Topic Library — Learning to Sign (Year 1 Foundations) — Minister Destiny Testimony Schools

School: Minister Destiny Testimony Schools Track: Adult Class: Topic Library — Year 1 (Foundations) Founded and presented by: Minister Destiny Marie Morgan, Minister

This lesson is educational information, Massachusetts-first, and is not legal advice. Laws and procedures vary by state and by case. If you are in danger right now, call 911. If you have a real case, talk to a lawyer — legal aid organizations help many people for free.

Before you start

This school never asks your name. Your progress is saved to your student record, so you can pick up on any device. If you pass this unit's quiz (80% or higher, retakes allowed), you earn a downloadable certificate with a blank line — you write your own name on it after you save it. Quiz answers are not shown; if you miss a question, re-read the lesson and try again.
How this course works: The Learning to Sign course teaches with word descriptions, drawings, and video companions. This is Unit 2. Unit 1, First Signs, taught the alphabet, numbers, and greetings. This unit builds the everyday vocabulary of real conversation: family, home, food, time, feelings, and questions. Everything you need for this unit is taught in this unit.
Dominant hand: Most signs below use your dominant hand (the hand you write with). If you are left-handed, your left hand leads. Stay consistent — it makes your signing easier to read.

The lesson

American Sign Language (ASL) is a full language with its own grammar — not English on the hands. This unit teaches the signs you will use most in daily life. Read each Make it description slowly and move your own hands as you read; signing is learned by the hands, not only by the eyes.

Two habits matter in every part. First, watch the face, not just the hands: in ASL the face carries grammar — raised eyebrows mark yes/no questions, furrowed eyebrows mark who/what/when/where/why/how questions, and feelings signs are made with the feeling on your face. Second, keep your signs inside your signing space — the comfortable area in front of your body, roughly from the top of your head to your waist and elbow to elbow.

Part 1. Family and people

Family words come first in most conversations. Notice a pattern: signs for female family members touch the chin or cheek, and signs for male family members touch the forehead — the old picture behind it is a woman's bonnet strings tied at the chin and a man's cap brim at the forehead. Several family signs are compound signs — two smaller signs joined into one.

SIGN — MOTHER

Make it: Dominant open "5" hand (fingers spread), palm facing you. Touch the tip of your thumb to your chin and tap twice, or wiggle the fingers slightly.
Illustration brief SL-1: (a) Placement: Part 1. (b) Shows: dominant open "5" hand at the chin, thumb touching, small double-tap arrow at the thumb. (c) Type: Sign diagram (two-panel start/end with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "The thumb of an open hand, fingers spread, touches the chin and taps twice." (e) Caption: "MOTHER — thumb taps the chin."

SIGN — FATHER

Make it: Dominant open "5" hand, palm facing you. Touch the tip of your thumb to your forehead and tap twice, or wiggle the fingers slightly.
Illustration brief SL-2: (a) Placement: Part 1. (b) Shows: dominant open "5" hand at the forehead, thumb touching, double-tap arrow. (c) Type: Sign diagram (two-panel start/end with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "The thumb of an open hand, fingers spread, touches the forehead and taps twice." (e) Caption: "FATHER — MOTHER's hand, at the forehead."

SIGN — SISTER

Make it: A compound sign. First touch your cheek near the jaw with the thumb of a dominant "A" hand (fist, thumb up along the side) — the "female" part. Then bring both index fingers together side by side in front of you, pointing forward, palms down — the "same" part.
Illustration brief SL-3: (a) Placement: Part 1. (b) Shows: panel one, "A"-hand thumb at the cheek; panel two, both index fingers side by side pointing forward; arrow links panels. (c) Type: Sign diagram (two-panel start/end with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "A fist's thumb touches the cheek, then both index fingers are held together pointing forward." (e) Caption: "SISTER — female + same."

SIGN — BROTHER

Make it: A compound sign. First grab the brim of an imaginary cap at your forehead with the fingertips and thumb of your dominant hand, pulling it forward an inch or two — the "male" part. Then bring both index fingers together side by side in front of you, pointing forward, palms down.
Illustration brief SL-4: (a) Placement: Part 1. (b) Shows: panel one, hand pinching an imaginary cap brim at the forehead; panel two, both index fingers side by side pointing forward. (c) Type: Sign diagram (two-panel start/end with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "A hand pinches an imaginary cap brim at the forehead, then both index fingers are held together pointing forward." (e) Caption: "BROTHER — male + same."

SIGN — BABY

Make it: Rest one forearm on top of the other in front of your body, both palms up, as if cradling a baby. Rock both arms gently side to side.
Illustration brief SL-5: (a) Placement: Part 1. (b) Shows: forearms stacked in a cradle, palms up, gentle side-to-side rocking arrow. (c) Type: Sign diagram (two-panel start/end with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "Both forearms are stacked, palms up, as if cradling a baby, rocking gently side to side." (e) Caption: "BABY — cradle and rock."

SIGN — FAMILY

Make it: An initialized sign — it uses the "F" handshape for "family." Hold both hands in "F" shapes (thumb and index fingertip touching, other fingers up), palms facing each other, thumbs and index fingers touching in front of your chest. Circle both hands outward and around, as if circling a group of people, until the pinky sides meet.
Illustration brief SL-6: (a) Placement: Part 1. (b) Shows: both "F" hands fingertip-to-fingertip at the chest, wide circular arrow showing them circling out and back together. (c) Type: Sign diagram (two-panel start/end with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "Both F hands, touching at the fingertips, circle outward and around until the pinky sides meet, as if circling a group." (e) Caption: "FAMILY — F hands circle the group."

SIGN — FRIEND

Make it: Hook the index finger of your dominant hand over the index finger of your other hand, as if the fingers are linked. Then reverse it — hook the other index finger over the first. The fingers interlock twice.
Illustration brief SL-7: (a) Placement: Part 1. (b) Shows: close-up of two index fingers hooked together; second panel, the hook reversed; swap arrow between panels. (c) Type: Sign diagram (two-panel start/end with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "Two index fingers hook over each other, then the hook reverses, linking the fingers twice." (e) Caption: "FRIEND — fingers hook, then hook back."

SIGN — BOY

Make it: At your forehead, pinch the fingertips and thumb of your dominant hand together twice, as if grabbing a cap brim and giving it a small pull forward.
Illustration brief SL-8: (a) Placement: Part 1. (b) Shows: hand at the forehead pinching an imaginary cap brim, short forward arrow marked twice. (c) Type: Sign diagram (two-panel start/end with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "Fingers and thumb pinch together at the forehead, as if grabbing a cap brim, twice." (e) Caption: "BOY — grab the cap brim."

