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.
The honest frame for this course: Sign language is visual. This book teaches with written descriptions, drawings, and video companions (linked or reached by QR code in print, and hosted with the app). Print alone will not make you a signer — this unit makes you a beginner who can greet someone, fingerspell, ask a simple question, and keep learning.
ASL is a complete language with its own grammar. It is not signed English. Use your dominant hand (the hand you write with) for one-handed signs and fingerspelling, and sign in the signing space in front of your body — about head to waist, a little wider than your shoulders — where your partner sees your face and hands together.

The lesson

Part 1. Welcome — what ASL is, and how this course works

American Sign Language — ASL — is the sign language of the Deaf community in the United States and much of Canada. It is a complete, natural language with its own vocabulary, word order, and grammar, grown in Deaf schools and Deaf communities — not a copy of English. The same thought is often built in a different order in ASL than in English, the way French and English differ. So this school says it plainly: ASL is not English on the hands. (A different system, Signed English, does follow English word by word; it is not taught here.)

Every sign is built from parts you can learn to watch: handshape, palm orientation, location, movement, and nonmanual markers — the face and body. Change one part and you may change the sign. That is why each sign below gives a "Make it" line with those parts spelled out, plus a drawing brief, so the book and the app show the same sign the same way.

Two respect notes before your hands move. First, eye contact is politeness in Deaf culture. Watch your partner's face, not only their hands; your eyes catch the hands at the edge of your vision, and breaking eye contact is like walking away mid-sentence. Second, facial expressions are grammar, not decoration. Raised eyebrows can make a statement into a yes-or-no question; furrowed eyebrows mark "what?" and "where?" questions; a headshake can carry "not." A blank face does not look neutral in ASL — it looks unfinished.

How the course works: learn one small group of signs, practice with your hands up, and check your movement against the video companions. Parts 2 and 3 build your fingers. Parts 4 and 5 give you a first conversation. Part 6 teaches the signs that ask for help inside a conversation — the ones that keep a beginner going.

Part 2. The manual alphabet — fingerspelling A to Z

Fingerspelling spells a word letter by letter with the manual alphabet. ASL uses it most for names of people and places, and for words you do not yet know a sign for. It is a bridge into the language, not the whole language. Use your dominant hand at about shoulder height, elbow relaxed, palm mostly forward at a comfortable angle — roughly toward 10 o'clock, as Lifeprint's Dr. William Vicars teaches; do not force your palm flat toward your partner.

Spell smoothly: no bouncing, no pauses between letters, and mouth the whole word once, not each letter. Practice receiving as well as sending — reading spelling is a separate skill; watch the shape of the whole word. Two letters move: J and Z trace their shapes. Shared handshapes: G/Q (Q points down), K/P (P points down), H/U (H sideways, U upright), I/J (J moves).

