If you are wanting to learn BSL (British Sign Language) in the comfort of your own home, you’ve come to the right place!

In this guide, I cover some of the best online BSL courses, classes, lessons, and training that are completely free!

Also, with many of these online classes, you will be able to learn the basics of BSL from letters, numbers, common phrases, greetings, and tons more! Let’s get started!

Top 7 Best Free Online BSL Courses & Classes 2024

1. BSL: British Sign Language: The Alphabet (Skillshare)

For the pure beginner looking to dip their toes into the world of British Sign Language, this short online course is the perfect introduction! In this short free class, you will learn the entire alphabet that will allow you to start conversing with BSL.

Hosted by passionate linguist Ethan Gray, this online class is led in a patient and clear way by the instructor. His work can also be found on www.linguisticsonline.net, which contains articles, videos, and other tips for BSL and other languages.

In 31 lessons that span close to 1-hour, you’ll be introduced to every letter of the alphabet, as well as practicing with quick games and exercises throughout the course. You’ll also get a chance to apply the BSL Alphabet that you’ve learned to real phrases, for practicing your skills instantly.

Currently, new users to Skillshare can sign up for their free 1-month trial and get access to this class for free, plus all the others mentioned on this list. Overall, this is one of the best online BSL courses for those looking for an easy introduction!

• 31 video lessons
• 46 minutes of content
• Suited to beginners
• Includes Alphabet Guide Booklet

Activate FREE Skillshare Trial

2. BSL: British Sign Language: Numbers & General Phrases (Skillshare)

Next on my list is another great online BSL course for those who might want to learn more than just the alphabet and learn more practical BSL phrases and greetings.

For this online class, you will again be taught by Ethan Gray who patiently and passionately shares his knowledge in his fluent BSL skills. Each of his lessons are also easy to follow and extremely actionable for beginners.

Some of the many topics covered in this condensed courses include learning numbers from 1-100, basic greeting phrases, BSL manners, and some common questions and responses. There are also some game lessons throughout the course which makes learning quite fun!

Again, this online BSL course is hosted on Skillshare which allows users access to all lessons, class materials, downloadable resources, 29,000+ classes, and a 1-month free trial! Overall, a fantastic BSL class for beginners!

• 23 video lessons
• 51 minutes of content
• Suited to beginners and
• 2-Month Free Trial

Activate FREE Skillshare Trial

3. Breakthrough BSL (Udemy)

Suited for complete beginners in BSL looking to understand the basics of this language, this course is a well-structured, easy-to-follow entry for anyone curious about BSL. It’s also just under 1-hour in length and is jam-packed with valuable and actionable lessons!

Olly Richards is the host of this online BSL course who has helped 10,000s of students around the world learn various forms of sign language. His unique approach to teaching is also incredibly refreshing due to his engaging and interactive teaching style.

Over 4 modules and 26 video lessons, you’ll learn the alphabet, basic fingerspelling, how to start conversations, expressing emotions, asking questions, and working on expanding your BSL vocabulary.

Hosted on the global online course platform Udemy, this course is one of over 150,000 skill-based tutorials available for more than 50 million students. With many BSL courses, this particular course is one of the best BSL online classes you can find on Udemy!

• 26 video lessons
• 56 minutes of content
• Rated 4.5/5
• 664 students have taken the course
• Includes 13 downloadable resources

Visit Udemy.com

4. BSL: British Sign Language: Emotions & Subject Pronouns (Skillshare)

In this short online BSL class, you will learn how to express emotions and pronouns in just over 30 minutes. So if you are short on time but still want to get some quick learning in, this course is a great crash course!

This is the third online course on Skillshare taught by linguistic-expert Ethan Gray who is extremely passionate about sharing his British Sign Language knowledge in a clear and patient teaching style.

For this class, you will be taught 20 essential ways to express your emotion, including positive and negative feelings while also learning subject BSL pronouns to be able to put together phrases with these emotions.