SIGN — GIRL

Make it: Make a dominant "A" hand (fist, thumb resting up along the side). Trace your thumb along your jawbone from near your ear down to your chin.
Illustration brief SL-9: (a) Placement: Part 1. (b) Shows: "A"-hand thumb at the jaw near the ear, arrow tracing the jawline down to the chin. (c) Type: Sign diagram (two-panel start/end with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "The thumb of a fist traces along the jaw from near the ear down to the chin." (e) Caption: "GIRL — thumb traces the jaw."

SIGN — MAN

Make it: Dominant hand open, palm facing to the side. Touch your forehead with the tip of your thumb, then move the hand down and touch the center of your chest with the thumb. (Compare BOY: MAN adds the chest touch.)
Illustration brief SL-10: (a) Placement: Part 1. (b) Shows: panel one, open hand's thumb touching the forehead; panel two, thumb touching the chest; downward arrow links them. (c) Type: Sign diagram (two-panel start/end with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "The thumb of an open hand touches the forehead, then moves down and touches the chest." (e) Caption: "MAN — forehead, then chest."

SIGN — WOMAN

Make it: Dominant hand open, palm facing to the side. Touch your chin with the tip of your thumb, then move the hand down and touch the center of your chest with the thumb. (Compare MOTHER: MOTHER taps the chin and stops; WOMAN continues down to the chest.)
Illustration brief SL-11: (a) Placement: Part 1. (b) Shows: panel one, open hand's thumb touching the chin; panel two, thumb touching the chest; downward arrow links them. (c) Type: Sign diagram (two-panel start/end with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "The thumb of an open hand touches the chin, then moves down and touches the chest." (e) Caption: "WOMAN — chin, then chest."

Part 2. Home and daily life

These are the signs of the house: where you live, what you do there, and the coming and going of a day. HOME and HOUSE are different signs, and Deaf signers do not swap them — HOME is the place you belong; HOUSE is the building.

SIGN — HOME

Make it: Dominant hand in a flattened "O" (fingertips and thumb brought together), palm facing you. Touch your cheek beside your mouth, then move the hand back an inch or two and touch your cheek again, closer to your ear. HOME is a smoothed-together compound: the first touch comes from EAT, the second from SLEEP.
Illustration brief SL-12: (a) Placement: Part 2. (b) Shows: panel one, flattened-"O" hand touching the cheek by the mouth; panel two, hand touching the cheek nearer the ear; short backward arrow. (c) Type: Sign diagram (two-panel start/end with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "Pinched fingertips touch the cheek beside the mouth, then move back and touch the cheek nearer the ear." (e) Caption: "HOME — by the mouth, then by the ear."

SIGN — HOUSE

Make it: Both hands flat ("B" handshapes), fingertips pointing forward, palms angled down. Touch the fingertips together at the top to form a roof peak, then move the hands apart and down, tracing the roof and the walls of a house.
Illustration brief SL-13: (a) Placement: Part 2. (b) Shows: both flat hands meeting at a roof peak; arrows tracing down and out along an invisible roof and walls. (c) Type: Sign diagram (two-panel start/end with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "Both flat hands meet at the top like a roof peak, then trace apart and downward to outline roof and walls." (e) Caption: "HOUSE — trace the roof and walls."

SIGN — LIVE

Make it: Both hands in "A" handshapes (fists, thumbs pointing up), palms facing your body at the lower chest. Move both hands straight up your torso in one smooth movement. This sign also covers "life" and "address" — as an address, the movement is smaller and doubled. An initialized version with "L" hands is also seen. (Regional variations exist.)
Illustration brief SL-14: (a) Placement: Part 2. (b) Shows: panel one, both "A" hands at the lower chest; panel two, hands risen to the upper chest; straight upward arrows. (c) Type: Sign diagram (two-panel start/end with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "Both fists, thumbs up, rest at the lower chest and move straight up the torso in one movement." (e) Caption: "LIVE — both hands rise up the chest."

SIGN — BATHROOM

Make it: An initialized sign using "T." Hold your dominant "T" hand, palm facing away from you, slightly out from your body at about chest height. Shake or twist it a couple of times from the wrist. Do not make a circle.
Illustration brief SL-15: (a) Placement: Part 2. (b) Shows: "T" hand held out at chest height, small side-to-side shaking arrow at the wrist. (c) Type: Sign diagram (single panel, with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "A T handshape is held at chest height and shaken a couple of times." (e) Caption: "BATHROOM — shake the T."

SIGN — SLEEP

Make it: One hand only. Hold a loosely open "5" hand a couple of inches in front of your face, palm facing you. Move the hand downward toward your chin while bringing the fingertips and thumb together, as if the hand is closing like your eyes. Do not touch your face. Let your eyelids droop a little.
Illustration brief SL-16: (a) Placement: Part 2. (b) Shows: panel one, open hand in front of the face; panel two, hand lowered toward the chin with fingers closing; downward arrow. (c) Type: Sign diagram (two-panel start/end with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "An open hand in front of the face lowers toward the chin while the fingers close together, without touching the face." (e) Caption: "SLEEP — hand lowers and closes."

SIGN — EAT

Make it: Dominant hand in a flattened "O" (fingertips pinched to the thumb), palm facing you. Bring the fingertips up to your lips once, as if putting a small bite of food in your mouth. This sign returns in Part 3 as FOOD — there you will learn how its movement changes.
Illustration brief SL-17: (a) Placement: Part 2. (b) Shows: flattened-"O" hand rising to the lips, one short upward arrow. (c) Type: Sign diagram (single panel, with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "Pinched fingertips come up to the lips once, as if eating a small bite." (e) Caption: "EAT — pinched fingertips to the lips, once."

SIGN — GO

Make it: Point both index fingers forward, toward each other or slightly out. Move both hands away from your body toward the place you are talking about, in an arching motion. Many signers use one broad sweeping arc.
Illustration brief SL-18: (a) Placement: Part 2. (b) Shows: both index fingers pointing forward at chest height; wide arching arrow carrying them away from the body. (c) Type: Sign diagram (two-panel start/end with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "Both index fingers point forward and move away from the body in an arch toward another place." (e) Caption: "GO — both hands arc away."

SIGN — COME

Make it: Point both index fingers toward each other. Rotate the fingers around one another (up, back, down, forward) while drawing both hands in toward your body. Many signers simply sweep both hands toward themselves in one arc.
Illustration brief SL-19: (a) Placement: Part 2. (b) Shows: both index fingers out front, small circular arrows showing them rotating around each other, long arrow drawing hands toward the chest. (c) Type: Sign diagram (two-panel start/end with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "Both index fingers rotate around each other while both hands are pulled in toward the body." (e) Caption: "COME — hands circle in toward you."

