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Sign Language Courses Online

Study sign language for effective communication with the deaf community. Learn basic signs, grammar, and conversational skills.

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Explore the Sign Language Course Catalog

  • Status: Preview
    Preview
    U

    University of Cape Town

    Educating Deaf Children: Becoming an Empowered Teacher

    Skills you'll gain: Disabilities, Special Education, Cultural Responsiveness, Child Development, Teaching, Differentiated Instruction, Parent Communication, Advocacy, Non-Verbal Communication

    4.9
    Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
    ·
    415 reviews

    Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

  • Status: Preview
    Preview
    U

    University of Houston

    American Deaf Culture

    Skills you'll gain: Disabilities, Social Justice, Culture, Diversity Awareness, Sociology, Communication Disorders, Social Sciences, Cultural Diversity, Language Learning, Special Education, Education and Training, Non-Verbal Communication, Civil Law

    4.5
    Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
    ·
    385 reviews

    Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

  • Status: Free Trial
    Free Trial
    U

    University of California, Davis

    Learn Spanish: Basic Spanish Vocabulary

    Skills you'll gain: Peer Review, Language Learning, Spanish Language, Oral Expression, Grammar, Oral Comprehension, Vocabulary, Culture, Writing and Editing, Language Competency, Research, Writing

    4.6
    Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
    ·
    3.7K reviews

    Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

  • Status: Preview
    Preview
    Y

    Yonsei University

    First Step Korean

    Skills you'll gain: Language Competency, Grammar, Writing, Vocabulary, Literacy, Culture

    4.9
    Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
    ·
    53K reviews

    Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

  • Status: Preview
    Preview
    U

    University of Pennsylvania

    Vital Signs: Understanding What the Body Is Telling Us

    Skills you'll gain: Vital Signs, Respiration, Respiratory Care, Pulmonology, Pain Management, Physiology, Health Assessment, Cardiology, Thermal Management, Neurology, Patient Evaluation, Anatomy, Clinical Assessment

    4.8
    Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
    ·
    6.9K reviews

    Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months

  • Status: Free Trial
    Free Trial
    K

    Khalifa University

    Arabic for Beginners

    Skills you'll gain: Oral Comprehension, Language Learning, Language Competency, Vocabulary, Cultural Sensitivity, Writing, Grammar, Oral Expression, Literacy, Verbal Communication Skills, Student-Centred Learning

    4.6
    Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
    ·
    115 reviews

    Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

What brings you to Coursera today?

  • Status: Free Trial
    Free Trial
    U

    University of California, Irvine

    Learn English: Beginning Grammar

    Skills you'll gain: Grammar, Vocabulary, English Language, Language Learning, Language Competency

    4.9
    Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
    ·
    4.9K reviews

    Beginner · Specialization · 1 - 3 Months

  • Status: Preview
    Preview
    P

    Peking University

    Chinese for Beginners

    Skills you'll gain: Language Learning, Language Competency, Vocabulary, Oral Comprehension, Grammar, Communication

    4.8
    Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
    ·
    20K reviews

    Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months

  • Status: Preview
    Preview
    U

    Universiteit Leiden

    Miracles of Human Language: An Introduction to Linguistics

    Skills you'll gain: Language Competency, Language Learning, Language Disorders, Anthropology, Multilingualism, English Language, Communication Disorders, Cultural Diversity, Oral Comprehension, Vocabulary, Grammar, Cultural Sensitivity, Social Sciences, Sociology, Research Methodologies

    4.7
    Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
    ·
    2.5K reviews

    Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

  • Status: Free Trial
    Free Trial
    I

    IBM

    IBM Data Analytics with Excel and R

    Skills you'll gain: Data Storytelling, Interactive Data Visualization, Data Visualization Software, Data Visualization, Database Design, Shiny (R Package), Data Wrangling, Exploratory Data Analysis, Relational Databases, Big Data, Ggplot2, Data Analysis, IBM Cognos Analytics, Data Presentation, Data Mining, Dashboard, Excel Formulas, Data Manipulation, Web Scraping, Microsoft Excel

    Build toward a degree

    4.7
    Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
    ·
    30K reviews

    Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months

  • Status: Preview
    Preview
    U

    University of Pennsylvania

    English for Career Development

    Skills you'll gain: English Language, Vocabulary, Writing, Business Writing, Interviewing Skills, Verbal Communication Skills, Social Skills, Professional Networking, Job Analysis, Business Communication, Communication, Recruitment

    4.8
    Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
    ·
    17K reviews

    Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months

  • Status: Preview
    Preview
    Y

    Yale University

    Introduction to Psychology

    Skills you'll gain: Psychology, Child Development, Psychiatry, Mental Health, Human Development, Human Learning, Social Sciences, Behavioral Health, Sociology, Neurology, Critical Thinking, Scientific Methods, Problem Solving

    4.9
    Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
    ·
    32K reviews

    Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

Sign Language learners also search

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1234…376

In summary, here are 10 of our most popular sign language courses

  • Educating Deaf Children: Becoming an Empowered Teacher: University of Cape Town
  • American Deaf Culture: University of Houston
  • Learn Spanish: Basic Spanish Vocabulary: University of California, Davis
  • First Step Korean: Yonsei University
  • Vital Signs: Understanding What the Body Is Telling Us: University of Pennsylvania
  • Arabic for Beginners: Khalifa University
  • Learn English: Beginning Grammar: University of California, Irvine
  • Chinese for Beginners: Peking University
  • Miracles of Human Language: An Introduction to Linguistics: Universiteit Leiden
  • IBM Data Analytics with Excel and R: IBM

Frequently Asked Questions about Sign Language

Sign language is a visual language that utilizes a combination of hand gestures, facial expressions, and body movements to communicate. It is primarily used by individuals who are deaf or have hearing impairments. Sign language has its own unique grammar and syntax, and varies across different regions and countries. It is a vital language for the deaf community and plays a crucial role in their communication and inclusion.‎

Learning sign language opens up communication with the Deaf community. Regular practice is key to memorizing signs and gaining fluency; practice with a partner or in front of a mirror. Communities like the American Sign Language (ASL) subreddit or local meetups can provide valuable practice opportunities. Work on real projects like signing along with videos or practicing everyday conversations.‎

To learn sign language, you will need to acquire the following skills:

  1. Finger and Hand Dexterity: Sign language relies heavily on hand movements and gestures. Developing finger and hand dexterity is crucial to accurately communicate using sign language.

