In April 2020, at the height of the pandemic, we began hosting free weekly ASL group practice sessions. What started as a simple way to stay connected during a season of isolation quickly grew into something far more meaningful — a thriving community of learners who gather every Wednesday at 5:00 PM Pacific (8:00 PM Eastern) on Zoom to practice, connect, and grow together.

Over time, these sessions have become much more than structured drills or exercises. They have evolved into a genuine place of belonging — a supportive environment where encouragement is constant, mistakes are viewed as essential steps in the learning process, and friendships form across distances and time zones.

More Than Just Practice

These sessions quickly became more than drills or exercises. They became a place of belonging — where encouragement flows freely, mistakes are seen as stepping stones, and friendships form across screens and state lines.

Over the years, we’ve been inspired by the stories shared:

“Awesome community! Thank you Chris and Johnni!”
– Juliana Russell, The Language Mindset

“Really impressed with this group and sooo happy I can keep learning every week! Very supportive.”
– Elizabeth

“I started this last week and made ASL friends. Friends are the best way to improve and enjoy language learning.”
– Kaori

“Wednesdays are my favorite!”
– Jordan ASL

These aren’t just comments. They’re reminders of what’s possible when people come together to learn.

However, after five wonderful years of hosting, we’ve made the heartfelt decision to step back from actively leading the sessions and starting May 2025, the ASL group practice will continue as self-directed sessions.

What to Expect

• Always free. These sessions are and always will be free of charge.

• No limits. Come to as many sessions as you’d like, stay as long as you wish.

• Flexible group size. When there’s a large turnout, breakout rooms make it easy to pair up with a partner or work in a small group.

• Practice by level. At the start of each session, participants may sort themselves by skill level (beginner, intermediate, or advanced). Adding your level to your Zoom name (e.g., Kimberly – Beginner) helps you find a good match.

• Encouraged participation. We encourage that you keep your camera on, as ASL is a visual language.

• Voices off. To promote authentic practice, participants are encouraged to use ASL as much as possible. While not enforced, the spirit of the group is “voices off.”

• Use what you know. The goal isn’t perfection — it’s communication. Even limited vocabulary can create meaningful conversations.

• Practice. Sessions are designed to provide both comprehensible input (what you understand) and output (what you produce) — both essential for growth.

In short: bring what you know, be ready to learn, and support one another.

How to Join

Whether you’re just starting to learn ASL or have been signing for years, these sessions are for you. All you need to do is:

1. Subscribe to the newsletter and immediately receive the Zoom link and credentials to join the sessions as your schedule allows.

2. Show up ready to learn. Bring patience, kindness, and curiosity.

3. Support each other. Everyone is on their own journey — mistakes are not failures, they’re the building blocks of fluency.

Looking back, these past five years have been extraordinary. We’ve witnessed beginners grow into confident conversationalists and even professional interpreters! Plus, it has been amazing seeing the countless moments of encouragement exchanged during these sessions.

Thank you for making this community what it is. Thank you for showing up, for signing bravely, and for reminding us that language learning isn’t just about words (or signs) — it’s about connection.

We hope you’ll continue practicing, supporting one another, and building your ASL journey with intention. Because together, we’ve learned something powerful:

The fastest way to grow in a language isn’t to study harder, it’s to belong to a community that grows together.