SIGN — WAIT

Make it: Hold both hands up at about chest height, a little out to the sides, palms up and slightly forward, fingers spread and relaxed. Wiggle and flutter all of your fingers, as if your hands are marking time in the air.
Illustration brief SL-20: (a) Placement: Part 2. (b) Shows: both hands up at chest height, fingers spread, small flutter arrows at every fingertip. (c) Type: Sign diagram (single panel, with movement arrows). (d) Alt text: "Both hands are held up at chest height, fingers spread, fluttering all the fingers." (e) Caption: "WAIT — flutter all the fingers."

Part 3. Food and drink

Meals are where new signers practice most. This part starts with FOOD — the same hands you learned for EAT in Part 2, with one small change in movement. In ASL, many noun/verb pairs work this way: the verb moves once; the noun repeats the movement in a smaller way.

SIGN — FOOD

Make it: Use the EAT sign from Part 2 (SL-17) — flattened "O," fingertips to the lips — but with a small double movement, tapping toward the lips twice. As a rough rule, one movement reads as EAT (the verb) and the small doubled movement reads as FOOD (the noun). In real conversation many signers use one movement for both, and the rest of the sentence makes the meaning clear.
Illustration brief SL-21: (a) Placement: Part 3. (b) Shows: flattened-"O" hand at the lips with a short double-tap arrow marked "×2." (c) Type: Sign diagram (single panel, with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "Pinched fingertips come to the lips twice, with a small doubled movement." (e) Caption: "FOOD — EAT's hands, small double movement."

SIGN — DRINK

Make it: Form a "C" with your dominant hand, as if holding a cup, palm angled toward you. Raise the hand to your mouth in a short arc, tipping it slightly, as if taking a drink.
Illustration brief SL-22: (a) Placement: Part 3. (b) Shows: panel one, "C" hand at chest height; panel two, hand tipped at the mouth; arc arrow links them. (c) Type: Sign diagram (two-panel start/end with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "A C-shaped hand rises to the mouth in a short arc, tipping as if drinking from a cup." (e) Caption: "DRINK — tip the C to your mouth."

SIGN — WATER

Make it: An initialized sign using "W." Form a "W" with your dominant hand, palm facing you. Tap the front of your chin a couple of times with the tip of the index finger of the "W."
Illustration brief SL-23: (a) Placement: Part 3. (b) Shows: "W" hand at the chin, index fingertip touching, small double-tap arrow. (c) Type: Sign diagram (single panel, with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "The index fingertip of a W handshape taps the front of the chin twice." (e) Caption: "WATER — W taps the chin."

SIGN — HUNGRY

Make it: Form a "C" with your dominant hand, palm facing you. Place it high on your chest and move it down the center of your chest toward your belly, as if showing an empty stomach below.
Illustration brief SL-24: (a) Placement: Part 3. (b) Shows: panel one, "C" hand at the upper chest; panel two, hand at the belly; straight downward arrow down the chest's center. (c) Type: Sign diagram (two-panel start/end with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "A C-shaped hand moves down the center of the chest, from the upper chest toward the belly." (e) Caption: "HUNGRY — C slides down the chest."

SIGN — THIRSTY

Make it: Dominant hand in a "1" handshape (index finger pointing up), palm facing in. Touch the fingertip to the top of your throat and, in one quick movement, draw it downward along the front of your throat to its base, as if tracing a dry swallow.
Illustration brief SL-25: (a) Placement: Part 3. (b) Shows: panel one, index fingertip at the top of the throat; panel two, fingertip at the throat's base; short downward arrow. (c) Type: Sign diagram (two-panel start/end with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "An index fingertip touches the top of the throat and draws down the front of the throat in one movement." (e) Caption: "THIRSTY — one finger down the throat."

SIGN — MORE

Make it: Hold both hands in front of you in flattened "O" shapes (fingertips pinched toward the thumbs), about five inches apart, fingertips facing each other. Bring the hands together until the fingertips touch.
Illustration brief SL-26: (a) Placement: Part 3. (b) Shows: two flattened-"O" hands apart at chest height, arrows bringing them together until fingertips meet. (c) Type: Sign diagram (two-panel start/end with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "Two pinched-fingertip hands come together in front of the chest until the fingertips touch." (e) Caption: "MORE — fingertips come together."

SIGN — FINISH / DONE

Make it: Hold both hands up in front of you in open "5" handshapes, palms facing you, fingers spread. Shake both hands a couple of times with a quick outward twist, ending with the palms facing somewhat outward and a little downward — like shaking something off your hands because you are done with it.
Illustration brief SL-27: (a) Placement: Part 3. (b) Shows: panel one, both open hands palms-in; panel two, hands twisted outward; small shaking arrows at both wrists. (c) Type: Sign diagram (two-panel start/end with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "Both open hands, palms facing in, shake with a quick outward twist a couple of times." (e) Caption: "FINISH — shake both hands outward; all done."

Part 4. Time and days

ASL uses time signs to set the tense of a whole conversation: sign the time once, and everything after it stays in that time until you change it — the verbs themselves do not change form. Time also runs on a line through your signing space: the past is behind you, the present is at your body, the future is in front. That is why TOMORROW moves forward and YESTERDAY arcs back.

SIGN — TIME

Make it: Crook the index finger of your dominant hand, palm facing down, and tap the back of your other wrist twice — the spot where a watch used to sit. On its own it means "time"; with furrowed eyebrows and a questioning face, it asks "What time is it?"
Illustration brief SL-28: (a) Placement: Part 4. (b) Shows: crooked index finger tapping the back of the opposite wrist, double-tap arrow at the fingertip. (c) Type: Sign diagram (single panel, with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "A crooked index finger taps the back of the opposite wrist twice." (e) Caption: "TIME — tap where a watch sits."

SIGN — NOW

Make it: Hold both hands in front of you at waist height, palms up, each hand bent at the knuckles so the fingers point upward (some signers use "Y" handshapes). Drop both hands sharply down a couple of inches, once.
Illustration brief SL-29: (a) Placement: Part 4. (b) Shows: both palms-up bent hands at waist height, short sharp downward arrows on both sides. (c) Type: Sign diagram (two-panel start/end with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "Both hands, palms up with fingers bent upward, drop sharply down a couple of inches." (e) Caption: "NOW — both hands drop sharply."

SIGN — TODAY

Make it: A compound of NOW + DAY: sign NOW (SL-29), then sign DAY (SL-33). Many signers shorten it to NOW with a repeated movement — NOW twice, with emphasis.
Illustration brief SL-30: (a) Placement: Part 4. (b) Shows: panel one, both hands dropping for NOW; panel two, the dominant arm lowering across the resting arm for DAY; arrow links panels. (c) Type: Sign diagram (two-panel start/end with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "Both hands drop for NOW, then one arm lowers across the other for DAY." (e) Caption: "TODAY — NOW + DAY."

