Free ASL community practice
Build confidence.
One conversation at a time.
Put the signs you’re learning into real conversations with people who are learning alongside you. Our free ASL group practice sessions offer a welcoming place to show up, try, and keep growing.
Get the practice detailsHow to joinBeginners, intermediate learners, and experienced signers are welcome.
A small step toward connection
Come with what you know.
You don’t need perfect signing to begin. Bring a few familiar signs, a willingness to listen with your eyes, and patience for yourself and your partner.
01 / GET THE DETAILS
Start with the newsletter.
Use the ASL signup page to receive the joining information and the free 6 Steps to Sign Language Fluency guide. Follow the instructions in your email, including any confirmation step, and keep the Zoom information somewhere you can find it.
Open the ASL signup page ↗02 / FIND YOUR PEOPLE
Introduce your level.
When you arrive, share your name and experience. Adding a level to your Zoom display name, such as “Kimberly · Beginner,” can help you find a comfortable match. Depending on attendance and available controls, participants may use smaller groups or breakout rooms.
03 / KEEP IT SIMPLE
Choose one goal.
Start with introductions, a short question, or a familiar topic. Take turns, ask for repetition when needed, and give one another time to respond. You can attend when your schedule allows and leave when you need to.
Before you turn on the camera
Make it easier to see.
Make it easier to sign.
ASL uses hands, facial expression, movement, and signing space. A few small adjustments help your partner follow the whole message.
- Frame your signing space. Position the camera so your face, upper body, and hands stay visible.
- Light your face and hands. Face a light source and avoid a bright window behind you.
- Reduce visual distractions. A simple background and clothing that contrasts with your hands can help.
- Check Zoom ahead of time. Test your camera, connection, and display name before the session.
- Bring a small practice goal. Review a few useful signs, two questions, or a short story rather than a long vocabulary list.
While you’re together
A shared space
for learning.
- Keep the camera on while signing so others can see you. If you need a break, let your group know.
- Aim for voices-off practice. Use ASL as much as you can. Fingerspelling, showing an object, or brief chat clarification can help you work through a gap.
- Take turns and leave room. Avoid signing over someone else or making every conversation a lesson.
- Ask before offering corrections. Share feedback kindly and recognize that signs can vary by region and community.
- Respect privacy. Ask permission before recording, taking screenshots, or sharing another participant’s story.
- Learn from Deaf perspectives. Peer practice complements learning from Deaf teachers and fluent signers; it does not replace it.
Less guessing. More conversation.
Give your practice a starting point.
Choose one activity together, take turns, and finish by noticing something you understood or expressed more clearly.
BEGINNER
Make a connection.
Introduce yourself, fingerspell your name, and ask about a favorite food or hobby. Repeat your partner’s answer back to check understanding. Keep the exchange short enough that both people can participate.
Try this: Each person brings three familiar signs and uses them in a short exchange.
INTERMEDIATE
Share a small story.
Describe something that happened this week, a place you enjoy, or a plan for the weekend. Establish when the story takes place and give your partner enough context to follow.
Try this: Your partner asks two follow-up questions, then you switch roles.
EXPERIENCED SIGNERS
Add detail and perspective.
Discuss a shared interest, compare two experiences, or retell an event from another person’s perspective. Focus on clear connections, facial expression, and how you use signing space.
Try this: Ask your partner what they understood before clarifying one part.
A simple 20-minute practice plan
3 minutes: Introductions and a shared goal. 10 minutes: Take turns with one conversation activity. 5 minutes: Revisit something that was difficult. 2 minutes: Name one small win and one thing to practice next.
This is an optional activity plan, not the session’s required schedule. Adjust it to your group.
A community built through practice
It started with
a need to connect.
Chris and Johnni began hosting free weekly practice in April 2020, when the pandemic made connection especially difficult. Learners joined from different places and backgrounds, finding encouragement and friendships through a shared interest in ASL.
After five years of hosting, we stepped back from actively leading the sessions in May 2025. The group continues as a self-directed practice space. I may drop in from time to time, but my attendance is not part of the weekly format.
Thank you to everyone who keeps showing up, welcomes newcomers, and makes room for another person to learn.
Voices from the community
“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
Comments shared during the group’s earlier hosted sessions.
A little clarity before you join
Common questions.
Is the group free? Do I need Patreon?
The ASL group practice sessions are free. A paid Patreon membership is not required to attend. Use the newsletter signup link for the joining information.
Can I join if I’m a beginner?
Yes. Learn a few introductions and useful questions before your first visit, tell others your level, and choose a manageable goal. Partners’ experience and availability will vary, so be patient while finding a match.
Is this a class led by Chris or Johnni?
The weekly sessions have been self-directed since May 2025. They are a space for peer conversation rather than a structured course, private lesson, or guaranteed instructor-led session. Chris may occasionally visit.
What if I don’t understand someone?
Ask them to repeat or slow down. Tell them which part you followed and which part you missed. Try a shorter phrase, fingerspelling, a visual example, or a brief chat clarification, then return to signing. Understanding a little more each time is useful progress.
Where do I find the Zoom link?
Start at the ASL signup page and follow the email instructions. If an expected email is missing, check spam or promotions and whether you completed the confirmation step. Keep meeting credentials private and check the latest joining information before attending.
Do I have to attend every week?
No. Come when your schedule allows. A repeatable practice habit can help, but you are welcome to begin with a single visit and a small goal.
How do I handle the time zone?
The listed meeting time is Wednesday at 5:00 PM Pacific, or 8:00 PM Eastern. Add the event using a named time zone in your calendar and check your local conversion around daylight saving changes, particularly if you live outside the United States.
Bring a little practice with you
Prepare with the ASL Basics library.
Show up. Sign a little. Keep growing.
Your next conversation
can start here.
You don’t have to wait until you feel fluent to connect. Join the newsletter, get the practice details, and bring one small goal to your next session.
Get the practice detailsThe signup page includes the free 6 Steps to Sign Language Fluency guide. You can unsubscribe from the newsletter anytime.