Introduction
Have questions? Explore this list of Frequently Asked Questions. If you still can't find the answer you're looking for, go to the Contact Us Section.
Getting Started
To get started, visit signschool.com/signup
Once you sign up, you will notice several features:
Learn: Explore our resources to learn ASL through topics, grammar, or learning tools
Dashboard: Keep updated with your progress with our interactive dashboard
Settings: Modify the learning experience to be just right for you
For more details, visit signschool.com/welcome
Enjoy using SignSchool!
General
What is SignSchool?
SignSchool is a free online learning platform for American Sign Language. SignSchool's goal is to facilitate basic communication between the Deaf and hearing communities by providing a high quality online platform for hearing people to learn American Sign Language.
Can I learn with SignSchool on my mobile device or tablet?
Absolutely! SignSchool can be used on iPhones and iPads via SignSchool's iOS app, and Android devices via SignSchool's Google Play app!
American Sign Language
What sign language does SignSchool teach?
SignSchool teaches American Sign Language (ASL). ASL is the standard verbal language of the Deaf in the United States of America. Contrary to popular belief, ASL is not an universal sign language, and many countries have their own sign languages distinct from ASL.
Does SignSchool teach a specific region of ASL?
At SignSchool, we teach the signs that are used most commonly in the Deaf community. We are fortunate enough to have a diverse team of content developers that originate from the various regions within the US, including the East, West, and Midwest regions. However, if you are taking another ASL course, we recommend that you follow the signs that your instructor teaches, as those signs may be more appropriate for your region.
Is ASL simply signed English?
No. ASL is a full-fledged language in its own right, and is recognized as such by the majority of linguists. It has its own grammar distinct from that of English, and sentences are structured differently in sign language. Because of this you may notice that signed phrases do not exactly correspond to their English translations.
Technical
Why are the videos sometimes blurry or take a while to load?
While our videos are shot in full HD, they are hosted on custom video players. Depending on the quality of your internet connection, your viewing experience may be affected. The custom video players have specialized algorithms that automatically adjust the resolution of the video being played to optimize delivery speeds. That is, the players will automatically reduce the resolution of the video in the event your internet speeds are slow, causing the video to become blurry. Video loading speeds are also affected by the speed of your internet connection. If you are having trouble loading SignSchool or viewing videos, we recommend you contact your Internet Service Provider (ISP).
How do I pause the video if there is no “pause” button in the video player?
Simply move your cursor over the video and click once to pause it. Clicking again will continue the video.
How do I toggle on/off the captions in the videos?
To optimize your learning experience, we have included captions in a selection of videos. These captions are set on by default, but can be turned off by the user on the Settings page (found in the dropdown in the top right corner of the screen).
What is the webcam for? Is the video recorded? Who can view the webcam video?
The webcam is there for you to practice signing alongside the instructor. We do not record the webcam and no one can see the webcam apart from you.
Why does the webcam feature not work?
Right now, the webcam feature is only supported by Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Opera. Please make sure you are using a supported browser if you'd like to try out the webcam!
The videos do not load at all, and appear to be blocked. Why is this happening?
Depending on where you are accessing SignSchool from, your network administrator may have blocked streaming access to our website. This typically occurs in places such as K-12 schools. If this is your case, we recommend contacting your network administrator or IT department to request a workaround.
Contact Us
Still have questions? If you've checked out the information available on this page and still have questions, please contact us at team@signschool.com