SIGN — TOMORROW

Make it: Hold a slightly open "A" hand (a fist with the thumb sticking out) at the side of your head, thumb resting near your cheek and pointing back. Move the hand forward in a small arc, ending with the thumb pointing up — one step ahead on the time line. (Signed twice without the arc, it means "every day / daily.")
Illustration brief SL-31: (a) Placement: Part 4. (b) Shows: panel one, open-"A" hand at the cheek, thumb pointing back; panel two, hand arced forward, thumb up; forward arc arrow. (c) Type: Sign diagram (two-panel start/end with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "A fist with the thumb out rests at the side of the cheek and arcs forward until the thumb points up." (e) Caption: "TOMORROW — thumb arcs forward."

SIGN — YESTERDAY

Make it: With a dominant "A" hand, touch your chin with the thumb. Then arc the hand out a bit and backward, ending with the thumb touching your jaw — one step back on the time line. Do not drag the thumb along the chin. Some signers use a "Y" handshape here instead; follow the local Deaf community's preference. (Regional variations exist.)
Illustration brief SL-32: (a) Placement: Part 4. (b) Shows: panel one, "A"-hand thumb touching the chin; panel two, hand arced backward with thumb at the jaw; backward arc arrow. (c) Type: Sign diagram (two-panel start/end with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "A fist's thumb touches the chin, then the hand arcs backward until the thumb touches the jaw." (e) Caption: "YESTERDAY — thumb arcs back."

SIGN — DAY

Make it: Hold your non-dominant arm out in front of you, bent at the elbow, forearm level, hand pointing across your body. Rest your dominant elbow on the back of that hand, dominant hand pointing straight up (a "B" or "D" handshape). Lower the dominant hand down and across until it lies along the non-dominant forearm — the sun crossing the sky and setting. The dominant elbow stays resting on the hand.
Illustration brief SL-33: (a) Placement: Part 4. (b) Shows: panel one, dominant arm upright with elbow resting on the other hand; panel two, arm lowered flat along the forearm; long downward arc arrow. (c) Type: Sign diagram (two-panel start/end with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "One elbow rests on the back of the other hand, hand pointing up, then lowers until it rests along the forearm." (e) Caption: "DAY — the arm sets like the sun."

SIGN — WEEK

Make it: Hold your non-dominant hand flat in front of you, palm up. Place your dominant hand on it at the heel of the palm, palm down, index finger extended and other fingers closed. Slide the dominant hand across the palm toward the fingertips. (Signed repeatedly, it means "weekly.")
Illustration brief SL-34: (a) Placement: Part 4. (b) Shows: dominant palm-down hand, index extended, resting at the heel of the flat open palm; long arrow sliding toward the fingertips. (c) Type: Sign diagram (two-panel start/end with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "A palm-down hand with index extended slides across the open palm from its heel to the fingertips." (e) Caption: "WEEK — slide across the palm."

The seven days. MONDAY through SATURDAY share one pattern: hold the day's initial letter handshape out to your dominant side, about half an arm's length in front of your shoulder, and move it in small horizontal circles a couple of times — as if the day keeps coming around on the calendar. Learn the pattern once, then swap the letter. SUNDAY is the exception and has its own sign below.

SIGN — MONDAY

Make it: Dominant hand in an "M" handshape, held out to the side at shoulder height, palm facing up and back — the version most skilled Deaf signers use in everyday conversation. Circle it a couple of times. A palm-down version is common in classrooms and for emphasis. (Regional variations exist.)
Illustration brief SL-35: (a) Placement: Part 4. (b) Shows: "M" hand at shoulder height to the side, palm up and back, small circular arrow. (c) Type: Sign diagram (single panel, with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "An M handshape at shoulder height to the side moves in small circles." (e) Caption: "MONDAY — circle an M."

SIGN — TUESDAY

Make it: Dominant hand in a "T" handshape, held out to the side at shoulder height, palm facing back. Circle it in the air a couple of times — the weekday pattern with the day's letter.
Illustration brief SL-36: (a) Placement: Part 4. (b) Shows: "T" hand at shoulder height to the side, small circular arrow. (c) Type: Sign diagram (single panel, with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "A T handshape at shoulder height to the side moves in small circles." (e) Caption: "TUESDAY — circle a T."

SIGN — WEDNESDAY

Make it: Dominant hand in a "W" handshape (the same shape as the number 6), held out to the side at shoulder height, palm facing back. Circle it a couple of times — the weekday pattern with the day's letter.
Illustration brief SL-37: (a) Placement: Part 4. (b) Shows: "W" hand at shoulder height to the side, small circular arrow. (c) Type: Sign diagram (single panel, with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "A W handshape at shoulder height to the side moves in small circles." (e) Caption: "WEDNESDAY — circle a W."

SIGN — THURSDAY

Make it: Dominant hand in an "H" handshape (index and middle fingers extended together, pointing somewhat upward), held out to the side at shoulder height. Circle it a couple of times. Thursday uses "H" so it is not confused with TUESDAY's "T"; a "T-H" version is also seen. (Regional variations exist.)
Illustration brief SL-38: (a) Placement: Part 4. (b) Shows: "H" hand at shoulder height to the side, small circular arrow. (c) Type: Sign diagram (single panel, with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "An H handshape, two fingers extended, at shoulder height to the side moves in small circles." (e) Caption: "THURSDAY — circle an H."

SIGN — FRIDAY

Make it: Dominant hand in an "F" handshape, held out to the side at shoulder height, palm facing back. Circle it a couple of times — the weekday pattern with the day's letter.
Illustration brief SL-39: (a) Placement: Part 4. (b) Shows: "F" hand at shoulder height to the side, small circular arrow. (c) Type: Sign diagram (single panel, with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "An F handshape at shoulder height to the side moves in small circles." (e) Caption: "FRIDAY — circle an F."

SIGN — SATURDAY

Make it: Dominant hand in an "S" handshape (a fist), held out to the side at shoulder height, palm facing back. Circle it a couple of times — the weekday pattern with the day's letter.
Illustration brief SL-40: (a) Placement: Part 4. (b) Shows: "S" fist at shoulder height to the side, small circular arrow. (c) Type: Sign diagram (single panel, with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "An S fist at shoulder height to the side moves in small circles." (e) Caption: "SATURDAY — circle an S."