A — Fist, thumb resting upright along the side of the fingers. Illustration brief SL-1: (a) Placement: Part 2. (b) Shows: single panel, fist with thumb along the side. (d) Alt text: "Letter A: a fist with the thumb resting upright along the side of the curled fingers." (e) Caption: "A — thumb along the side."
B — Four fingers straight up together, thumb folded across the palm. Illustration brief SL-2: (a) Placement: Part 2. (b) Shows: single panel, flat hand up, thumb across palm. (d) Alt text: "Letter B: four fingers straight up together, thumb folded across the palm." (e) Caption: "B — thumb across."
C — Curve fingers and thumb into the shape of a C. Illustration brief SL-3: (a) Placement: Part 2. (b) Shows: single panel, hand curved like a C. (d) Alt text: "Letter C: fingers and thumb curved into a C shape." (e) Caption: "C — curve like the letter."
D — Index up; middle, ring, and little fingertips touch the thumb tip, forming a circle below. Illustration brief SL-4: (a) Placement: Part 2. (b) Shows: single panel, index up, fingertips meeting the thumb. (d) Alt text: "Letter D: index finger up, the other fingertips touching the thumb to form a circle." (e) Caption: "D — index up, circle below."
E — Curl all fingers down tight, fingertips resting on the tucked thumb; keep it compact. Illustration brief SL-5: (a) Placement: Part 2. (b) Shows: single panel, tight curled fingers over the thumb. (d) Alt text: "Letter E: all fingers curled down tightly with fingertips resting on the tucked thumb." (e) Caption: "E — curled tight."
F — Index tip touches thumb tip in a circle; middle, ring, and little fingers stand up, spread. Illustration brief SL-6: (a) Placement: Part 2. (b) Shows: single panel, index-to-thumb circle, three fingers up. (d) Alt text: "Letter F: index finger and thumb form a circle, three fingers stand up spread apart." (e) Caption: "F — circle below, three up."
G — Index and thumb extended sideways, parallel, as if pinching the air horizontally. Illustration brief SL-7: (a) Placement: Part 2. (b) Shows: single panel, index and thumb pointing sideways, parallel. (d) Alt text: "Letter G: index finger and thumb extended sideways and parallel, other fingers curled." (e) Caption: "G — point sideways."
H — Index and middle together, pointing sideways (horizontal); thumb tucked. Illustration brief SL-8: (a) Placement: Part 2. (b) Shows: single panel, two fingers pointing sideways together. (d) Alt text: "Letter H: index and middle fingers together pointing sideways, held horizontally." (e) Caption: "H — two fingers sideways."
I — Little finger straight up from a fist, thumb across the front. Illustration brief SL-9: (a) Placement: Part 2. (b) Shows: single panel, little finger up from a fist. (d) Alt text: "Letter I: little finger straight up, other fingers curled with thumb across the front." (e) Caption: "I — little finger up."
J — Start as I, then trace a J in the air with the little finger, hooking down and to the side. Illustration brief SL-10: (a) Placement: Part 2. (b) Shows: two-panel start/end with a curved arrow tracing a J. (d) Alt text: "Letter J: little finger up, then tracing a J shape in the air with a hooking motion." (e) Caption: "J — trace the letter."
K — Index and middle up in a V, thumb tip touching the middle finger, palm forward. Illustration brief SL-11: (a) Placement: Part 2. (b) Shows: single panel, V fingers, thumb on the middle finger. (d) Alt text: "Letter K: index and middle fingers up in a V, thumb tip touching the middle finger." (e) Caption: "K — V with thumb up."
L — Index straight up, thumb straight out to the side, forming an L. Illustration brief SL-12: (a) Placement: Part 2. (b) Shows: single panel, index up and thumb out in an L. (d) Alt text: "Letter L: index finger up and thumb out to the side forming an L." (e) Caption: "L — like the letter."
M — Fist with the thumb tucked under the index, middle, and ring fingers — three knuckles on top. Illustration brief SL-13: (a) Placement: Part 2. (b) Shows: single panel, fist, thumb under three fingers. (d) Alt text: "Letter M: fist with the thumb tucked under the index, middle, and ring fingers." (e) Caption: "M — thumb under three."
N — Like M, but the thumb tucks under only the index and middle fingers — two knuckles on top. Illustration brief SL-14: (a) Placement: Part 2. (b) Shows: single panel, fist, thumb under two fingers. (d) Alt text: "Letter N: fist with the thumb tucked under the index and middle fingers only." (e) Caption: "N — thumb under two."
O — Curve all fingertips to the thumb tip, forming an O. Illustration brief SL-15: (a) Placement: Part 2. (b) Shows: single panel, fingertips meeting the thumb in an O. (d) Alt text: "Letter O: all fingertips curved to touch the thumb, forming an O." (e) Caption: "O — round like the letter."
P — The K handshape — V fingers, thumb on the middle finger — turned downward, palm down. Illustration brief SL-16: (a) Placement: Part 2. (b) Shows: single panel, K handshape pointing down. (d) Alt text: "Letter P: the K handshape turned downward, thumb on the middle finger." (e) Caption: "P — K pointing down."
Q — The G handshape — index and thumb extended, parallel — pointing downward, palm down. Illustration brief SL-17: (a) Placement: Part 2. (b) Shows: single panel, G handshape pointing down. (d) Alt text: "Letter Q: index finger and thumb extended and parallel, pointing downward." (e) Caption: "Q — G pointing down."
R — Middle finger crossed over the index finger, both up. Illustration brief SL-18: (a) Placement: Part 2. (b) Shows: single panel, middle finger crossed over index. (d) Alt text: "Letter R: middle finger crossed over the index finger, both pointing up." (e) Caption: "R — fingers crossed."
S — Fist with the thumb lying across the front of the curled fingers. Illustration brief SL-19: (a) Placement: Part 2. (b) Shows: single panel, fist, thumb across the front. (d) Alt text: "Letter S: a fist with the thumb lying across the front of the fingers." (e) Caption: "S — thumb across the front."
T — Fist with the thumb tip poking up between the index and middle fingers. Illustration brief SL-20: (a) Placement: Part 2. (b) Shows: single panel, fist, thumb peeking between two fingers. (d) Alt text: "Letter T: a fist with the thumb tip poking up between the index and middle fingers." (e) Caption: "T — thumb peeks through."
U — Index and middle straight up together, side by side; thumb tucked. Illustration brief SL-21: (a) Placement: Part 2. (b) Shows: single panel, two fingers up together. (d) Alt text: "Letter U: index and middle fingers straight up together, side by side." (e) Caption: "U — two up together."
V — Index and middle up and spread apart in a V. Illustration brief SL-22: (a) Placement: Part 2. (b) Shows: single panel, two fingers spread in a V. (d) Alt text: "Letter V: index and middle fingers up and spread apart in a V." (e) Caption: "V — two spread."
W — Index, middle, and ring fingers up and spread; little finger curled down. Illustration brief SL-23: (a) Placement: Part 2. (b) Shows: single panel, three fingers up and spread. (d) Alt text: "Letter W: index, middle, and ring fingers up and spread, little finger curled down." (e) Caption: "W — three up."
X — Index finger bent into a hook; other fingers curled into a fist. Illustration brief SL-24: (a) Placement: Part 2. (b) Shows: single panel, index finger hooked. (d) Alt text: "Letter X: index finger bent into a hook, other fingers curled." (e) Caption: "X — index hooks."
Y — Thumb and little finger extended out; middle three fingers curled. Illustration brief SL-25: (a) Placement: Part 2. (b) Shows: single panel, thumb and little finger extended. (d) Alt text: "Letter Y: thumb and little finger extended, middle three fingers curled." (e) Caption: "Y — thumb and pinky out."
Z — Index extended; trace a Z in the air — across, diagonal down, across. Illustration brief SL-26: (a) Placement: Part 2. (b) Shows: two-panel start/end with a Z-shaped arrow. (d) Alt text: "Letter Z: index finger extended, tracing a Z shape in the air." (e) Caption: "Z — trace the letter."

Practice habit: spell your name, then three short words, slowly and smoothly — then watch the video companion spell them back and read along.

Part 3. Numbers 1 to 20

ASL numbers use one hand. Learn them in Lifeprint's pattern groups — the pattern is the memory aid. 1–5 face you (palm toward you). 6–9 face your partner (palm forward). 11–15 are palm-back. 16–19 start palm-back and twist forward. Spread the fingers of 2–5 a little, so a 2 does not look like the letter U.

