASL) signs, fingerspelled words, and other common signs used within the United States and Canada.And Much More!
Signing Savvy is an ideal resource to use while you learn sign language. It includes the ability to view large sign videos, build your own word lists and share them with others, create virtual flash cards and quizzes, print signs, build sign phrases, ...and moreSign of the Day - BREAK
(as in a pause)
The Guy in the Blue Shirt
Posted by John @ Signing Savvy on Thursday, November 5, 2009 as Site NewsMy name is John. Yes, I am the guy in the blue shirt shown in the videos on Signing Savvy. Since the launch of the Signing Savvy site last January, I have had several people ask me about my background.
I learned to sign at a young age, not because I was deaf, but because I had a deaf neighbor and friend who I wanted to communicate more effectively with. From this point forward, learning to sign and communication issues became a fascination of mine.
I began my college education in an interpreter training program but quickly realized my passion was in education. After I graduated from college with a bachelors degree in Deaf Education, I became a teacher of children who were Deaf and Hard of Hearing. After 12 years in the classroom, I was asked by my university mentor to return to the university, pursue a graduate degree, and share my years of experience from the classroom with the next generation of teachers studying in the field.
During this time I worked with my mentor on sign language research across the United States and Canada. I earned a Masters in Early Childhood Education. I continue to pursue my doctoral studies in Special Education focussing on literacy issues related to Deafness.
After five years of teaching and studying at the university, I returned to public education. In addition to my work with Signing Savvy, I currently work as an administrator and consultant for Deaf Education Programs in a number of school districts.
Working with Deaf and Hard of Hearing children was and continues to be extremely rewarding. Happy Signing!
Comments
Early frustration
Hang in there
John @ Signing Savvy 
Savvy Member
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Hang in there Anthony...I know it doesn't always make sense and some of the signs you just have to commit to memory because there won't be a memory aid. The more you use it...the easier it will get. Try to watch as many different people as you can sign so that you get to see different styles and interact with other deaf signers whenever possible. If you are determined...it will happen. Good Luck, John
Re: Hang in there
Savvy User Richard Savvy Guest
Monday, April 1, 2013
Yes hang in there. Learn American Sign Language takes the same kind of effort and time as in learning any foreign language such as Japanese or Chinese. Chinese characters often don't make sense to the learner so memorizing and using them often is crucial.
THANKS!
Savvy User Shamar Savvy Guest
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Wow. I admire you!
I wish i would have started at an earlier age.
I'm 19 now and i'm currently attempting to teach myself how to sign.
I'm hoping that by 25, i can be fluent!
Thanks for your help!!!
Dustin
Savvy User Dustin Savvy Guest
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Yes, i agree some signs are very confusing. I have been signing since march 27,2009 when i met a deaf girl at my school, when I first saw her sign I wanted to learn. Since then I have learned so much, but with out her having a cochlear implant I wouldn't have been able to learn as quick, as of right now I could probally sign any word you ask me to. I enjoy signing and have always found it as a very beautiful language. Learning sign language and getting to know her has been wonderful thing to experience. We are currently dating and have been for 7 months, I have fell in love with the deaf culture and enjoy every moment with her.
Mom2Boys
Savvy User Brooke Savvy Guest
Sunday, November 8, 2009
My son was born with a moderate sensorineural bilateral loss, and we are learning sign language to help him communicate as he grows up (he's a year old) I recommend this site to all of the other parents at the school for the deaf, it is my FAVORITE!!! Thank you for creating this great visual -- so much better than trying to decipher a sign on a page in a book.
A town of maybe 50
Savvy User CLARA Savvy Guest
Sunday, November 8, 2009
I leave in a town that have maybe 50 deaf folks. So the classes are pretty limited at the community college. Do you have any suggestions where I can go for maybe the Sign III online, not sure if that makes since..., I am still struggling w/Signing. I love signing it is beautiful and wish I could use it more. I am working on an Interpreter Degree, but found out this is not the town to be in since they don't have too much, they did at one time. I really enjoy your link!!!
Awesome man!
Savvy User Black Savvy Guest
Sunday, November 8, 2009
That's great! It's good to know a bit about who you are now. I always did wonder a bit. This website is so useful, and I really do enjoy learning signs from your videos. Thanks a bunch!
Inspired!
Savvy User Blant Savvy Guest
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Wow! You are doing exactly what I'm trying to accomplish. I myself am hearing and learning ASL so that I can become a teacher for Deaf children. I'd love to hear more about your experiance / education / everything!
Thanks!
Thanks
Savvy User Judy Savvy Guest
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Thank you for sharing your story. Thank you for help us sign.
Thanks...Ditto
Savvy User Eleanor Savvy Member
Monday, November 9, 2009
This site must take lots of time and thought for all of you. Thank you so much.
carol
Savvy User carol Savvy Guest
Sunday, December 6, 2009
thanks so much for this site. i have recently developed a passion for learning to sign. my son has a friend who is deaf and i always felt like there was so more i wanted to say to him and couldn't or struggled to say. my grandson failed hearing tests at birth but now hears. the experience gave me even more motivation to learn. i want to learn to sign hymns and bible verses to better express my love for GOD. this site has been wonderful for me through all of this. thankyou so much. i recently became a member and really am thrilled with the ability to see phrases in their entirety.