Skillshare is a global online interactive learning platform that hosts over 2,000 free courses and over 27,000 paid-subscription based courses accessible to any student level. This is one of the free courses available through the platform.

• 7 video lessons
• 34 minutes of video content
• Suited to beginners
• 2-Month Free Trial

Activate FREE Skillshare Trial

5. British Sign Language (BSL) Level 1 & 2 (John Academy)

For anyone who wants to have a comprehensive deep dive into BSL, this course starts from the fundamental beginner tools and advances to level 2 lessons.

The course is led by the team at John Academy, which offers knowledge from a variety of linguistic experts who have compiled the learning materials in easy-to-follow ways.

Some of the course covers a wide range of BSL topics, from the basic alphabet and vocabulary to dialogue involving questions, greetings, names, age, directions, travel, work, and much more.

John Academy is a UK-based online learning platform that specializes in body accredited courses on a range of topics that allows students to use their certifications globally. Overall, one of the best online BSL classes on this list!

• 8 hours of video content
• 1-year enrollment
• Receive level 1 and 2 qualification certificate
• 5362 students have taken this course
• Rated 5/5

Visit Johnacademy.co.uk

6. Introducing British Sign Language (British-sign.co.uk)

This beginner’s BSL course is ideal for people interested in using BSL in school, in their workplace, or to revise their level 1 BSL technique. Students will have the chance to get fully accredited through their learning, and they can take as long as they need over a span of one year to complete the course.

The course has been compiled by a team of fluent BSL speakers and teachers, as part of the British-sign.co.uk platform.

Throughout 10 immersive lessons, learn the basics of fingerspelling from numbers, time, money, color, relationships, descriptions, food and drink, emotions, and other vocabularies. You’ll be assessed throughout each lesson with the final assessment awarding a certificate of completion that is accredited by CPD

The British-sign.co.uk learning platform specializes in accredited BSL courses, primarily for beginners. The instant-access course is available for students for an entire year of study, allowing each person to go at their own pace.

• 10 comprehensive lessons
• 1-year access
• ‘Pay What You Can’ format
• Group rates available
• Suited to beginners and level 1 BSL revision
• The certificate is CPD accredited

Visit British-sign.co.uk

7. BSL Courses (BSL Courses)

Like learning in your own unique way? For people who don’t like to follow traditional ways of learning (via lectures), these courses are best suited to you. Your entry into learning BSL is easy when you can customize your experience and choose between tutored or independent courses for any level of BSL learner.

This platform offers interactive courses that also provide certifications in different areas of BSL, with assessments by industry experts.

There is also an option to take bespoke BSL courses that prepare students for IBSL’s levels 3 and 6 Certificate qualifications, as well as Signature’s NVQ Certificate qualification.

BSL Courses was created in 2010 and has been serving students from around the globe in learning how to advance in their BSL skills and use their qualifications in professional environments. If you are looking to learn more about sign language, you can also see my full guide on ASL here.

• Globally accredited courses
• Choose between tutored training or individual courses
• 12 courses available
• Suited to novice to advanced students

Visit Bslcourses.co.uk

If you are seeking out the best online French classes and lessons, you’re in the right place!

Learning another language can be a daunting endeavor, but it doesn’t have to be when you have the right guidance.

Because of this, I have rounded up some of the top free French classes in 2024 that will help you to learn French in no time at all!

In this guide, I have included courses that are ideal for beginners, have video/ audio lessons, workbooks, projects, and are completely free! Let’s begin!

Top 12 Free Best Online French Classes & Lessons 2024

1. 3 Minute French | Language lessons for beginners (Skillshare)

First on my list is a great introductory beginner class that is a fantastic start for anyone wishing to learn the French language.

As the title suggests, each individual lesson is kept to around three minutes, a time frame that seems to work very well for beginners. These 3 Minute lessons also help students to maintain enthusiasm, keeps you consistent, and aid retention.

Your tutor for this class is Kieran Ball, a language instructor with multilingual skills that has helped 190,000 students learn French.