SIGN — SUNDAY

Make it: Sunday does not use the circling-letter pattern. One widely taught version: hold both hands up at the sides of your head and circle them in opposite directions — dominant hand clockwise, the other counterclockwise — as if washing a window with both hands. You will also see both open "5" hands, palms forward at the sides of the head, brought down to the torso in a backward arc. Sunday is signed various ways; learn the version your local Deaf community uses. (Regional variations exist.)
Illustration brief SL-41: (a) Placement: Part 4. (b) Shows: both hands raised at head height circling in opposite directions, two circular arrows showing the window-washing motion. (c) Type: Sign diagram (two-panel start/end with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "Both hands are held up beside the head and circle in opposite directions, as if washing a window." (e) Caption: "SUNDAY — both hands circle at head height."

Part 5. Feelings

Feelings signs are real vocabulary, not pantomime. Each has a set handshape, place, and movement — and each is signed with the facial expression that matches it, because in ASL the face is grammar. A happy sign with a flat face is like saying the word "happy" in a monotone: understandable, but not yet the language. Let your face join in.

SIGN — FEEL

Make it: Dominant hand open, palm facing your chest, middle finger bent forward at its big knuckle so it leads. Brush the tip of the middle finger upward along the center of your chest. (A double movement leans toward the noun "feelings.")
Illustration brief SL-42: (a) Placement: Part 5. (b) Shows: open hand at the chest, middle finger bent and its tip against the chest; second panel, fingertip brushed upward; short upward arrow. (c) Type: Sign diagram (two-panel start/end with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "The bent middle fingertip of an open hand brushes upward along the center of the chest." (e) Caption: "FEEL — middle fingertip rises up the chest."

SIGN — HAPPY

Make it: Hold one or both hands flat in front of your chest, palms facing you, one hand a couple of inches above the other. Brush both hands upward in a circular motion — up, out, down, and back in — a couple of times, both hands moving together, as if joy keeps bubbling up. Sign it with a smile. (One-handed and upper-chest versions are common.)
Illustration brief SL-43: (a) Placement: Part 5. (b) Shows: two flat hands at the chest, palms in, matched circular arrows brushing up and around together. (c) Type: Sign diagram (two-panel start/end with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "Both flat hands brush upward in circles at the chest, palms facing in, with a smile." (e) Caption: "HAPPY — hands circle up at the chest."

SIGN — SAD

Make it: Hold both hands in open "5" handshapes in front of your face, palms facing you, fingers slightly spread and relaxed. Bring both hands straight down the length of your face without touching it, as if your whole face is drooping — and let your own expression droop with them.
Illustration brief SL-44: (a) Placement: Part 5. (b) Shows: panel one, both open hands framing the face; panel two, hands drawn down past the chin; long downward arrows beside the face. (c) Type: Sign diagram (two-panel start/end with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "Both open hands in front of the face draw down its length without touching, with a drooping expression." (e) Caption: "SAD — hands fall down the face."

SIGN — TIRED

Make it: Touch the fingertips of both bent hands (fingers curved, thumbs out) to the sides of your upper chest. Then let both hands slump in place — the fingertips stay at your chest while the hands droop and roll downward where they are (do not slide the hands down your chest) — shoulders sagging with them, wearing a droopy-eyed, worn-out expression. The slump is the sign.
Illustration brief SL-45: (a) Placement: Part 5. (b) Shows: panel one, bent hands' fingertips at the sides of the upper chest; panel two, hands drooped in place at the chest (rolled downward, no downward travel) and shoulders sagged; short curved droop arrows. (c) Type: Sign diagram (two-panel start/end with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "Both bent hands' fingertips touch the sides of the upper chest, then the hands droop in place and the shoulders sag." (e) Caption: "TIRED — hands slump from the chest."

SIGN — ANGRY

Make it: Form both hands into claw shapes and place the fingertips against your stomach (or lower chest). Pull both hands forcefully up and outward in one strong motion, ending in front of you with the claws open — and put an honestly angry expression on your face. A gentle version of this sign does not say "angry."
Illustration brief SL-46: (a) Placement: Part 5. (b) Shows: panel one, claw hands at the stomach; panel two, hands pulled up and flung outward; strong upward-outward arrows. (c) Type: Sign diagram (two-panel start/end with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "Claw-hand fingertips against the stomach pull forcefully up and outward, with an angry expression." (e) Caption: "ANGRY — claws pull up and out."

SIGN — LOVE

Make it: Cross both arms over your heart, hands closed into fists or open "B" palms facing you, and give yourself a small hug squeeze. Some signers cross at the wrists. Hold it a beat — this is the everyday word-sign for love.
Illustration brief SL-47: (a) Placement: Part 5. (b) Shows: arms crossed over the chest, fists over the heart, slight inward squeeze arrows. (c) Type: Sign diagram (single panel). (d) Alt text: "Both arms cross over the heart with closed fists, squeezing in a small hug." (e) Caption: "LOVE — arms crossed over the heart."

SIGN — WORRY

Make it: Hold both hands in "B" handshapes up near the sides of your head and face, palms facing you. Move both hands in small alternating circles — down, forward, up, and back — as if worries are buzzing around your head, with a worried expression. (Regional variations exist.)
Illustration brief SL-48: (a) Placement: Part 5. (b) Shows: both "B" hands beside the face, alternating circular arrows in front of the head. (c) Type: Sign diagram (two-panel start/end with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "Both flat hands beside the face, palms in, circle in alternating motions in front of the head." (e) Caption: "WORRY — hands circle beside the face."

Part 6. Questions and school/work

Questions in ASL are carried by two things working together: the question sign itself, and your eyebrows. For who/what/where/when/why/how questions, the eyebrows go down — furrowed — and stay down for the whole question. (Yes/no questions do the opposite: eyebrows up.) In longer questions, signers often put the question sign at the end, so the furrowed face does not have to be held through the whole sentence.

SIGN — WHO

Make it: Make a dominant "L" handshape and touch the tip of your thumb to your chin, index finger pointing up. Bend the index finger twice. Ask it with furrowed eyebrows. (An older version circles one index finger in front of the lips. Recognize it, but learn the chin version — it is the one taught and used today.)
Illustration brief SL-49: (a) Placement: Part 6. (b) Shows: "L" hand, thumb at the chin, index finger bending, small double-bend arrow; eyebrows drawn furrowed. (c) Type: Sign diagram (two-panel start/end with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "The thumb of an L handshape touches the chin and the index finger bends twice, eyebrows furrowed." (e) Caption: "WHO — L thumb on chin, index bends."

SIGN — WHAT

Make it: The everyday "huh?" version: hold both hands relaxed in loose "5" handshapes in front of you, palms up, hunch your shoulders slightly, tip your head a little forward, and move the hands slightly forward and out to the sides — all with a furrowed-brow question face. An older version drags the dominant index fingertip down across the other palm; it is still used, but the open-hands version is the one taught here.
Illustration brief SL-50: (a) Placement: Part 6. (b) Shows: both relaxed open hands low in front, palms up, shoulders slightly hunched, small outward arrows; furrowed eyebrows. (c) Type: Sign diagram (two-panel start/end with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "Both relaxed open hands, palms up, shoulders slightly hunched, move a little forward and out with a questioning face." (e) Caption: "WHAT — open hands, questioning face."