1 — Index up alone, palm toward you. Illustration brief SL-27: (a) Placement: Part 3. (b) Shows: single panel, index up, palm toward the signer. (d) Alt text: "Number 1: index finger up alone, palm facing the signer." (e) Caption: "1 — palm toward you."
2 — Index and middle up, spread slightly, palm toward you. Illustration brief SL-28: (a) Placement: Part 3. (b) Shows: single panel, two fingers up, palm toward the signer. (d) Alt text: "Number 2: index and middle fingers up, palm facing the signer." (e) Caption: "2 — palm in."
3 — Thumb, index, and middle up, palm toward you. Illustration brief SL-29: (a) Placement: Part 3. (b) Shows: single panel, thumb plus two fingers up. (d) Alt text: "Number 3: thumb, index, and middle fingers up, palm facing the signer." (e) Caption: "3 — thumb counts too."
4 — Four fingers up, thumb tucked against the palm, palm toward you. Illustration brief SL-30: (a) Placement: Part 3. (b) Shows: single panel, four fingers up, thumb tucked. (d) Alt text: "Number 4: four fingers up, thumb tucked into the palm, palm facing the signer." (e) Caption: "4 — thumb tucked."
5 — All fingers and thumb up and spread, palm toward you. Illustration brief SL-31: (a) Placement: Part 3. (b) Shows: single panel, open five hand, palm toward the signer. (d) Alt text: "Number 5: all fingers and thumb up and spread, palm facing the signer." (e) Caption: "5 — full hand, palm in."
6 — Palm forward; little fingertip touches the thumb tip; other three fingers up. Illustration brief SL-32: (a) Placement: Part 3. (b) Shows: single panel, pinky touching thumb, palm forward. (d) Alt text: "Number 6: little fingertip touching the thumb, three fingers up, palm facing forward." (e) Caption: "6 — pinky to thumb."
7 — Palm forward; ring fingertip touches the thumb tip; other fingers up. Illustration brief SL-33: (a) Placement: Part 3. (b) Shows: single panel, ring finger touching thumb, palm forward. (d) Alt text: "Number 7: ring fingertip touching the thumb, other fingers up, palm facing forward." (e) Caption: "7 — ring to thumb."
8 — Palm forward; middle fingertip touches the thumb tip; other fingers up. Illustration brief SL-34: (a) Placement: Part 3. (b) Shows: single panel, middle finger touching thumb, palm forward. (d) Alt text: "Number 8: middle fingertip touching the thumb, other fingers up, palm facing forward." (e) Caption: "8 — middle to thumb."
9 — Palm forward; index fingertip touches the thumb tip; other fingers up. Illustration brief SL-35: (a) Placement: Part 3. (b) Shows: single panel, index finger touching thumb, palm forward. (d) Alt text: "Number 9: index fingertip touching the thumb, other fingers up, palm facing forward." (e) Caption: "9 — index to thumb."
10 — Fist with thumb up (an A handshape, thumb extended); small shake at the wrist. Illustration brief SL-36: (a) Placement: Part 3. (b) Shows: two-panel start/end with a small shake arrow. (d) Alt text: "Number 10: a fist with the thumb up, shaken slightly at the wrist." (e) Caption: "10 — thumbs up, shake."
11 — Palm toward you; flick the index finger up off the thumb tip — twice. Illustration brief SL-37: (a) Placement: Part 3. (b) Shows: two-panel start/end, index flicking up, palm back. (d) Alt text: "Number 11: palm facing the signer, index finger flicking up off the thumb twice." (e) Caption: "11 — flick one finger, twice."
12 — Palm toward you; flick index and middle up off the thumb together — twice. Illustration brief SL-38: (a) Placement: Part 3. (b) Shows: two-panel start/end, two fingers flicking up, palm back. (d) Alt text: "Number 12: palm facing the signer, index and middle fingers flicking up together twice." (e) Caption: "12 — flick two fingers."
13 — Palm toward you, thumb out; bend index and middle toward you at the large knuckles — twice. Illustration brief SL-39: (a) Placement: Part 3. (b) Shows: two-panel start/end, palm-back three bending twice. (d) Alt text: "Number 13: palm-back three handshape with thumb out, index and middle fingers bending twice." (e) Caption: "13 — bend the two."
14 — Palm toward you, thumb tucked; bend all four fingers toward you at the large knuckles — twice. Illustration brief SL-40: (a) Placement: Part 3. (b) Shows: two-panel start/end, palm-back four bending twice. (d) Alt text: "Number 14: palm facing the signer, thumb tucked, four fingers bending toward the signer twice." (e) Caption: "14 — bend the four."
15 — Palm toward you, thumb out, four fingers up; bend the four toward you — twice. Illustration brief SL-41: (a) Placement: Part 3. (b) Shows: two-panel start/end, thumb out, four fingers bending, palm back. (d) Alt text: "Number 15: palm facing the signer, thumb out, four fingers up and bending toward the signer twice." (e) Caption: "15 — thumb out, bend four."
16 — Start with the 6 handshape, palm toward you; twist forward twice, ending palm mostly forward. Illustration brief SL-42: (a) Placement: Part 3. (b) Shows: two-panel start/end with a twist arrow, 6 turning forward. (d) Alt text: "Number 16: the 6 handshape starting palm-back and twisting forward twice." (e) Caption: "16 — twist the 6."
17 — Start with the 7 handshape, palm toward you; twist forward twice, as in 16. Illustration brief SL-43: (a) Placement: Part 3. (b) Shows: two-panel start/end with a twist arrow, 7 turning forward. (d) Alt text: "Number 17: the 7 handshape starting palm-back and twisting forward twice." (e) Caption: "17 — twist the 7."
18 — Start with the 8 handshape, palm toward you; twist forward twice, as in 16. Illustration brief SL-44: (a) Placement: Part 3. (b) Shows: two-panel start/end with a twist arrow, 8 turning forward. (d) Alt text: "Number 18: the 8 handshape starting palm-back and twisting forward twice." (e) Caption: "18 — twist the 8."
19 — Start with the 9 handshape, palm toward you; twist forward twice, as in 16. Illustration brief SL-45: (a) Placement: Part 3. (b) Shows: two-panel start/end with a twist arrow, 9 turning forward. (d) Alt text: "Number 19: the 9 handshape starting palm-back and twisting forward twice." (e) Caption: "19 — twist the 9."
20 — Index and thumb as in the letter G, tips nearly touching; tap the tips together — twice. Illustration brief SL-46: (a) Placement: Part 3. (b) Shows: two-panel start/end, G-like hand closing twice. (d) Alt text: "Number 20: index finger and thumb in a G shape tapping closed together twice." (e) Caption: "20 — G taps closed."