Some of the many lessons covered in this 4.5-hour class include French Les Nombres a 0 – 50, French Au Restaurant La Viande, French Au Restaurant Les Boissons, Vocabulary Expansion Sheets, plus many more.

Along with this course, Kieran has multiple other French courses on Skillshare, including grammar and sentence structure to name a few. So for an in-depth dive into French that is great for beginners, this is a fantastic place to start!

Being hosted on Skillshare, new users can access all class materials, downloadable resources, access to 29,000 other classes, and a 1-month free trial!

• Beginner level
• 4 ¼ hours
• 3 minute lessons
• Taught by an experienced language tutor
• Part of a larger series
• Class projects

Activate FREE Skillshare Trial

2. French for beginners – From zero to almost hero in 60 minutes (Skillshare)

Next on my list is a concise beginner French class that is useful for those traveling to France and looking to learn the absolute basics of French.

Your teacher for this class is Emilie Schrevens, who is a French coach and fluent bilingual teacher who has helped 10,000’s students to learn the basics of French. So you will be in great hands!

Among some of the topics covered in this lesson are ordering food in French, explaining a problem, asking for directions, vocabulary, introducing yourself, making a request, French culture, and many more.

As this course is hosted on Skillshare, new users can this class plus thousands of others when taking advantage of their1-month free trial. Overall, a simple to follow and condensed introduction into the French language.

• Beginner level
• 1 hour
• Taught by a fluent bilingual teacher
• Class projects
• Extra resources
• Great for travelers

Activate FREE Skillshare Trial

3. Improve Your French Now (Udemy)

This course from Udemy concentrates on understanding French spoken to you by native speakers as well as teaching you to speak basic French phrases.

Your instructor for this class is Français Avec Pierre, who has taught French and Spanish for more than 15 years and has lots of enthusiasm for teaching his native tongue.

As for the course, it is 1 ½ hour in length and is labeled intermediate level. While it could be taken by beginners, some of the modules assume that some French is already known, so it may be quite challenging. But for those who are looking to brush up on their existing French, this is a great place to start!

Some of the topics covered are masculine and feminine words, speaking at a market, French expressions, and many more! Overall, this is a great refresher class for those who may already have some experience with speaking French.

• Intermediate level
• 1 ½ hour
• Experienced French teacher as instructor
• Conversational skills highlighted
• Downloadable resources
• Certificate of completion

Visit Udemy.com

4. 3 Minute French – Course 2 | Language lessons for beginners (Skillshare)

Next on my list is the second class in a series of 7, which is taught by Kieran Bell who is a multilingual language tutor.

Much like Kieran’s first lesson, this one too is split up into dozens of bite-sized 3-minute videos that can be consumed on a desktop, or on the Skillshare mobile app.

Some of the 3-minute lessons included in this class are the pronunciation of tourist attractions, shops, essential places, vocabulary, conversation starters, and many more.

For those that have completed the first course in this series, this is a nice bridge course that will allow you to build upon your existing skills!

• Beginner level
• 4 1/2 hours
• 3-minute lessons
• Taught by an experienced language tutor
• Part of a larger series
• Class projects

Activate FREE Skillshare Trial

5. BBC Languages: Talk French – A Video Introduction to French (BBC)

Surprisingly, the BBC French Languages series of videos is an excellent teaching tool for those looking to learn French.

Much like the other courses on this list, the BBC also has highly ranked educators producing educational videos that are quite easy to follow along with.

Modules include French greetings, food and drink, introductions, asking for directions, shopping, and where you live and work. There are even workbooks available for download, as well as teaching guides, TV transcripts, and quizzes!

One downside of this course, however, is that the layout is quite clunky when compared to Skillshare or Udemy. But for the quality of teaching, this is one of the best free online French classes!

• Beginner level
• Several episodes each
• Workbooks
• Taught by a variety of experts
• Suitable for tutors
• Includes original transcripts

Visit BBC.co.uk

6. Learn French Online for Free (E-learning)

Next on my list is a great offering from eLearningFrench.com which uses a combination of videos and music to teach students the basics of French.