Great site
Savvy User Adrienne Savvy Guest
Sunday, December 26, 2010
I'm a newbie on this site, most likely will join full membership soon, but like to check it out first. I've been signing for over 15 years, but off and on, I worked with deaf kids as a sub teacher, if I could go back I would do it always. But single girl can't afford to go back to school and live. So sad. I can talk to any deaf person but it has always been a issue with my spelling and understanding. I can't spell in real life! wink. A sore spot with me, but if there's a sign for it, I will learn it. I go sometimes to the Blues fest here in Chicago, and help interpreters understand blues music and give them words to sign on stage, because sometimes they can't understand the words, and I just know the music. They think I can be an interpretor, but no, my main goal is to work with deaf children, and I'm losing my hearing now, so at 13 I thought I should learn. My cousin was deaf. Cheers
Where are you from?
Savvy User Danielle Savvy Guest
Sunday, February 6, 2011
i notice different dialects across the county. i'm wondering where you are from. it doesn't say it on the webpage
Re: Hang in there
Savvy User Richard Savvy Guest
Monday, April 1, 2013
Yes as in any language there are regional and dialectal differences. If you go to New York there may be signs that are a little different from those used in California or Texas or even parts of Canada.
Dialects
Savvy User Dawn Savvy Guest
Monday, July 4, 2011
Hello! I am a new signer, taking it for 4 months. I am already taking my test for my pay differential tomorrow! I'm finding it pretty easy but I am determined. I have a tutor 2 times per week and study several hours per day.
I too have noticed the dialects and they are quite confusing. If anything the numbers are different and have caused confusion at work. Like the number 16 is interpreted by our deaf community as 60 and our 15 as 50. I have resulted to just "1-6" for all of the teen numbers. My biggest fear is doing a sign that is offensive to our deaf community but appears to be normal on this page. Dialects are rough!!!!
Dialects...Content will help
John @ Signing Savvy Savvy Member
Monday, September 19, 2011
Even though there are some changes in dialects that will throw off a sign here or there, remember your audience is looking at the whole picture and will probably not be thrown off by one word that is a little different than what you may have signed. I have never had a deaf person stop me to say they are offended so I wouldn't worry so much about that. They may say later that they would prefer you use this sign in the future ect...and then you just take that feedback and use it. Don't take it personally or get offended. Tutoring from other experienced signers will definitely help. Best of luck to you!
Thanks
Rachel is a person Savvy Member
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
I just have to say that this website has already helped loads with my level three ASL class. It's hard to learn some words in the book ahead of time when you don't even know how they are signed!
Thanks John!
marqui Savvy Member
Sunday, June 3, 2012
I crushed my right hand in 1997. By 2006, I became interested to make use of my painful, damaged hand, and began learning ASL on the internet to exercise my hand for pain relief. I drove long trips and would practice signing my A, B, Cs while driving on the highway, trying to "sign sing" with the songs on the radio the best I could. I was slow to learn. Then one week, I was at the Days Inn in NM, and noticed a man who had been in the lobby kitchen area at 2am several mornings in a row. He was using his two fists on the tabletop as his pillow. I tapped him on the shoulder and asked "are you ok?", he communicated to me without speaking, "I can't hear". I signed "do you need help?, can you sign ASL?". He smiled and began rapidly signing. I grinned and signed "please slow down". We spent the next five hours signing. That conversation was my first using ASL with a another person. He told me his sad story, about, as a Marine in Afghanistan, a bomb went off in the road he was driving on. He was the only survivor in the vehicle. Eight others were killed. He lost his hearing that day. I drove home and was invigorated to know enough ASL to reach someone in need. What a gift I was given by being interested in ASL without lousing my hearing. I found the "Signing Savvy" website and used it as a guest for months. I finally paid for membership for a year, in July 2011.
The most Humbling experience
Savvy User Andrew Savvy Guest
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
A few Weeks ago, I was invited to attend a Celebration of Holy Mass in a church in Australia. It was obviously the quietest Service I had been to, however, it was the most amazing service that I had EVER participated in. My Sign (ASL) WAS slightly different from the Australian (AusLan). Still we were able to communicate quite well. I was at an advantage that there was an interpreter, who catered for both the hearing and the deaf. She signed when the priest spoke and spoke when someone signed.
For as long as the Lord lets me live, I will Never forget that day, along with the fact that I was blessing the people here at Signingsavvy.com
May the Lord bless you and guide you in your efforts. Andrew
Signing Savvy
Savvy User gordon Savvy Guest
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Thanks so much for a wonderful and informative site, I went through a recovery house for addiction issues and one of the guys was deaf and he taught me basic sign language so I could communicate with him easier, I really enjoyed it. 2 years later I am still in recovery and becoming an addictions counsellor I am currently working in a recovery house with a hearing impared client and came acrross your site I bookmarked it in our browser for myself and staff to easier communicate with our current client. Thanks so much for helping us to "bridge the gap". Gordon
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Savvy User Anthony
Savvy Member
Thursday, November 5, 2009
When I first started to learn sign language, I was frustrated. Some signs do not make sense, especially if there is not a memory aid shown. Since facial expression and body language is important in communication, why isn't the sign for yes or no not simply a nod of the head? There may be several different signs for the same word, depending on context. I am determined to learn. I'm not deaf but I am hearing impaired and feel that this may be my main method of communicating at some point in time. I'm in a beginning class at a local church and several have already dropped.