Honesty note: numbers vary somewhat by region — Lifeprint says so itself — and 16–19 also have a "ten-plus" version (sign 10, then 6, 7, 8, or 9). This unit teaches the twist version; learn a local signer's version too when you meet one. (Regional variations exist.)

Part 4. Greetings and courtesy

The signs of a polite first minute — learn them as a set: greet, thank, ask, answer. Notice how many live at the chest and chin, close to the heart and face, where your partner is already looking.

SIGN — HELLO

Make it: Dominant flat hand, palm forward. Start with the fingertips near your forehead, beside your ear, and move the hand outward and slightly away in a small arc, like the start of a wave or a salute. Smile — the friendly face is part of the greeting.
Illustration brief SL-47: (a) Placement: Part 4. (b) Shows: flat hand at the forehead, then arcing outward; arrow curving away from the head. (c) Type: Sign diagram (two-panel start/end with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "HELLO: a flat hand starting at the forehead beside the ear and moving outward away from the body." (e) Caption: "HELLO — a salute opening into a wave."

SIGN — GOOD

Make it: Dominant flat hand, fingertips touching your chin, palm facing you. Move the hand down and forward until the back of it rests in the upturned palm of your non-dominant flat hand.
Illustration brief SL-48: (a) Placement: Part 4. (b) Shows: fingertips at the chin, then the hand lowering onto the base palm; downward arrow. (c) Type: Sign diagram (two-panel start/end with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "GOOD: fingertips of a flat hand touch the chin, then the hand moves down to rest on the other upturned palm." (e) Caption: "GOOD — chin down to palm."

SIGN — MORNING

Make it: Hold your non-dominant forearm level, palm down — the horizon. Rest your dominant flat hand, palm up, fingertips under that forearm near the elbow, then raise it up a little, like the sun rising. GOOD + MORNING is "Good morning."
Illustration brief SL-49: (a) Placement: Part 4. (b) Shows: level forearm; dominant hand beneath it, then rising slightly; upward arrow. (c) Type: Sign diagram (two-panel start/end with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "MORNING: a flat dominant hand rising from beneath a level forearm, like the sun rising over the horizon." (e) Caption: "MORNING — the sun comes up."

SIGN — THANK YOU

Make it: Dominant flat hand. Start with the fingertips near your lips, palm facing you, then move the hand forward and a little down, toward the person you are thanking. Smile. Lifeprint's contrast: THANK YOU is aimed at the person; GOOD angles down to your palm. Two hands means "very grateful."
Illustration brief SL-50: (a) Placement: Part 4. (b) Shows: flat hand at the lips, then forward and slightly down toward the viewer; forward arrow; smiling signer. (c) Type: Sign diagram (two-panel start/end with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "THANK YOU: fingertips of a flat hand start near the lips and move forward and slightly down toward the person being thanked." (e) Caption: "THANK YOU — aimed at the person."

SIGN — PLEASE

Make it: Dominant flat hand, palm facing you, flat over the center of your chest. Move it in a small circle on your chest a few times, with a pleasant or hopeful face. Lifeprint notes PLEASE often comes at the end of a request, as a softener.
Illustration brief SL-51: (a) Placement: Part 4. (b) Shows: flat hand circling on the center of the chest; circular arrow. (c) Type: Sign diagram (two-panel start/end with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "PLEASE: a flat hand placed on the center of the chest and moved in a small circular motion." (e) Caption: "PLEASE — a circle over the heart."

SIGN — SORRY

Make it: Dominant hand in a fist (an A or S handshape) on your chest, over your heart. Circle the fist a few times in a small clockwise motion. Keep a regretful face — a smile would change what you are saying.
Illustration brief SL-52: (a) Placement: Part 4. (b) Shows: fist circling on the chest; circular arrow; regretful expression. (c) Type: Sign diagram (two-panel start/end with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "SORRY: a fist rubbed in a small circle on the chest over the heart." (e) Caption: "SORRY — a fist, where PLEASE uses a flat hand."

SIGN — YES

Make it: Dominant hand in an S handshape — a fist, thumb across the front. Hold it up by your shoulder and bend it at the wrist up and down a couple of times, so the fist nods like a head nodding yes. Your own head may nod along.
Illustration brief SL-53: (a) Placement: Part 4. (b) Shows: S-hand fist tilting down and up at the wrist, twice; up-down arrow. (c) Type: Sign diagram (two-panel start/end with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "YES: a fist in an S handshape nodding up and down at the wrist like a nodding head." (e) Caption: "YES — the fist nods."