Some of the many lessons included in this class are French proverbs, sayings, slang, and idioms, which can be very beneficial for retention of what you learn.

While the interface of this website is quite clunky and in need of an update, this is still a great resource that teaches valuable French words, sayings, and songs!

•  Beginner level
• 12 lessons
• Pronunciation guide
• Optional musical based exercises
• Online flashcards
• Many extra links for further education

Visit Elearningfrench.com

7. Language Transfer – French (Language Transfer)

This free French class is a series of online audio tracks of a teaching method called The Thinking Method. In total, there are 40 separate lessons in the French version of the instruction.

Included in this class are various lessons on commons words, asking for the toilet, hello, goodbye, thank you, ordering food, conversation starters, and tons more!

Like all other lessons on this list, this one is also completely free to access and can be used on a desktop or on smartphone devices.

• Beginner level
• 40 audio lessons
• Part of a large language project
• Taught by native bilingual speakers
• Easy to access
• Training manual available

Visit Languagetransfer.org

8. French for Beginners. The complete Method. Level 1 (Skillshare)

LA MÉTHODE or The French Method, is a way of continuously adding incrementally to your French training as opposed to separate lessons.

Peter Hanley is the instructor for this free online French class who has been teaching for many years in schools across Spain, France, and the UK.

Over the span of 3 ½ hours of self paces lessons, students will learn multiple topics including common sayings, hello, goodbye, thankyou, common foods, transport, taxi, toilet, hotel, and many more!

Since this class is hosted on Skillshare, new users can access this French class, plus all others mentioned on this list for free with their 1-month trial!

• Beginner level
• 3 ½ hours
• Language teacher as instructor
• Incremental method
• Downloadable resources
• Class project

Activate FREE Skillshare Trial

9. French Rules of Pronunciation – Or How to Read French (Udemy)

Next on my list is a fantastic (and free) Udemy French class taught by Florence Rosario, who is an international language educator with decades of experience.

In total, this class is only 1-hour in length, but it offers up many valuable modules including pronunciation of consonants, vowels, and combinations of vowels with consonants, how to read French, transcribe French, and much more!

With all Udemy classes, students get lifetime access and all downloadable resources. There is also an option for a certificate of completion once done!

• Intermediate level
• 1 hour on-demand video
• Teaches reading and writing as well as speaking French
• International language educator as the instructor
• Downloadable resources
• Certificate of completion

Visit Udemy.com

10. 3 Minute French – Free taster course | Lessons for beginners (Udemy)

A condensed version of the beginner level Kieran Ball class listed above from SkillShare, this option from Udemy a more condensed class that is only about 1 hour in length.

The 3 Minute approach is the same as the other classes, simply with fewer lessons to see if this style of instruction works for you or to see if you really do want to learn French after all.

Some of the included lessons cover pronunciation, understanding the French language, grammatical features, most used French words, and tons more!

• Beginner level
• 1 hour taster
• 3 minute lessons
• Taught by an experienced language tutor
• Part of a larger series
• Class projects

Visit Udemy.com

11. The French Experiment (The French Experiment)

This course operates somewhat differently than the standard on-demand video courses. It is a series of interactive web pages. Each web page has a written lesson with many examples.

Some of the examples are supported by audio files that you simply on in order to hear the word or phrase. How long does the course last? That’s hard to say, as it depends on how long you stay on any one page and there are scores of pages with tons of words and phrases and written explanations.

Arranged in sections such as telling time, possessive nouns, weather, days of the week, and idioms and expressions, among other things.

It could be labeled as a beginner level or advanced due to the sheer volume of the instructive material posted. It’s really fascinating to immerse yourself in this course and you may find yourself coming back to it again and again.

• All levels
• Audio files and written instruction
• Virtually unlimited time frame
• Interactive web pages
• Updated regularly
• Operated by multiple language experts

Visit Thefrenchexperiment.com

12. Practice and Perfect your French – Intermediate Level (Udemy)

An intermediate-level course from Udemy, this class is presented totally in French. In other words, it’s meant to increase your French language ability, not start you out in it. To some students, that may seem daunting.