SIGN — WHERE

Make it: Hold your dominant index finger up, palm facing out, and waggle the fingertip back and forth a couple of times from the wrist. Pair it with the furrowed-brow question face.
Illustration brief SL-51: (a) Placement: Part 6. (b) Shows: single raised index finger, side-to-side waggle arrow at the fingertip. (c) Type: Sign diagram (single panel, with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "One index finger is held up, palm out, and the fingertip waggles back and forth from the wrist." (e) Caption: "WHERE — waggle the raised index."

SIGN — WHEN

Make it: Hold your non-dominant index finger pointing up, palm facing to the side. Touch the tip of your dominant index finger to the tip of the other finger, then swing the dominant fingertip around it in one full circle and land it back on the tip — one trip around a clock.
Illustration brief SL-52: (a) Placement: Part 6. (b) Shows: one index finger upright; the other fingertip touching its tip, full circular arrow around it returning to the tip. (c) Type: Sign diagram (two-panel start/end with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "Fingertip touches fingertip on two raised index fingers, circles fully around, and lands back on the tip." (e) Caption: "WHEN — circle once around the fingertip."

SIGN — WHY

Make it: Touch your forehead with the fingertips of your dominant hand, palm facing you. Bring the hand forward and down, and as it moves, close the fingers into a "Y" handshape (thumb and pinky out), palm still facing you.
Illustration brief SL-53: (a) Placement: Part 6. (b) Shows: panel one, fingertips at the forehead; panel two, hand lowered in a "Y" shape; forward-down arrow links them. (c) Type: Sign diagram (two-panel start/end with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "Fingertips touch the forehead, then the hand pulls forward and down, closing into a Y handshape." (e) Caption: "WHY — forehead, then a Y comes down."

SIGN — HOW

Make it: Curve both hands into bent "B" handshapes, palms down, and rest the knuckles together in front of you like two arches. Roll both hands forward together until the palms face up and the hands are cupped, as if turning something over to look at how it works. Some signers roll just one hand.
Illustration brief SL-54: (a) Placement: Part 6. (b) Shows: panel one, two curved hands knuckle-to-knuckle, palms down; panel two, hands rolled forward to palms-up cups; forward roll arrows. (c) Type: Sign diagram (two-panel start/end with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "Two curved hands rest knuckle to knuckle, palms down, then roll forward until the palms face up, cupped." (e) Caption: "HOW — hands roll over to palms up."

SIGN — SCHOOL

Make it: Hold your non-dominant hand flat, palm up, like a desk. Clap your dominant hand, palm down, onto it two or three times — a teacher getting the class's attention. Some signers keep the bottom hand still and move only the top one. Do it quietly; this is a sign, not applause.
Illustration brief SL-55: (a) Placement: Part 6. (b) Shows: flat palm-up base hand, other hand clapping down onto it, small repeated downward arrows. (c) Type: Sign diagram (two-panel start/end with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "One flat hand, palm down, claps onto the other flat hand, palm up, two or three times." (e) Caption: "SCHOOL — clap the hands flat together."

SIGN — TEACHER

Make it: A compound of TEACH + PERSON. Hold both hands in flattened "O" shapes beside your head and move them forward about six inches, as if taking ideas out of the head and offering them. Then change both hands to flat hands, palms facing each other, fingers pointing forward, and move them straight down — the PERSON ending that turns "teach" into "teacher."
Illustration brief SL-56: (a) Placement: Part 6. (b) Shows: panel one, flattened-"O" hands beside the head moving forward; panel two, flat hands palms-in moving straight down; forward then down arrows. (c) Type: Sign diagram (two-panel start/end with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "Two pinched-fingertip hands move forward from beside the head, then change to flat hands facing each other and move straight down." (e) Caption: "TEACHER — teach + person."

SIGN — BOOK

Make it: Press both flat hands together, palms touching, fingers pointing forward, like a closed book. Then open the hands from the pinky side, keeping the thumb-side edges together, like opening a book. A doubled movement is the noun BOOK; a single opening movement is the verb "open a book."
Illustration brief SL-57: (a) Placement: Part 6. (b) Shows: panel one, palms pressed together; panel two, hands opened like a book, inner edges still touching; opening arrows. (c) Type: Sign diagram (two-panel start/end with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "Both flat hands press together, then open like opening a book while the inner edges stay touching." (e) Caption: "BOOK — open the hands like a book."

SIGN — READ

Make it: Hold your non-dominant hand flat, palm up — that hand is the page. Your dominant hand makes a "V" (index and middle fingers extended), and the two fingertips are your eyes: move them across the "page" in small sweeps, the way eyes travel along lines of print. A single sweep is "read"; a doubled movement is "reading."
Illustration brief SL-58: (a) Placement: Part 6. (b) Shows: flat palm-up "page" hand below; "V" fingertips hovering over it, small sweeping arrows across the palm. (c) Type: Sign diagram (two-panel start/end with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "The two fingertips of a V handshape move across a flat upturned palm in small sweeps, like eyes reading lines." (e) Caption: "READ — V fingertips scan the page."

SIGN — WORK

Make it: Make both hands into fists ("S" or "A" handshapes), palms down, dominant fist resting above the other. Tap the back of the lower hand a few times with the dominant fist in a short downward striking motion, like a hammer getting to work.
Illustration brief SL-59: (a) Placement: Part 6. (b) Shows: two stacked fists, palms down, small repeated downward tap arrows from the top fist to the back of the lower hand. (c) Type: Sign diagram (two-panel start/end with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "The upper fist taps the back of the lower fist a few times, both palms down." (e) Caption: "WORK — top fist taps the lower hand."

SIGN — WANT

Make it: Hold both hands out in front of you in flat "5" handshapes, palms facing up. Pull both hands back toward your body while curling the fingers into claw shapes — pulling something you want in toward yourself. (Flip the movement over, pushing the claws away and down, and it becomes DON'T-WANT.)
Illustration brief SL-60: (a) Placement: Part 6. (b) Shows: panel one, open palms-up hands out front; panel two, hands pulled toward the body curled into claws; inward arrows. (c) Type: Sign diagram (two-panel start/end with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "Both open hands, palms up, pull toward the body while the fingers curl into claw shapes." (e) Caption: "WANT — pull in, curling to claws."

