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Q: I’ve never learned ASL before. Can I really start here?
Absolutely. Many of my students started from zero with no previous ASL experience. Some had wanted to learn ASL for years but weren’t sure where to begin. Others wondered if ASL would be too difficult or whether they’d be able to keep up.
I deliberately designed the ASL Bundle with complete beginners in mind. You don’t need any previous ASL experience to get started. I’ll guide you every step of the way so you can build practical ASL communication skills without feeling overwhelmed.
Here are a few experiences from students who started learning with me as complete beginners:
I’ve never learned ASL before and was too nervous to try. I’m Shocked that my hands can not only create the signs but comprehend what i’m seeing and doing. Fantastic!!
— Stefan Maroni
Able Lingo ASL Student
I loved the setup of the classes! I have always wanted to learn sign language and as a complete beginner I really appreciated the interactive / actionable design of the class to help “cement” everything into memory! I also thought the teacher was really motivating through his super friendly way of teaching.
— Sophie Herbert
Able Lingo ASL Student
Excellent course!! Teacher is engaging, energetic, and thorough. He shows you the signs from the front & sides, and breaks down the phrases and words in a clear way. Perfect class for beginners! I never knew how facial expressions were so helpful within ASL communication. I’m excited to keep watching & taking more of his classes!
— Laurie Fitrakis
Able Lingo ASL Student
This instructor is amazing. ASL seemed overwhelming but the structure and clear speaking, signing, and having the gestures from multiple angles is tremendous.
— Paula Churbuck
Able Lingo ASL Student
Great course on all levels. (I have a background in teaching, too!) This course has exceeded my expectations. I appreciate the clear instructions from this teacher, and also the review. And it’s paced appropriately for someone who’s never signed before.
— Karen Kurzdorfer
Able Lingo ASL Student
Lesson format and a few video lessons from my First 1000+ Signs course.
This course comes with a PDF checklist showing all signs included in the First 1000+ Signs course.
Q: I’ve tried learning ASL in the past. Why will this time be different?
Most of my students didn’t begin their ASL journey with Able Lingo. They had already tried learning through classes, YouTube videos, apps, books, or other online courses.
Some learned plenty of signs but still didn’t feel confident putting them together in real conversations. Others simply needed a learning approach that finally made ASL click.
The difference isn’t that you’ll work harder—it’s that you’ll learn differently. Rather than focusing only on memorization, you’ll build practical signing skills through recognition, conversations, review, and real-world communication from the very beginning.
If you’ve tried learning ASL before and are looking for a different approach, here are a few experiences from students who felt the same way:
I have tried different youtube channels, books, and googling signs trying to learn ASL from home. This is the easiest and fastest way. Each video is 2 minutes. He shows how to sign each word from different angles. He goes over it again and again, and pieces together each component for you. I don’t need to do any extra steps here. By the end of each video, I understand the sign fully and I can trust that each sign is accurate.
— Grace Cowden
Able Lingo ASL Student
There are many ASL lessons online and I have checked out many! I must say I am understanding and learning the most from you! I enjoy how you so calmly teach and your happy content!
— Donna Sordillo
Able Lingo ASL Student
Easy way to learn basic signs!!! I have several deaf friends and really need this to be able to talk with them. I have been trying to learn sign language for years and have taken many courses. This is the best of them all!!
— Ann Parker
Able Lingo ASL Student
I love this series. The structure of each lesson really reinforces the signs, but most of all I like the detailed explanations of the signs, especially the hand shapes and facial expressions. I have taken many different classes on line, and others also have their strengths, but this is by far the best for getting a clear understanding of how to make the signs.
— Lynne Tamor
Able Lingo ASL Student
your teaching style is fantastic!!! I took ASL 1 and 2 last year but didn’t use it a lot, so I’m refreshing and learning new with you, and its going very well, i can’t thank you enough, I really want to learn to sign well, and you are making it possible for me! the decipher was excellent, the first one was a bit of a challenge, then suddenly my mind just flipped into ASL mode and I got it. Soooo exciting, i just wanna say THANKS A MILLION!!!