If you have the basics of French down, perhaps through one of the other of the best free online French courses listed above, the class will accelerate you into better mastery of spoken French.

Some of the subject sections are the verb tenses, including imperfect tense, how to personalize or turn words possessive, and an in-depth view of all the different sounds and uses of the letter E in the French language.

Taught by a certified instructor and former teacher at the French University Anne Le Grand, you will enjoy the deep level of instruction presented. This class requires you to really concentrate, though. Though on-demand video is used, I would suggest setting aside a larger block of time than the 90-minute total video length.

About 1 ½ hour in length, it has downloadable resources and a certificate of completion. To learn more, you can also see my guide on the top online writing courses to master your skills!

• Intermediate to Advanced level
• 1 ½ hour
• 100% in French
• Detailed instruction
• Downloadable resources
• Certificate of completion

Visit Udemy.com

If you are after the best online ASL classes in 2024 to learn American Sign Language, one of the most used languages in the world, you’re in the right place!

Below, you will find a large range of ASL classes from expert instructors that will not only teach you ASL, they will also help you gain valuable insight into deaf culture and the deaf community.

These courses will also teach you everything from the absolute basics of ASL to an advanced conversation with those with hearing loss, hearing students, and even storytelling!

As these sign language classes are all online, they are also ideal for homeschooling kids, high school and college students, and adults while allowing you to work at your own pace.

Let’s begin!

Top 12+ Best FREE Online ASL Classes, Courses & Certification 2024 [Updated]

1. Skillshare: American Sign Language Level 1 (Skillshare)

First up on my list is a fantastic Skillshare class taught by ASL instructor Manny Martin from The Intellezy Trainers. This course gives students a foundational knowledge of ASL. Students also get an informative overview of the history of ASL and some insight into the field of deaf education.

This ASL I course will cover alphabet letters, numbers from 1 to 100, colors, animals, food and drink, verbs, and emotions, and it will help students with their storytelling skills. Upon completing the course, students should be able to use ASL to demonstrate a short story.

In conjunction with the on-demand video lessons, students are also given a downloadable PDF workbook to take notes on and assess their learning as they go.

As for the price, there is none! Being operated on Skillshare, new users can take this class and many other ASL lessons using the 1-month free trial. Overall, this is a great class that introduces ASL in an easy-to-follow and beginner-friendly format.

Strengths:

• Lots of content: 23 lessons, 2h14m
• Popular: 17,300+ students
• Beginner-friendly!
• Met or Exceeded 97% of students expectations
• More classes available 
• Mobile learning

2. ASL | American Sign Language Classes (Skillshare)

Next up is not a class but an entire ASL program catalog from Skillshare. These American Sign Language classes work through various ASL levels by focusing on conversational ASL building blocks like ABCs, basic signs, questions, nouns, etc.

These progressive ASL language courses were designed and taught by Able Lingo ASL, which have been widely praised for having met or exceeded the expectations of more than 95% of ASL students.

As you work your way through more than 30 focused ASL courses, you’ll start with the ASL alphabet, work through common ASL questions and terms, progress through everyday phrases, and advance into dialogue and narratives. 

The best part about these classes is that they’re on Skillshare. This means that instead of paying for each one, you get access to all of them with a Skillshare Premium subscription.

Even better, our readers get a 30-day free trial to Skillshare, so you can start the program and ensure it’s right for you without spending a dime. 

• 30+ classes
• Popular: 21,600+ students
• Great for beginners!
• Met or Exceeded 95% of students’ expectations
• All classes available with a subscription
• Available on mobile and desktop

3. Udemy: American Sign Language “Basics” (Udemy)

Next on my list is another great class taught by instructor and ASL educator JP Cappalonga, who has designed this course for complete beginners who want to learn the basics of ASL.

