Learning Tips Articles

Common Fingerspelling Mistakes New Signers Make

Common Fingerspelling Mistakes New Signers Make

By John Miller
Friday, September 14, 2018

One of the first concepts covered in beginning or basic sign language classes is fingerspelling. There are a few common mistakes that are made by many beginner signers related to fingerspelling. Hopefully you can recognize them in your own practice and avoid making bad habits that are difficult to break.
Signs That Are Close... But Not the Same - Set 7

Signs That Are Close... But Not the Same - Set 7

By Brenda Cartwright
Tuesday, September 4, 2018

This article is part of our “Signs That Are Close... But Not the Same” series, which highlights signs that look similar, but have different meanings. The signs discussed in this article include (1) BRAIN vs. THINK, (2) COLOR vs. FRIENDLY, (3) OH I SEE vs. YELLOW, (4) HISTORY vs. HARD OF HEARING, and (5) FANCY vs. FINE.
Savvy Tutoring and Savvy Chats: So Much to Sign About, So Much to Learn

Savvy Tutoring and Savvy Chats: So Much to Sign About, So Much to Learn

By Jillian Winn
Friday, June 29, 2018

We first started our Savvy Chat service over a year ago and have since added Savvy Tutoring. These ASL sessions let you meet online, one-on-one with one of our signing experts, Marta Belsky, through video chat. In that time, Marta has had the pleasure of meeting with people from around the country to chat and practice ASL skills, as well as for tutoring on vocabulary development, receptive and expressive fingerspelling skills, and more... one-on-one 30 minutes online Each session is unique to meet the needs of ...
Signs That Are Close... But Not the Same - Set 6

Signs That Are Close... But Not the Same - Set 6

By Brenda Cartwright
Monday, September 25, 2017

This article is part of our “Signs That Are Close... But Not the Same” series, which highlights signs that look similar, but have different meanings. The signs discussed in this article include (1) VACATION vs. DAY OFF, (2) CONCERN vs. EXCITE, (3) PREFER vs. TASTE, (4) LONELY vs. REAL, and (5) ODD vs. LOOK FOR.
5 Tips for Overwhelmed Parents of Deaf Children

5 Tips for Overwhelmed Parents of Deaf Children

By John Miller
Tuesday, May 16, 2017

Overwhelmed… The look on the faces, or the words that came out of the mouths of almost every parent of a deaf child I’ve ever met with during a home visit. The first thing I want to say is, “Move over because you aren’t alone on that bench,” and secondly, “Stop feeling guilty about anything and everything and lets make a commitment and move forward now, looking in the rearview mirror is only good to learn from, NOT to see ...
Signs That Are Close... But Not the Same - Set 5

Signs That Are Close... But Not the Same - Set 5

By Brenda Cartwright
Friday, March 24, 2017

This article is part of our “Signs That Are Close... But Not the Same” series, which highlights signs that look similar, but have different meanings. The signs discussed in this article include (1) SATISFY vs. RELIEF, (2) COMPLICATED vs. VERY UGLY, (3) SEMESTER vs. SYSTEM, (4) GAME vs. CHALLENGE, and (5) ELECTRICITY vs. PHYSICS.
Signs That Are Close... But Not the Same - Set 4

Signs That Are Close... But Not the Same - Set 4

By Brenda Cartwright
Tuesday, January 17, 2017

This article is part of our “Signs That Are Close... But Not the Same” series, which highlights signs that look similar, but have different meanings. The signs discussed in this article include (1) OPEN vs. CLOSE, (2) LOVE vs. HUG, (3) ICE SKATE vs. ROLLER SKATE, (4) BLACK vs. SUMMER, and (5) CAN vs. POSSIBLE.
Signs That Are Close... But Not the Same - Set 3

Signs That Are Close... But Not the Same - Set 3

By Brenda Cartwright
Wednesday, November 16, 2016

This article is part of our “Signs That Are Close... But Not the Same” series, which highlights signs that look similar, but have different meanings. The signs discussed in this article include (1) NUT vs. NOT, (2) PAPER vs. SCHOOL, (3) NAME vs. WEIGH, (4) TEACH vs. NONE, and (5) ROOF vs. HOUSE.
The Importance of Early Exposure to American Sign Language with Deaf Children

The Importance of Early Exposure to American Sign Language with Deaf Children

By Jillian Winn
Thursday, November 3, 2016

Around 8,000 children are born deaf or hard of hearing each year in the United States. 95% of those children are born into hearing families. This means a few things – the majority of hard of hearing children are born into families that do not use sign language and their parents do not have previous experience with raising and educating a deaf child. The options and information may be overwhelming for parents, but just like raising any child, each child and family is different and there isn’t a “one size fits all” plan to execute. Luckily there is research to help serve as a guide.
Practice American Sign Language (ASL) With an ASL Expert Through Video Chat

Practice American Sign Language (ASL) With an ASL Expert Through Video Chat

By Jillian Winn
Monday, September 19, 2016

We’re excited to announce that we are launching a new service where you can practice American Sign Language (ASL) with an ASL expert through video chat. We are calling this new service Savvy Chat. All chats are one-on-one 30 minute sessions using video conferencing software online. You can practice your receptive and expressive ASL skills and/or get help with a specific aspect of ASL.