SIGN — NO

Make it: Dominant hand, palm forward. Bring the index and middle fingers down together to tap the thumb, like a small beak closing — twice, with a gentle headshake, for the ordinary "no." One firm single movement makes it a strong "No!" — Lifeprint teaches that force and face scale this sign's strength.
Illustration brief SL-54: (a) Placement: Part 4. (b) Shows: index and middle fingers tapping closed against the thumb; headshake. (c) Type: Sign diagram (two-panel start/end with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "NO: the index and middle fingers tap together against the thumb like a closing beak, with a headshake." (e) Caption: "NO — fingers snap shut like a beak."

SIGN — HOW

Make it: Both hands in front of your chest, fingers curled and bent, backs of the fingers touching, fingertips pointing down, thumbs up. Roll both hands forward and up together until the fingers point forward. For "How are you?": sign HOW, then point at the person — that point means YOU — with interested eyebrows.
Illustration brief SL-55: (a) Placement: Part 4. (b) Shows: bent hands knuckle-to-knuckle, fingertips down, rolling forward and up; curved arrows. (c) Type: Sign diagram (two-panel start/end with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "HOW: both hands with bent fingers touching back to back, fingertips down, rolling forward and up until the thumbs point up." (e) Caption: "HOW — roll both hands forward."

SIGN — FINE

Make it: Dominant hand open, all five fingers up and spread. Touch the tip of your thumb to the center of your chest, once or twice, lightly. This is the everyday answer to "How are you?" Keep the hand at your chest — pulling it away while pinching the fingers together signs LIKE instead.
Illustration brief SL-56: (a) Placement: Part 4. (b) Shows: open five hand, thumb tip touching the center of the chest. (c) Type: Sign diagram (two-panel start/end with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "FINE: an open five hand with the thumb tip touching the center of the chest." (e) Caption: "FINE — thumb to the chest."

SIGN — EXCUSE ME

Make it: (The sign EXCUSE.) Non-dominant flat hand out in front of you, palm up. With your dominant hand slightly bent at the large knuckles, brush its fingertips along the base palm, from the heel out toward the fingertips — and repeat once. With eye contact, this is "Excuse me" for attention, or to pass.
Illustration brief SL-57: (a) Placement: Part 4. (b) Shows: bent fingertips brushing along the upturned base palm, heel to fingertips; forward arrow. (c) Type: Sign diagram (two-panel start/end with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "EXCUSE ME: the fingertips of a slightly bent dominant hand brush along the upturned palm of the other hand, from the heel toward the fingertips." (e) Caption: "EXCUSE ME — brush across the palm."

Part 5. Introductions — your name, and who you are

A Deaf introduction is warm and a little fuller than a hearing one. Deaf people meeting commonly share their name, whether they are Deaf or hearing, where they learn sign, and who their teacher is — Lifeprint's first lesson is built on exactly this exchange, because those details are how the community places you and welcomes you. Here is your beginner version.

SIGN — NAME

Make it: An H handshape on each hand — index and middle extended together. Cross the dominant H over the non-dominant H, fingers forward, and tap the dominant fingers down onto the others — twice for the noun "name." One tap reads more like the verb "named/called."
Illustration brief SL-58: (a) Placement: Part 5. (b) Shows: two H hands crossed, dominant tapping down onto the other; double-tap marks. (c) Type: Sign diagram (two-panel start/end with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "NAME: the fingers of one H hand tap twice on top of the crossed fingers of the other H hand." (e) Caption: "NAME — one H taps the other."

SIGN — MY

Make it: Dominant flat hand, palm facing you, placed flat on the center of your chest for a moment. MY + NAME + your fingerspelled name is "My name is…" — there is no separate sign for "is": ASL does not use "be" verbs (is, am, are) the way English does. Pointing at yourself with your index finger means "I/me."
Illustration brief SL-59: (a) Placement: Part 5. (b) Shows: flat hand resting on the center of the chest, palm in. (c) Type: Sign diagram (two-panel start/end with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "MY: a flat hand placed on the center of the chest with the palm facing the signer." (e) Caption: "MY — flat hand on the chest."

Your introduction, assembled: HELLO. MY NAME — then fingerspell your name, smoothly, at a readable pace (first name first, if your name is long). A name sign — a unique sign for a person, used instead of spelling their name — is given to you by a Deaf person; you never invent one for yourself. Until then, fingerspell. That is the respectful order of things, not a failure.

SIGN — NICE

Make it: Non-dominant flat hand in front of you, palm up. Brush the flat palm of your dominant hand smoothly across it, heel to fingertips, once — like smoothing something clean. NICE is also the sign for CLEAN; context tells them apart.
Illustration brief SL-60: (a) Placement: Part 5. (b) Shows: dominant palm brushing across the upturned base palm; forward arrow. (c) Type: Sign diagram (two-panel start/end with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "NICE: the flat palm of one hand brushes smoothly across the upturned palm of the other hand." (e) Caption: "NICE — smooth across the palm."

SIGN — MEET

Make it: A "1" handshape on each hand — index up. Hold the non-dominant hand a little way in front of you; move the dominant hand toward it until the two upright index fingers meet side by side, like two people coming together. Direction carries meaning: dominant moving toward the other is "I meet you." NICE + MEET-you is "Nice to meet you."
Illustration brief SL-61: (a) Placement: Part 5. (b) Shows: two upright index fingers apart, then together side by side; inward arrow. (c) Type: Sign diagram (two-panel start/end with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "MEET: two upright index fingers, one on each hand, coming together side by side like two people meeting." (e) Caption: "MEET — two people come together."