Each lesson that JP teaches is followed by a practice lesson that allows students to practice what they have just learned. This will help students retain the information and build a strong foundation. This class also includes some helpful insights into deaf culture, such as the correct way to get a deaf person’s attention, interacting with hard-of-hearing children and deaf children, and more.

Topics covered in this ASL class are the manual alphabet, fingerspelling, numbers 1-10, greetings and introductions, colors, who and where, and tons more!

Overall, this is one of the best well-rounded online ASL classes for those looking to really understand the language. Level 2 and Level 3 also available. Highly recommended!

Strengths:

• The course includes a quiz and “practice lessons”
• High rating: 4.5 stars
• Good amount of content: 14 lectures, 1h51m
• Lifetime access to course content
• Comes with a course completion certificate

4. Skill Success: American Sign Language (Skill Success)

Have you always wanted to master American Sign Language? 

This course will introduce you via video to the sign alphabet, names, animals, numbers, places, and much more! From ordering in a restaurant to getting around, this course is the go-to guide to help you to communicate in sign language.

Using useful video demonstrations, this course will provide you with the necessary grounding to become a confident sign communicator and may even make you more attractive as a candidate in your career.

• Over 7,000 students enrolled
• 4.6 out of 5 star rating!
• Beginner-friendly!
• Certificate of completion
• Highly affordable

5. Udemy: American Sign Language Level 1 (Udemy)

For those who are looking to move beyond ASL basics and grasp more intermediate modules, this might be the class for you!

In this course, students will learn the foundations of ASL, including the alphabet, numbers 1 to 99, and how to sign the words for colors, animals, family members, food and drink, verbs, emotions, and more. Also included in this Udemy course are lessons that are specially designed to help you practice your signing skills.

Unfortunately, this course does not have any captions, making it inaccessible to deaf learners. However, it’s a great intermediate-level course for non-deaf people who want to start learning American Sign Language.

Also, for those that are interested, there is a printable certificate of completion once all lessons have been completed!

Strengths:

• Bestseller on Udemy!
• High rating: 4.6 stars
• Popular: 16,000+ students
• Lifetime access to course content
• Comes with a course completion certificate

6. Gallaudet University: Online ASL Courses (Gallaudet University)

Moving on to my next ASL class, or in this case, classes, is the full learning pathway taught by Gallaudet University. In total, there are 4 core ASL modules that can be taken one at a time before you move on to the next one.

ASL 1 is an introductory course (geared towards students with no prior ASL knowledge) that includes valuable information about deaf culture. The next module, ASL II will build upon the basics and introduce you to pronominalization, classifiers, spatial referencing, pluralization, and temporal and distributional aspects.

As you progress through ASL III, you’ll learn how to create narratives, dialogues, and short stories using ASL, which will require you to master more complex ASL vocabulary and grammatical features. And finally, ASL IV is their most advanced ASL class online and will expand on vocabulary and grammar so that students can describe settings, discuss objects, and more!

When it comes to the price, this course definitely is on the higher end, which each class costing around $300. But for those that are seeking university-grade teaching better than most online ASL community college courses, it may be worth the investment.

Strengths:

• High quality and comprehensive – best online ASL course for people who want to become fluent in ASL
• Self-paced courses WITH weekly deadlines and a loose curriculum that must be followed
• Great way to connect with members of the deaf community

Visit Gallaudet.edu

7. Udemy: ASL Expressions Lessons #1-6 (Udemy)

This Udemy course consists of 7 lectures and will take an hour and a half to work through. All the lessons come with downloadable PDFs that you can use for future reference or even print out so you can easily follow along with the material!

Tara Adams is your instructor – she’s been teaching ASL for more than 15 years. By the end of this course, you should have the necessary skills to partake in basic ASL conversations and construct sentences. Some of the things you’ll learn include introducing yourself, responding to questions, and asking for signs that you don’t know.

You’ll come away from the course with a knowledge of 120+ signs, 60+ phrases, and the ability to fingerspell. You’ll also learn about numbers, basic ASL grammar, and important notes regarding deaf and ASL culture.

