Many colleges, universities and continuing education centers offer courses in American Sign Language. Here is a partial list, more information is available on the internet:

American Sign Language offers an opportunity for all the people who want to learn sign language. Even those who do not have any hearing loss or deficiency ca

Answer -- ASL is American Sign Language. ASL is a distinct language with its own grammar and syntax. It is not based on, nor derived from a spoken language. It is a visual-gestural language that uses facial expression, spatial markers, fingerspelling and signs. It is the native language of the Deaf community.

Research conclusively indicates that babies who sign tend to have a stronger command of verbal language and often begin speaking at an earlier age than babies who do not sign. Countless parents and caregivers have confirmed these findings with their personal experiences and observations. In addition, many Speech-Language professionals, pediatricians, and educators are supporting the use of signs to encourage early language development.

No. ASL, like any other language, is primarily used in the country of origin. If you were to travel around the world, you would need to know the sign language of the country you were visiting, just as you would need to know the spoken language. There are as many sign languages as there are spoken languages, for instance if you were to travel to Europe, you would have to know German Sign, French Sign, Russian Sign, etc., to communicate with the Deaf citizens in those countries.

The exact beginnings of ASL are not clear. Many people believe that ASL came mostly from French Sign Language (FSL). Others claim that the foundation for ASL existed before FSL was introduced in America in 1817. It was in that year that a French teacher named Laurent Clerc, brought to the United States by Thomas Gallaudet, founded the first school for the deaf in Hartford, Connecticut.

ASL is headquartered in Toronto, Canada and provides its products and services nationally and internationally directly and through a partner network spanning the Americas, Asia/Pacific, Europe and the Middle East/Africa. For contact numbers and locations click on Contact Us at the bottom of this page.

The Alternative Fitness Body IQ Video Set is available for $39.95 at the front desk of the studio or by calling 1-877-9Pilates. The video is great to compliment your class work. THe first video presents the 6 Basic Alternative Fitness Principles which are presented in class. It is arranged in tutorials for learning. The second video has 3 floor exercise sequences plus one reformer workout.

Yes, it is possible to learn slow breathing on your own, and you will gradually assimilate with Breatheasy. People have actually been doing this for years under the name of biofeedback. Unfortunately, biofeedback is difficult and time-consuming to learn, which is why it has never gained widespread use. Slow breathing is also very difficult to learn unaided because it's only effective when done in a very relaxed state with minimal conscious effort.

Answer -- ASL originated in 1816. A French deaf educator, Laurent Clerc, brought the language to the United States. About 60 percent of the vocabulary used in ASL comes from French Sign Language.

ASL was first introduced in the United States in 1816 by Thomas Gallaudet, founder of the American School for the Deaf in Hartford, Connecticut.

In spoken language, the different sounds created by words and tones of voice (intonation) are the most important devices used to communicate. Sign language is based on the idea that sight is the most useful tool a deaf person has to communicate and receive information. Thus, ASL uses hand shape, position, and movement; body movements; gestures; facial expressions; and other visual cues to form its words.

Parents are often the source of a child's early acquisition of language. A deaf child who is born to deaf parents who already use ASL will begin to acquire ASL as naturally as a hearing child picks up spoken language from hearing parents. However, language is acquired differently by a deaf child with hearing parents who have no prior experience with ASL. Some hearing parents choose to introduce sign language to their deaf children.