— Sandi Moore
Able Lingo ASL Student
Q: Will I actually learn to communicate in ASL, or just memorize signs?
Many of my students joined because they wanted more than a larger ASL vocabulary. They wanted to understand conversations, respond naturally, and feel confident communicating with Deaf people in everyday situations. Simply knowing hundreds of individual signs wasn’t enough.
Communication has always been the goal. From your very first lessons, you’ll learn how signs work together in practical conversations instead of simply collecting vocabulary.
Along the way, you’ll practice recognizing signs, understanding sentence structure, responding naturally, and building confidence through realistic dialogues and review. The goal isn’t just to know more signs—it’s to use them.
If your goal is to communicate—not just memorize signs—here are some students who were looking for the same thing:
Prior to the course i knew the alphabet and a few signs. Now I feel like I can have a conversation. Very slowly. :) I love that you break down the signs and show them from different angles. Also, that I could speed up, skip ahead, or slow it down if needed. I also really like that you note when a sign is similar or the same as another sign, or anything else that is helpful to know about a sign. Love the dialogues. And, you just make it fun.
— Martha Robertson
Able Lingo ASL Student
The words and phrases are useful immediately. I don’t have to wait till the end of the course to use asl. I used it right away after the first lesson. After my first lesson I also gifted a course to my nanny. That’s how much I liked it already! I only wanted to take this course but after this I will take his other courses. This is a gem of a course!
— April Harkness
Able Lingo ASL Student
This course actually explains the structure of the signs in detail, like the hand shape, hand positions and hand movements. The teacher also shows you the signs from different angles so there is no doubt about how it’s done. The teacher is very charismatic too, so it keeps a fun and happy atmosphere all the time. There are specific lessons at the end of every 3 sections that are to test your understanding and to practice the signs, so you can go back anytime to those lessons to practice them all, which is very convenient. Thanks!
— Kenjiro García
Able Lingo ASL Student
I really appreciate all of the Able Lingo courses. They are clear and include many opportunities to practice, as well as information that will help across varying communities. So far these courses have helped me to move past primarily signing main concept words, but to be able to fully interpret a 30 minute lesson. But this was my goal and I was incredibly pleased to be able to get there as quickly as I did with the help of Able Lingo. Also, on the budget of an arts teacher many other options available are beyond my price range. Thank you!
— Stephanie Jacobson
Able Lingo ASL Student
Intro for ASL Signing Mission #1 (above), dialogue from the ASL Daily Feed (below), and ASL Tip about reusing sentence structures (bottom).
Q: I don’t have anyone to sign with. Can I still practice ASL?
Definitely. One of the biggest concerns beginners have is not having someone to practice with. Maybe you don’t know anyone who signs, your schedule doesn’t line up with local classes, or you simply don’t have a regular practice partner.
The good news is that you don’t have to put your progress on hold while waiting for someone else. Throughout the ASL Bundle For Beginners, you’ll actively reinforce what you’ve learned through guided reviews, signing and understanding tests, recognition exercises, practical dialogues, and cumulative practice.
Instead of simply watching videos, you’ll be using your hands, testing yourself, reviewing previous lessons, and building confidence every step of the way.
When opportunities to sign with Deaf people or other learners come along, you’ll be better prepared because you’ve already spent time actively practicing.
Here are some students who discovered they could make meaningful progress even while practicing on their own:
Perfect match. I know finger spelling, but I have not been able to practice much, as I am learning on my own. This class feels like having a true partner to sign with!
— Diana VonRoeschlaub
Able Lingo ASL Student
The courses complement each other — I can learn new material without being overwhelmed while reinforcing and reviewing words from other courses.. I’m getting very confident in my ability to build my own sentences now and am looking forward to taking more of these courses.