Strengths:

• Low time commitment: 7 lectures, 1h35m
• Downloadable resources included
• Beginner friendly, no pre-requisites
• Lifetime access to course content
• Comes with a course completion certificate

8. Learn ASL in a Live Class With an Expert Teacher for Free (TakeLessons Live)

This course has an entirely different format than the other courses on this list, as all the classes are taught live! That doesn’t mean you’ll be trapped by a restrictive schedule though. Classes are offered multiple times a day, so students can choose the time slot that works for them.

Some of the topics covered in this course are 25 must-know signs; essential ASL vocabulary for beginners; fingerspelling 101; asking and answering questions; workplace vocabulary for ASL beginners; introduction to deaf culture; and must-know ASL for shopping and dining out.

You’ll also have the opportunity to practice signing live during the ASL conversation class. Live practice is invaluable when learning ASL; with your live teacher, you’ll receive immediate feedback, corrections, and encouragement! And with a 14-day free trial, this is the perfect option for an online summer ASL class.

Strengths:

• Live instructor – more opportunities to connect with the instructor and other students
• Classes are only 45 minutes long – easy to fit into your day
• Beginner-friendly!

Visit Takelessons.com

9. Sign Language 101 (Sign Language 101)

The first thing you need to know about this course is that it’s absolutely free! If you want to learn ASL right now, but don’t want to pay any money, then this is the best online ASL course for you. Lessons are easily accessible on the Sign Language 101 website in the format of YouTube videos.

The 10 lessons cover the following topics: gestures & body language; ABC’s, colors & pronouns; everyday signs & common phrases; antonyms & common phrases; around the house & hobbies; people, the body & clothes; time & calendar; verbs & directions; food & drinks; and animals & sports.

Each lesson is about 20 minutes long and is taught by instructor Byron Bridges. He himself was born deaf and grew up in a deaf family. He is personally invested in the course material and is more than qualified to teach you the basics of ASL (he has a BA, an MA, and a Ed. D)! Hands down one of the best free online ASL classes available.

Strengths:

• Free! (but consider leaving a donation if you find the content useful)
• Highly knowledgeable instructor – topics are relevant and extremely useful
• Nice manageable lesson length of 20 minutes

Visit Sign Language 101

10. Udemy: American Sign Language, ASL, Level 1 (Udemy)

One great thing about this course is that each video is accompanied by English captions. Another great thing is that it is only 30 minutes long! That’s too short for you to actually become an expert at American sign language, but it’s a perfect intro to ASL that will inspire you to keep learning more!

This course is also packed full of quizzes and practice exercises, so it’s great for people who are looking for a more interactive course. As might be expected you will learn the ASL manual alphabet and numbers from 1 to 20.

Other important topics covered are basic fingerspelling; yes/no questions and introductions; gender signs; colors, clothes & appearance; ASL song: the rainbow colors; verb directions: show, help, give & pay; same and/or different; and using your body properly while signing.

Strengths:

• This course includes a very helpful self-assessment and lots of quizzes to help you measure your progress
• Very low time commitment: 23 lectures, 30m
• Lifetime access to course materials
• Comes with a course completion certificate

11. Udemy: Learn & Master Sign Language (Udemy)

This Udemy course comes with a downloadable lesson book, making it even easier to learn as you follow this highly extensive course. This is an option for someone who is ready to commit 50 hours of their time to learn – and master – ASL.

Like all the courses on this list, this one starts with basics such as introductions and greetings. You’ll also tackle pronouns and family; people and places; same and different; clock time, calendar time, and frequency; directional verbs; classifiers; and more.

You will build a huge amount of ASL vocabulary, and after taking this course, you’ll be able to discuss topics such as parties and celebrations, the seasons, holidays, restaurants and money, going to school, careers and jobs, travel, and so much more! Overall, this is one of the best online ASL classes!