SIGN — DEAF

Make it: Dominant index finger. Touch the fingertip (or the side of the finger) to your cheek near your ear, then arc forward and touch your cheek near your mouth — the cheek, not the ear or lips themselves. Many signers go the other direction, mouth to ear; both are common.
Illustration brief SL-62: (a) Placement: Part 5. (b) Shows: index touching the cheek near the ear, then arcing to the cheek near the mouth; small arc arrow. (c) Type: Sign diagram (two-panel start/end with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "DEAF: an index finger touches the cheek near the ear, then arcs forward to touch the cheek near the mouth." (e) Caption: "DEAF — ear to mouth, on the cheek."

SIGN — HEARING

Make it: (A hearing person — someone who hears and typically speaks.) Dominant index finger, palm facing back toward you. Hold the fingertip in front of your lips and draw a small circle in the air around your lips a couple of times, as if showing words coming out of the mouth. (Regional variations exist.)
Illustration brief SL-63: (a) Placement: Part 5. (b) Shows: index fingertip circling in front of the lips; small circular arrow. (c) Type: Sign diagram (two-panel start/end with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "HEARING: an index finger drawing small circles in the air in front of the lips." (e) Caption: "HEARING — circles at the mouth."

SIGN — LEARN

Make it: Non-dominant hand flat, palm up, like a page. Lay your open dominant hand over it, then lift it toward your forehead while the fingertips and thumb gather together — picking information up off the page and putting it into your head. Everyday signing shortens the lift to partway.
Illustration brief SL-64: (a) Placement: Part 5. (b) Shows: open dominant hand over the base palm, then lifting and closing toward the forehead; upward arrow. (c) Type: Sign diagram (two-panel start/end with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "LEARN: a hand gathers its fingertips together as it lifts from the other palm toward the forehead, like taking information into the head." (e) Caption: "LEARN — pick it up, put it in."

SIGN — SIGN / ASL

Make it: (Signing, sign language.) A "1" handshape on each hand, index up at a comfortable angle. Circle both hands at the same time, in the same direction, one half a circle ahead of the other — like pedaling a bicycle, forward or backward; pick one direction and keep it. A newer version uses loose fists opening and closing; you will see both. (Regional variations exist.)
Illustration brief SL-65: (a) Placement: Part 5. (b) Shows: two index fingers circling in the same direction, opposite each other like pedals; paired circular arrows. (c) Type: Sign diagram (two-panel start/end with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "SIGN: both index fingers circling at the same time in the same direction, one half a circle ahead of the other, like bicycle pedals." (e) Caption: "SIGN — pedal both hands."

SIGN — STUDENT

Make it: Sign LEARN, then add the "person" ending: both flat hands vertical at the sides of your torso, palms facing each other, moving straight down a few inches. LEARN + PERSON = STUDENT. Fast signing compresses it — it can look like tossing a small piece of paper aside — but learn the full version first.
Illustration brief SL-66: (a) Placement: Part 5. (b) Shows: the LEARN lift, then both flat hands at the torso sides moving down; two-stage panels, downward arrow. (c) Type: Sign diagram (two-panel start/end with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "STUDENT: the sign LEARN followed by both flat hands at the sides of the body moving downward, the person ending." (e) Caption: "STUDENT — LEARN plus PERSON."

Assembled, you can now say: HELLO, MY NAME [fingerspelled]. NICE MEET-you. I HEARING. I LEARN SIGN. I STUDENT. Every sign in that introduction is in this unit.

Part 6. How to practice and keep going

You will not understand everything — no beginner does, in any language. What keeps a beginner going is three signs that buy a second chance inside the conversation.

SIGN — AGAIN

Make it: Non-dominant flat hand in front of you, palm up or angled. Bend your dominant hand at the large knuckles and move it in a small arc until its fingertips touch the base palm. AGAIN means "repeat / do it over" — AGAIN, PLEASE is among the most useful requests a beginner owns.
Illustration brief SL-67: (a) Placement: Part 6. (b) Shows: bent dominant hand arcing down, fingertips landing in the base palm; arc arrow. (c) Type: Sign diagram (two-panel start/end with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "AGAIN: a bent dominant hand arcs down until its fingertips touch the palm of the other flat hand." (e) Caption: "AGAIN — fingertips land in the palm."

SIGN — SLOW

Make it: Non-dominant hand and forearm out in front of you, palm down. Lay your dominant flat palm on the back of that hand near the fingers and draw it slowly up the back of the hand and a little way up the forearm — slowly; the speed is part of the meaning. PLEASE SIGN AGAIN SLOWLY — signed roughly AGAIN SLOW PLEASE — is the beginner's lifeline sentence.
Illustration brief SL-68: (a) Placement: Part 6. (b) Shows: dominant palm on the back of the base hand, sliding slowly toward the wrist; slow straight arrow. (c) Type: Sign diagram (two-panel start/end with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "SLOW: the palm of one flat hand draws slowly up the back of the other hand toward the forearm." (e) Caption: "SLOW — make the sign itself slow."