SIGN — NEED

Make it: Dominant hand only, in an "X" handshape (index finger hooked), held in front of you slightly to your dominant side, palm starting forward. Bend the hand downward from the wrist — the movement is in the wrist, not the arm — ending palm down. One strong movement means "need / must / have to"; a doubled movement softens it to "should / ought to." A stronger facial expression makes it more urgent.
Illustration brief SL-61: (a) Placement: Part 6. (b) Shows: panel one, "X" hand held out, palm forward; panel two, hand bent down at the wrist, palm down; short wrist-bend arrow. (c) Type: Sign diagram (two-panel start/end with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "A hooked-index X handshape held out front bends downward from the wrist until the palm faces down." (e) Caption: "NEED — the X hand bends at the wrist."

SIGN — HAVE

Make it: Hold both hands in bent handshapes (fingers curved, thumbs not tucked in) a few inches out from your upper chest. Move both hands back until the fingertips touch your chest. A one-handed version is very common.
Illustration brief SL-62: (a) Placement: Part 6. (b) Shows: panel one, both bent hands held out from the upper chest; panel two, fingertips touching the chest; short inward arrows. (c) Type: Sign diagram (two-panel start/end with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "Both bent hands are held out from the upper chest and move back until the fingertips touch the chest." (e) Caption: "HAVE — bent hands come back to the chest."

Words to know — Learning to Sign — Everyday Life Signs

Initialized sign — a sign whose handshape is the fingerspelled first letter of its English word, like BATHROOM (T), WATER (W), and FAMILY (F). Initialization is a normal part of ASL, not a shortcut.
Compound sign — a sign made by joining two signs into one, often smoothed together, like HOME (EAT + SLEEP), SISTER (female + same), and TEACHER (TEACH + PERSON).
Classifier — a handshape that stands for a whole category of things and shows how they move or are placed (for example, one upright finger for a standing person). Classifiers are a major grammar tool taught in depth in Year 3; this unit only names the idea.
Signing space — the comfortable area in front of the body, roughly from the top of the head to the waist and elbow to elbow, where most signing happens.
Dominant hand — the hand that leads one-handed signs and does most of the moving in two-handed signs; for most people, the hand they write with. Pick one and stay with it.
Facial grammar — meaning carried by the face: raised eyebrows, furrowed eyebrows, head tilts, and expressions that mark questions, feelings, and emphasis. In ASL the face is grammar, not decoration.
Question marking — the eyebrow pattern that flags a question: eyebrows up for yes/no questions, eyebrows down (furrowed) for who/what/where/when/why/how questions.
Topic-comment — a common ASL sentence pattern: set up the topic first, then say something about it ("YOUR HOUSE, BATHROOM HOW-MANY?" — your house: how many bathrooms?). Named here because you will meet it constantly; full practice comes later.
Variation — the normal differences between signers and regions: different handshapes or movements for the same idea, like YESTERDAY's "A" and "Y" versions. Variation is a feature of living language, not an error.
Conversational turn-taking — how signers share a visual conversation: keep eye contact while the other person signs, wait until they finish and look back at you, and use a small wave or a tap to get attention before you start.

Myths vs facts — Learning to Sign — Everyday Life Signs

Myth: One sign always equals one English word. Fact: It does not. One sign can cover several English words — LIVE covers "live," "life," and "address" — and some English ideas take a whole phrase of signs. ASL and English are different languages with different word counts.
Myth: You must mouth the English words while you sign. Fact: You should not. Skilled signing is read on the whole face for grammar, and mouthing full English words gets in the way. Watch a signer's face, not their hands — the hands are read with the edges of your vision.
Myth: All Deaf people sign exactly the same. Fact: ASL has regional and personal variation, like spoken accents and local words. Some signs in this unit have more than one good version. If you move, be ready to adopt the local sign.
Myth: To ask a question in ASL, you sign English words in English order and add a question sign. Fact: The question is marked mainly by your eyebrows — furrowed for who/what/when/where/why/how — and the question sign often comes at the end of the sentence, not in English order.
Myth: Feelings signs are just acting or making faces. Fact: FEEL, HAPPY, SAD, TIRED, ANGRY, LOVE, and WORRY are fixed vocabulary signs with set handshapes and movements. The matching facial expression is part of the grammar of the sign, not play-acting on top of it.

Think it through — Learning to Sign — Everyday Life Signs

The situation: It is Saturday morning. Your neighbor, who is Deaf, comes to your door holding an empty pot — her kitchen faucet has burst, and she asks whether she can fill the pot with water at your house until the plumber comes. Later, at the grocery store, you run into her again and chat about the week. That evening at home, your sister gathers the family to talk about your mother's work schedule. You decide to handle all three conversations in sign.

Walk it through:

At the door (Parts 1, 2, and 3). You sign COME in — index fingers circling in toward your body. She signs WATER and gestures toward her HOUSE; you nod and lead the way to your HOME's kitchen. When she signs BATHROOM with a questioning face, you point the way. One raised-eyebrow yes/no exchange and three Part 2 signs have already carried a real request.
Filling the pot (Part 3). Under the tap, she signs THIRSTY with a laugh — one finger down the throat — and takes a DRINK of WATER first. You ask MORE? with your fingertips meeting; she signs FINISH, shaking both hands outward with a smile, when the pot is full. FINISH with a smile closes the exchange politely — no English needed.
At the store (Part 4). You ask how her week went. She signs YESTERDAY — thumb arcing back from the chin — WORK, TIRED, hands slumping from her chest. You ask WHEN the plumber comes; she signs TOMORROW, thumb arcing forward, then circles an "M" for MONDAY in case a part must be ordered. Notice: the time signs come first and set the tense for everything after them.
Questions with your face (Part 6). When you ask WHERE she bought the faucet and WHO will install it, your eyebrows stay furrowed through both questions, and each question sign lands at the end. Had your eyebrows risen instead, you would have turned your questions into yes/no questions and confused the exchange.
At home that evening (Parts 1 and 6). Your SISTER signs that MOTHER NEEDs to work SATURDAY — and the movement matters: NEED bent down once, hard, with a strong face means "must," not "should." Your BROTHER asks if anyone HAS the BOOK with the schedule. You sign HAVE — bent hands coming back to your chest — because the book is in your bag.

The point: One ordinary day used every part of this unit — family, home, food and drink, time, feelings, and questions. That is what "everyday signs" means: not a performance, just a day, carried in your hands and on your face.

Try this — Learning to Sign — Everyday Life Signs

☐ Stand in front of a mirror and sign the Part 1 family line — MOTHER, FATHER, SISTER, BROTHER, BABY, FAMILY, FRIEND — then check: female signs at the chin/cheek, male signs at the forehead. Repeat until the pattern feels automatic.
☐ Walk through your own home signing what you see and do: HOME, HOUSE, BATHROOM, SLEEP, EAT, GO, COME, WAIT. Narrate one real morning in signs, in order.
☐ At your next meal, sign the meal: FOOD, DRINK, WATER, HUNGRY, THIRSTY, MORE, FINISH. Notice the single movement for EAT and the small double movement for FOOD.
☐ Plan your week in signs: TODAY, TOMORROW, YESTERDAY, each weekday MONDAY through SATURDAY with its circled letter — then SUNDAY in its own two-handed sign.
☐ Practice Part 6 with a partner or a mirror: ask WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN, WHY, HOW with eyebrows furrowed, then ask one yes/no question with eyebrows raised, and feel the difference.