— Dolly Burgos
Able Lingo ASL Student
This course took me a little over 2 months to finally complete but boy did it help me learn a lot. The formatting is definitely the biggest factor in helping me remembering all my signs. I really liked the incorporation of reviews and dialogues after each section. I also really liked the different perspectives we got for each new sign because seeing from just the front can make things a little tricky to grasp.
— John Jimenez
Able Lingo ASL Student
i love this format i have tried other online courses but i end up doing the sign wrong due to they didn’t show the signs from the side and also to practice them on actual sentences this is by far the best course i have tried great job making this easy and fun way to learn asl.
— Francisco J Gomez
Able Lingo ASL Student
Explore how 2-part testing works (above).
Sign the ASL dialogue with me (below).
Q: I’m afraid I’ll forget everything. Will I actually remember what I learn?
One of the biggest fears beginners have isn’t learning new signs—it’s remembering them. Many students worry they’ll spend hours studying ASL only to forget most of it a few weeks later.
Learning something once isn’t enough. That’s why the ASL Bundle For Beginners continually reinforces what you’ve learned through reviews, signing and understanding tests, practical conversations, and cumulative practice.
Here are a few experiences from students who discovered they were remembering far more than they expected:
It’s amazing. Learning and retaining pretty much every word I learned and that is saying something for me lol.
— Carolyn Winder
Able Lingo ASL Student
I love how each video showed in detail from all sides how to properly sign each word. I love the mini tests after each small section, and the larger testing videos at the end of each larger section. These tests will be wonderful to go back through periodically to test myself on these signs as well. I really enjoyed the dialogues at the end of each larger section, and how previous signs we learned were built it. Excellent way to see if I really remember each previous sign. These dialogues were also an excellent way to start learning how to form sentences, and understand the differences between sentence structure between English and ASL. I love your learning style, and I am having a really great time with these courses. Thank you for providing an amazing way to learn a new language.
— Shannon Hill
Able Lingo ASL Student
This is the fourth ASL course from Michael that I’ve taken. It was a great mix of new material and signs from earlier courses. I was even able to sign some of the sentences without the instruction, which was a real boost to my confidence. It also shows Michael’s ability to convey information so that it “sticks” long after the lesson. I’ve gone back to some of the sentences to switch out nouns and verbs, not just pronouns, to keep growing my vocabulary. I’m looking forward to taking more of Michael’s ASL courses. Thanks so much!
— Jena M. Gaines
Able Lingo ASL Student
I am hard of hearing and need to learn sign language and this makes everything so much easier. The instructor is amazing and the ability to go back to any part of the course at any time is so great. I’m in my early 40’s and was so afraid I wasn’t going to remember everything but it’s not the case. If you are interested in learning ASL then I very highly recommend this course and any of his other courses. you won’t be disappointed.
— Nathan Hunter
Able Lingo ASL Student
This is a very good teaching plan or curriculum of sign language. It is direct to the point and not much annoyance of some unnecessary inclusions like some other programs. I like the directness of the teaching in which it teaches you directly the things that you need to know instead of going around the bush about certain things that is not necessarily teaching the sign language in other programs, kudos to whoever built this curriculum. The way that this curriculum is also done is really good for the learner because there is a review and repetition of things which helps me remember what I need to learn if I miss certain days of listening or watching this video.
— Chyrel Garcia
Able Lingo ASL Student
Explore test prep from ASL Signing Mission #1 (above) and 2-part testing from my First 120 Basic Questions course (below).
Q: I don’t have hours to study. Can I still make progress?
Yes. Many of my students juggle work, family, school, and countless other responsibilities. They want to learn ASL, but they worry they simply don’t have enough time. If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone.
Real progress doesn’t require hours every day. Whether you have ten minutes before work, a lunch break, or a little extra time on the weekend, you can continue building your skills at your own pace. Small, consistent study sessions add up over time.