SIGN — UNDERSTAND / DON'T UNDERSTAND

Make it: Dominant hand near your forehead, palm facing back toward you. Cock the index fingertip against the thumb tip, then flick the index straight up — a small light switching on. That is UNDERSTAND. For DON'T UNDERSTAND, add a headshake; the headshake carries the "don't." Some signers hold the cocked finger near the forehead without touching it.
Illustration brief SL-69: (a) Placement: Part 6. (b) Shows: index cocked on the thumb near the forehead, then flicked upright; second panel adds a headshake for DON'T UNDERSTAND. (c) Type: Sign diagram (two-panel start/end with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "UNDERSTAND: near the forehead, an index finger flicks up off the thumb like a light switching on; with a headshake it means don't understand." (e) Caption: "UNDERSTAND — the light comes on."

Practice that works. A few minutes daily beats one long weekly session; hands learn by repetition, like piano scales. Use a mirror for handshapes, and record yourself to compare movement with the video companions. Practice receiving, too: have a partner — or the videos — spell and sign to you, and read before you answer. Do not mouth every English word; mouth whole fingerspelled words and let your face do grammar. And when a Deaf signer corrects you, receive it with thanks: the correction is a gift, and how you receive it is remembered longer than how you signed.

Words to know — Learning to Sign — First Signs

ASL — American Sign Language, the complete sign language of the Deaf community in the United States and much of Canada, with its own grammar and vocabulary.
Fingerspelling — spelling a word letter by letter with the manual alphabet, used most for names and for words you do not yet know a sign for.
Manual alphabet — the set of handshapes, one per letter, used in fingerspelling; the American manual alphabet uses 22 handshapes for 26 letters.
Handshape — the way the fingers are formed for a sign, such as a flat hand, a fist, or an index finger pointing up.
Palm orientation — the direction the palm faces during a sign; changing it can change the sign or the number.
Nonmanual markers — meaning carried by the face and body rather than the hands, such as raised eyebrows for a yes-or-no question or a headshake for "not."
Deaf (capital-D) — a cultural and linguistic identity: members of the Deaf community who share ASL, history, and values; lowercase "deaf" describes hearing level only.
Name sign — a unique sign used for a person in the Deaf community instead of fingerspelling their name; name signs are given by Deaf people, never invented for yourself.
Dominant hand — the hand you write with, used for fingerspelling and one-handed signs; the other hand is the base hand.
Signing space — the area in front of the body, about head to waist and a little wider than the shoulders, where signs are made so face and hands are seen together.

Myths vs facts — Learning to Sign — First Signs

Myth: Sign language is universal — one system understood everywhere. Fact: There are many sign languages worldwide, as different from each other as spoken languages. ASL is used mainly in the United States and Canada; other countries have their own.
Myth: ASL is English on the hands. Fact: ASL is a complete language with its own grammar and word order. It did not come from English and does not follow it.
Myth: Deaf people can all read lips. Fact: Lipreading catches only part of speech even for skilled lipreaders, and many Deaf people do not rely on it. Never assume it; ask what works.
Myth: Fingerspelling is the whole language. Fact: Fingerspelling is one bridge inside ASL, used mostly for names and unfamiliar words. Fluent signing is built from signs, space, and facial grammar.
Myth: You must be born Deaf to sign. Fact: People learn ASL at every age — parents, coworkers, students, neighbors. What the community asks of hearing learners is respect, practice, and patience, not a birth certificate.

Think it through — Learning to Sign — First Signs

The situation: A new customer comes to your counter and points at the shelf, then at a piece of paper. You realize she is Deaf. You have finished this unit: your hands know greetings, the alphabet, numbers, and three lifeline signs — but you have never held a real conversation. She watches you, waiting. What do you do?

Walk it through: (1) Begin with respect and eye contact — Part 1. Look at her face, smile, and sign HELLO (Part 4); eye contact tells her you are talking to her, not past her. (2) Introduce yourself the Part 5 way: MY NAME, fingerspell your name smoothly (Part 2), NICE MEET-you (Part 5). If she fingerspells her name and you miss it, that is expected — beginners read spelling slowly. (3) Use your lifelines without embarrassment — Part 6: AGAIN, SLOW, and DON'T UNDERSTAND with a headshake. Asking for a repeat is polite; pretending to understand is not. (4) For her order, use what numbers and fingerspelling do best — Parts 3 and 2: point at the item, fingerspell its name if you must, confirm the count with number signs or in writing. (5) Close as you opened: THANK YOU, aimed at her, with a real smile — Part 4. You were not fluent. You were understandable, honest, and kind — exactly what this unit promised: a beginner who can greet, fingerspell, ask, and keep learning.

Try this — Learning to Sign — First Signs

☐ Fingerspell your full name smoothly three times in a mirror, without bouncing your hand.
☐ Count 1 to 20 by pattern group — palm-in 1–5, palm-forward 6–9, shake 10, flick and bend 11–15, twist 16–19, tap 20 — then sign three numbers another person names.
☐ Practice the full introduction until it flows: HELLO, MY NAME [fingerspelled], NICE MEET-you, I HEARING (or I DEAF), I LEARN SIGN, I STUDENT.
☐ Run the courtesy set with a partner: HELLO, GOOD MORNING, HOW (point: you)?, FINE, THANK YOU, PLEASE, SORRY, YES, NO — checking faces as well as hands.
☐ Practice asking for help until it feels easy, not embarrassing: DON'T UNDERSTAND (headshake), AGAIN, SLOW — then answer yourself with a patient re-signing.

Resources to keep — Learning to Sign — First Signs

ASL University / Lifeprint — lifeprint.com — free ASL lessons, dictionary, and fingerspelling and numbers practice, by Dr. William Vicars.
Gallaudet University — gallaudet.edu — the university for Deaf and hard-of-hearing students; ASL resources and Deaf etiquette guidance.
Hands & Voices — handsandvoices.org — parent-driven support for families of Deaf and hard-of-hearing children, unbiased about communication choices, with Deaf culture resources.