Strengths:

• Bestseller on Udemy
• High 4.5-star rating
• Popular: 1,608 students
• Extensive content: 374 lectures, 49h05m
• Each section contains Deaf Culture Highlights, quizzes, vocabulary, and beginner, intermediate and advanced fingerspelling lessons

12. Signing Savvy (Signing Savvy)

Signing Savvy is not so much a course, but an amazing resource that has all sorts of valuable tools to help you learn ASL. These tools include an ASL dictionary, word lists, blog articles, tutoring resources, printable posters and handouts, and more!

The dictionary incorporates a video demonstration of the sign that you are looking for as well as a description of the sign and memory aids to help you remember it for the next time you need it. The printable posters and handouts would be a great addition to any classroom.

Signing Savvy is best used in conjunction with other resources or classes – any of the other classes on this list for example. Savvy members can also access great practice tools such as flashcards and quizzes! It’s worth noting that your non-members won’t be able to access all of the site content.

Strengths:

• Some of the resources can be accessed for free!
• The dictionary is a great tool for quick reference
• Possible to sign up for one-on-one tutoring sessions (for a fee) in order to get personalized feedback or help with specific aspects of ASL such as baby signing

Visit Signingsavvy.com

13. Start ASL (Start ASL)

There are three Start ASL online courses: Start ASL 1, Start ASL 2, and Start ASL 3. Each course will build upon what was learned in the previous course, and while ASL 1 is perfect for beginners, the student who completes ASL 3 will be able to confidently communicate using ASL.

In ASL 1 you will learn fingerspelling, numbers, the five sign parameters, word order, sentence types, pronouns and indexing, verbs, identifying people, and several lessons on deaf culture and deaf history. In this one 60-lesson course you will have access to over 550 vocabulary and phrase videos.

ASL 2 will build upon ASL 1 teaching you about sentence types, time, duration, regularity, temporal aspect, classifiers, pluralization, distance, inflection, and describing rooms, objects, and locations.

Lastly, ASL 3 kicks things up a notch when it comes to storytelling. You’ll learn how to incorporate role shifting, narratives, giving information, sign language games, literature, and song interpretation. Between ASL 2 and ASL 3 you’ll also get access to over 500 vocabulary and phrase videos! Hands down one of the best certified ASL online classes you’ll find.

Strengths:

• 3 awesome courses geared towards beginner, intermediate, and advanced learners
• Courses are mobile-friendly and self-paced
• You’ll receive a verified certificate of completion
• You’ll have access to the ASL learning Facebook community – great chance to make connections and share resources

Visit Startasl.com

14. The Complete Online ASL Course (Sign Language 101)

Finally, we have a course from Sign Language 101 where you set the pace of learning ASL. You’ll methodically work through vocabulary words, numbers, tips about learning American Sign Language, and special knowledge about Deaf culture. This course includes 50 receptive practice questions and 100 fingerspelling activities to help hone your skills.

This course is masterfully (and energetically) taught by Dr. Byron W. Bridges, a well-regarded author, teacher, and lecturer for more than 30 years. ​Born deaf to deaf parents and growing up with a deaf sister, Dr. Byron W. Bridges has used American Sign Language as the primary means to communicate throughout his whole life. Dr. Bridges has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Deaf Studies from the California State University of Northridge, Masters of Arts (MA) degree in Linguistics from Gallaudet University, and a doctoral degree (Ed.D) in Deaf Studies and Deaf Education at Lamar University. He is a Certified Deaf Interpreter (CDI), earning the certification through the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf.

This course is highly practical teaching not just the usual letters, numbers, and colors but also everyday phrases, hobbies, directions, and even sports. You’ll learn 1400 useful vocabulary words across 8+ hours of instruction. They recommend taking at least 10 weeks for Level 1 and Level 2 to ensure plenty of time to practice and take advantage of the more than 100+ carefully designed learning activities.

Strengths:

• 2 courses geared towards beginners and intermediate students
• Free previews of early course modules (see review #7)
• Courses are self-paced and flexible overly roughly 10 weeks
• You can request a certificate of completion after 80% of modules are complete

Visit Sign Language 101

To further your communication skills, you can also see my guides on proofreading classes, online writing classes and BSL.