Resources to keep — Learning to Sign — Everyday Life Signs

ASL University / Lifeprint (lifeprint.com) — Dr. William Vicars' free ASL lessons, sign dictionary, and quizzes. The primary source for this unit, and the best place to watch every sign in this lesson on video.
Gallaudet University — Learn American Sign Language (gallaudet.edu) — the world's only Deaf university lists trusted ways to learn ASL, including its ASL Connect courses and community classes; Gallaudet's learner page itself points students to Lifeprint.
Hands & Voices (handsandvoices.org) — a parent-driven nonprofit supporting families of children who are deaf or hard of hearing, unbiased about communication choices; a good door into the wider Deaf and hard-of-hearing community for new signers and families.

What you earned / what's next — Learning to Sign — Everyday Life Signs

✅ Learning to Sign — Everyday Life Signs complete (quiz score 80% or higher): You can sign the everyday vocabulary of family and people, home and daily life, food and drink, time and the days of the week, feelings, and the question words — and you know that your eyebrows and your face are part of the grammar. You are ready to hold a simple, real conversation about an ordinary day, entirely in sign.

Your certificate

Minister Destiny Testimony Schools Certificate of Completion — Learning to Sign — Everyday Life Signs

This certificate is presented by Minister Destiny Marie Morgan, Minister

Awarded to: ______________________________ (write your name here after you download — your name is never collected or stored by this school)

Date completed: ______________

You learned a language with your hands and your face in this unit — that is real work, and real respect for the people you will talk with. Keep signing a little every day; fluency is built one ordinary day at a time. — Minister Destiny Marie Morgan

This is a certificate of educational completion from Minister Destiny Testimony Schools. It is not a state license, a government certification, or legal training for representing anyone.

What's next: Return to the Topic Library for your next Year 1 Foundations unit.

Sources

ASL University / Lifeprint — ASL University (lifeprint.com) (https://www.lifeprint.com/asl101/pages-layout/test-asl101final.htm) — the ASL Test Review Activity's numbered sign descriptions and answer key, used for MOTHER, FATHER, SISTER, BROTHER, BABY, BOY, GIRL, HOME, BATHROOM, SLEEP, GO, COME, DRINK, WATER, HUNGRY, MORE, FINISH, NOW, DAY, WEEK, HAPPY, SAD, ANGRY, LOVE, WHERE, WHEN, WHY, HOW, SCHOOL, and WORK.
ASL University / Lifeprint — ASL University (lifeprint.com) (https://www.lifeprint.com/asl101/pages-signs/f/friend.htm) — individual sign pages in the Lifeprint dictionary (pages-signs), used for FRIEND, LIVE, WAIT, EAT and FOOD, TIME, YESTERDAY, HOUSE, FEEL, WANT, NEED, HAVE, WHO, WHAT, TEACHER, BOOK, READ, MONDAY, THURSDAY, TUESDAY, and SUNDAY.
ASL University / Lifeprint — ASL University (lifeprint.com) (https://www.lifeprint.com/asl101/lessons/lesson06.htm) — Lessons 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 12, and 19, the Signing Notes page, and the Temporal Adverbs page, used for facial grammar and question marking, TOMORROW, TODAY, the ASL time line, EAT/FOOD movement rules, regional variation, FAMILY as Lesson 3 vocabulary, TIRED as Lesson 19 vocabulary, and the weekday circling pattern.
Ava — Ava (ava.me) (https://www.ava.me) — the Ava ASL dictionary entry for THIRSTY, used to verify the index-finger-down-the-throat description; Ava is a Deaf-founded accessibility company.
ASL Bloom — ASL Bloom (aslbloom.com) (https://www.aslbloom.com/signs/worry) — the ASL Bloom sign entry for WORRY, used to verify the alternating circling "B" hands beside the face.
Wiktionary — Wikimedia Foundation (en.wiktionary.org) (https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/S@Side-PalmBack_CirclesHoriz) — ASL sign entries used to cross-check the shared weekday pattern (initial letter circled at the side, palm back) for SATURDAY and FRIDAY.
Gallaudet University — Gallaudet University (gallaudet.edu) (https://gallaudet.edu/career-success/learn-asl/) — the "Learn American Sign Language" page, used for the Resources to keep entry; Gallaudet's own learner page recommends Lifeprint.
Hands & Voices — Hands & Voices (handsandvoices.org) (https://handsandvoices.org) — the organization's homepage and mission, used for the Resources to keep entry (supporting families of children who are deaf or hard of hearing, without bias about communication methods).

Course Record — Learning to Sign — Everyday Life Signs

Learning outcomes: On completing this unit, the student can:

Produce the Part 1 family and people signs, distinguishing the chin/cheek (female) and forehead (male) patterns and the chest-touch endings of MAN and WOMAN.
Produce the Part 2 home and daily-life signs, and state the difference between HOME and HOUSE.
Produce the Part 3 food and drink signs, including the single-movement EAT versus small-double-movement FOOD distinction.
Produce the Part 4 time signs and all seven weekday signs, state the shared circling pattern for MONDAY–SATURDAY, and set tense with an opening time sign.
Produce the Part 5 feelings signs with matching facial expression, and explain why the face is grammar.
Produce the Part 6 question and school/work signs, applying furrowed-brow question marking to who/what/where/when/why/how questions.
Recognize taught signs from written descriptions of handshape, location, and movement.

Study time: Approximately 4–5 hours — reading this unit's roughly 10,200 words at a study pace of 130–150 words per minute takes about 1.2 hours, and the remaining time is guided hands-on practice: signing along with each of the 62 sign entries, the mirror and household practice in Try this, and the 10-question quiz. Students move at their own pace.
Assessment: A 10-question test drawn only from this unit's lesson. 80% or higher passes and earns the unit certificate. Answers are not shown; your score is saved to your student record, and retakes are allowed.
Level: Topic Library — Year 1 (Foundations) · Adult school · working rank on completion path: Freshman → Sophomore.
Version: Version 1.0 — October 2026.

Minister Destiny Testimony Schools — Adult. Educational information only, not legal advice. Help lines: 911 for emergencies · 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (call/text 988).

Ready to test? This course's test is given at the Testing Center. Answers are never shown; score at least 80% to earn your certificate of completion. You may retake the test as many times as you need.