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

✅ Learning to Sign — First Signs complete (quiz score 80% or higher): You can explain what ASL is and why it is not signed English, fingerspell the full alphabet smoothly, sign numbers 1–20 by their patterns, greet someone and exchange introductions, and use AGAIN, SLOW, and DON'T UNDERSTAND to keep a first conversation going.

Your certificate

Minister Destiny Testimony Schools Certificate of Completion — Learning to Sign — First 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: ______________

Well done. Your hands learned their first words, and you learned something just as important — to keep eye contact, keep your face alive, and ask again instead of giving up. That is how every fluent signer started. Keep going. — 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 (lifeprint.com) — Lesson 01 (http://www.lifeprint.com/asl101/lessons/lesson01.htm) — vocabulary and structure for AGAIN, DEAF, HEARING, LEARN, MEET, NAME, NICE, NO, SIGN, SLOW, STUDENT, THANK-you, UNDERSTAND, YES; eyebrow rules for yes/no and WH-questions; the introduction story pattern. Checked October 21, 2026.
ASL University / Lifeprint (lifeprint.com) — Fingerspelling introduction and notes (https://www.lifeprint.com/asl101/pages-layout/fingerspelling.htm) — what fingerspelling is, the 22-handshape manual alphabet, palm-angle guidance, and the G/Q, K/P, H/U, I/J pairs and J/Z tracing notes. Checked October 21, 2026.
ASL University / Lifeprint (lifeprint.com) — Numbers 11–20 (https://www.lifeprint.com/asl101/pages-signs/n/numbers11-20.htm) — palm-back rule for 11–15, flick pattern (11–12), bend pattern (13–15), twist method and ten-plus variation (16–19), 20 as a G closing twice; UNDERSTAND's flick, from the page's Q&A. Checked October 21, 2026.
ASL University / Lifeprint (lifeprint.com) — Dictionary pages: "thank you," "again," "Deaf," "learn" with student notes, "meet," "nice/clean," "no," "sign," "name," "please" (https://www.lifeprint.com/asl101/pages-signs/t/thankyou.htm; https://www.lifeprint.com/asl101/pages-signs/a/again.htm; https://www.lifeprint.com/asl101/pages-signs/d/deaf.htm; https://www.lifeprint.com/asl101/pages-signs/l/learn.htm; https://www.lifeprint.com/asl101/pages-signs/s/student-notes.htm; https://www.lifeprint.com/asl101/pages-signs/m/meet.htm; https://www.lifeprint.com/asl101/pages-signs/n/nice.htm; https://www.lifeprint.com/asl101/pages-signs/n/no.htm; https://www.lifeprint.com/asl101/pages-signs/s/sign.htm; https://www.lifeprint.com/asl101/pages-signs/n/name.htm; https://www.lifeprint.com/asl101/pages-signs/p/please.htm) — the sign forms, contrasts, and variations taught in Parts 4–6. Checked October 21, 2026.
ASL University / Lifeprint (lifeprint.com) — First 100 Signs test and review materials and signing notes (https://www.lifeprint.com/asl101/pages-layout/testfirstonehundredsigns.htm; https://www.lifeprint.com/asl101/topics/signingnotes.htm) — written descriptions cross-checking SORRY (fist circling over the heart), EXCUSE (bent fingertips brushing the base palm), HEARING (index circling in front of the lips), and FINE (open five hand, thumb to the chest); numbers 16–19 twist direction and the 2–5 finger-spread guidance. Checked October 21, 2026.
Gallaudet University (gallaudet.edu) — "Tips for Reporters" etiquette guidance (https://gallaudet.edu/university-communications/gallaudet-university-tips-for-reporters/) — verification for eye contact with the Deaf person, not assuming lipreading, and getting attention by wave or tap. Checked October 21, 2026.
Hands & Voices (handsandvoices.org) — "What is Deaf Culture?" (https://handsandvoices.org/comcon/articles/pdfs/deafculture.pdf) — verification for the Deaf culture framing: ASL as the core of a culturally Deaf identity, a visual language of hands, faces, bodies, and eyes. Checked October 21, 2026.
University of Texas at Austin, ASL Online (laits.utexas.edu) — Parts of the Day (https://laits.utexas.edu/aslonline1/unit6/Parts/?iframe=true&width=400&height=470) — cross-check for MORNING: the dominant hand as the sun rising above the non-dominant hand as the horizon. Checked October 21, 2026.

Course Record — Learning to Sign — First Signs

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

explain that ASL is a complete language with its own grammar, not signed English, and say what nonmanual markers do;
fingerspell all 26 letters of the American manual alphabet smoothly with the dominant hand, and state the rules for smooth spelling and for receiving spelling;
sign numbers 1–20 and describe their pattern groups (palm-in 1–5, palm-forward 6–9, flick and bend 11–15, twist 16–19, and 20);
sign HELLO, GOOD MORNING, THANK YOU, PLEASE, SORRY, YES, NO, HOW, FINE, and EXCUSE ME from their written descriptions;
introduce themselves in ASL order — greeting, MY NAME with fingerspelled name, NICE MEET-you, DEAF or HEARING, LEARN SIGN, STUDENT;
use AGAIN, SLOW, and DON'T UNDERSTAND, with the correct face and headshake, to keep a conversation going.

Study time: Approximately 2 hours — an estimate covering reading the unit, the guided hands-on practice in each Part (about 1–2 minutes of practice per sign group activity, including mirror and partner work), and the test. 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.