  2. Visual Perception: Sign language involves observing and understanding various hand shapes, facial expressions, and body movements. Enhancing your visual perception skills will enable you to interpret and understand sign language more effectively.

  3. Memory and Recall: Learning sign language requires memorizing signs, gestures, and their corresponding meanings. Developing strong memory and recall skills will help you retain and retrieve sign language information faster and more efficiently.

  4. Linguistic Skills: While sign language is primarily a visual language, it also includes specific grammar, syntax, and structure. Developing linguistic skills, such as understanding sentence structure, word order, and grammar, will enable you to communicate accurately and fluently in sign language.

  5. Cultural Awareness: Sign language is deeply rooted in Deaf culture. Learning about Deaf culture, norms, and etiquette will help you better understand and interact with the Deaf community, enhancing your sign language skills and communication abilities.

  6. Patience and Persistence: Learning any new skill requires patience and persistence. Becoming proficient in sign language will take time, practice, and consistent effort. Cultivating these qualities will help you overcome challenges and continue progressing in your sign language learning journey.‎

Having Sign Language skills can open up various job opportunities in the field of deaf education, interpretation, and advocacy. Here are some examples of jobs you can pursue:

  1. Sign Language Interpreter: As a sign language interpreter, you can work in educational settings, healthcare facilities, government agencies, courtrooms, conferences, or private practice. Your role will involve facilitating communication between people who are deaf or hard of hearing and those who can hear.

  2. Deaf Education Teacher: With sign language skills, you can become a teacher specialized in educating students who are deaf or hard of hearing. You may work in schools for the deaf, mainstream education settings, or as a private tutor.

  3. Speech-Language Pathologist: Sign language skills can be beneficial if you choose to become a speech-language pathologist working with individuals who are deaf or have hearing impairments. Your role will involve assessing, diagnosing, and treating speech, language, and swallowing disorders.

  4. Deaf Services Coordinator: In this role, you would coordinate and advocate for services and resources for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. This could include working in non-profit organizations, community centers, or government agencies.

  5. Captioning Specialist: Captioning specialists create captions for various media content, making it accessible for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. This can involve captioning videos, television shows, movies, or live events.

  6. Sign Language Instructor: Utilize your sign language skills to teach others. You can become a sign language instructor in schools, community centers, or offer private lessons.

Remember, these are just a few examples, and sign language skills can also be valuable in a range of other careers where communication skills, empathy, and cultural sensitivity are important.‎

People who are interested in communication, have a passion for learning new languages, and have a desire to connect with the deaf community are best suited for studying Sign Language. Additionally, individuals who are patient, empathetic, and have good visual-spatial skills tend to excel in learning and using Sign Language effectively.‎

There are several topics related to Sign Language that you can study. Here are a few suggestions:

  1. American Sign Language (ASL): ASL is one of the most popular sign languages in North America. You can study the basics, grammar, vocabulary, and conversational skills of ASL.

  2. Sign Language Linguistics: This topic explores the linguistic aspects of sign languages, including their structure, syntax, and phonology. You can learn about the various linguistic features of sign languages worldwide.

  3. Interpretation and Translation: If you're interested in becoming a sign language interpreter or translator, you can study the specific skills and techniques required for effective communication between sign languages and spoken languages.

  4. Deaf Culture and Awareness: This topic delves into the unique culture, history, and identity of the Deaf community. You can learn about the experiences, challenges, and achievements of Deaf individuals, as well as their cultural norms and values.

  5. Sign Language Teaching: If you're interested in becoming a sign language teacher, you can study instructional methods, curriculum development, and assessment strategies specific to teaching sign languages to diverse learner groups.

  6. Specialized Sign Language Vocabulary: Depending on your interests or career aspirations, you can study sign language vocabulary related to specific fields. For example, medical sign language, legal sign language, or sign language used in education.

Remember, these topics are just a starting point. There are many more areas of study within the broader field of Sign Language.‎

Online Sign Language courses offer a convenient and flexible way to enhance your knowledge or learn new Sign language is a visual language that utilizes a combination of hand gestures, facial expressions, and body movements to communicate. It is primarily used by individuals who are deaf or have hearing impairments. Sign language has its own unique grammar and syntax, and varies across different regions and countries. It is a vital language for the deaf community and plays a crucial role in their communication and inclusion. skills. Choose from a wide range of Sign Language courses offered by top universities and industry leaders tailored to various skill levels.‎

When looking to enhance your workforce's skills in Sign Language, it's crucial to select a course that aligns with their current abilities and learning objectives. Our Skills Dashboard is an invaluable tool for identifying skill gaps and choosing the most appropriate course for effective upskilling. For a comprehensive understanding of how our courses can benefit your employees, explore the enterprise solutions we offer. Discover more about our tailored programs at Coursera for Business here.‎

This FAQ content has been made available for informational purposes only. Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals.

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