Here are a few of my students who discovered they could successfully learn ASL, even with busy schedules.
I have always wanted to learn ASL but felt it was very complicated and my schedule does not allow for me to take long courses. This one is quick and beautifully explained.
— Susanna Smith
Able Lingo ASL Student
Thank you so much. This has made it easy so far to start my journey into learning ASL. No class time. No commitment. When I’m busy, I’m busy. When I can take time to practice, I can take time…I love how you go piece-by-piece with the recognition (from signing it silently, to signing letter-by-letter, to saying the word; all so that there are as many familiar sounds associated with the sight as possible!).
— SM
Able Lingo ASL Student
I love these courses. you make it so very easy for me to follow along with what you are doing without being so overwhelmed that i give up at it. short little bursts of things are an awesome way to learn on top of the fact you make things fun. i keep telling my hubs “i like Michael, he cracks me up and makes everything fun to learn.” you are very appreciated for all you do. keep up the good work. Happy Blessings.
— M Robin Brockman
Able Lingo ASL Student
A year ago I was slowing down your videos and watching several times. Today I am watching them at 1.25x speed and usually getting it all the first time. Thank you so much for continuing to add videos that give me opportunity to remember and practice my newly found ASL skills. You rock!
— Caren Augsburger
Able Lingo ASL Student
The ability to backtrack and revisit a chapter, the ability to speed or slow the videos, a steadily increased signing speed after the initial concept is taught, and the small bites of knowledge which allow the learner to proceed gradually all without treating them like a child makes this Able Lingo series good. The teacher makes it great. He manages to be encouraging without being condescending.
— David Macknet
Able Lingo ASL Student
Explore the ASL Daily Feed (above) and the 10-Day cycle of the ASL Daily Email (below).
The ASL Daily Feed and ASL Daily Email are included in the ASL Bundle For Beginners.
Q: I can learn signs, but I struggle to understand when other people are signing. Will that ever get easier?
Many beginners discover that recognizing ASL is harder than producing it. It’s one thing to sign a word when you’ve just learned it. It’s another to watch someone else sign a complete sentence and understand what they’re saying.
That’s because understanding ASL is a skill of its own—and it’s a skill you can develop. Throughout the ASL Bundle For Beginners, you won’t just practice making signs. You’ll also practice recognizing them, following conversations, understanding sentence structure, and seeing signs used naturally in context.
As those receptive skills improve, communicating with other people becomes less about translating every sign and more about understanding the message.
Here are a few examples of students who found themselves becoming better at understanding ASL—not just producing it.
The learning process laid out in this course works to not only help me execute a sign accurately, but to also be able to recognize that sign when executed by someone else. This is so huge because other courses I’ve looked at seem to focus only on the execution piece but, what’s the point in being able to speak to someone if you cannot “listen” in return? I find myself practicing my learning throughout the day. I’m excited to complete this course and move on to the next one.
— Julie Duncan
Able Lingo ASL Student
I think this is great for a beginner and the sign is shown from front and side. I especially like the understanding part. It’s one thing to memorize vocabulary but it’s another thing to see the sign and to understand what the person is saying. Great course!
— Hope Cummins
Able Lingo ASL Student
Love the test features of this course. Really makes sure you not only know how to sign but how to recognize what people are signing to you. Also, I appreciate the ASL tips in between chapters. Helpful for someone who is speaking learning about ASL outside of the deaf community so far.
— Katie Riordan
Able Lingo ASL Student
I have taken several of Able Lingo’s classes, and he’s a great teacher and easy to follow. I have a deaf boyfriend and I had a really hard time reading his finger spelling. Able Lingo helped me with the recognition process. I knew the alphabet and could spell, I was just not reading it well. Thank you!!
— Roxanna Hoover Smith
Able Lingo ASL Student
A guided path from overwhelmed beginner to confident, real-world ASL conversations
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