Help & Support

Overview

Start ASL offers several ways to learn American Sign Language depending on your goals, learning style, and support needs.

Whether you're learning independently, as a family, for homeschool, or for school credit, this guide will help you choose the best option.

Quick Comparison

Online Self-Study

Online Self-Study is designed for students who want to learn independently and at their own pace.

Includes

• Full online course access

• Vocabulary instruction

• Grammar instruction

• Quizzes and activities

• Progress tracking

• Completion certificates

Best For

• Independent learners

• Homeschool students

• Adult learners

• Students who prefer maximum flexibility

Choose Online Self-Study if you are comfortable learning on your own and do not need instructor feedback.

See Online Self Study Options >

Online Guided

Online Guided includes everything in Online Self-Study plus additional instructor support.

Includes

• Full online course access

• Instructor feedback

• Assignment grading

• Practice Sessions

• Office Hours

• Verified completion documentation

• Grade reports (when requested)

Best For

• Students seeking accountability

• Students needing feedback

• Learners who benefit from additional support

• Students pursuing school credit that requires verification

Choose Online Guided if you want direct access to instructors and personalized support throughout your learning journey.

See Online Guided Options >

Offline Course Downloads

The Offline Course provides downloadable versions of the course materials for students or families who want to learn without relying on the online learning platform.

Includes

• Downloadable lessons

• Downloadable videos

• Downloadable course materials

• Student guide materials, when included with the current package

Best For

• Families learning ASL together

• Homeschool families using parent-led instruction

• Students with limited or unreliable internet access

• Travelers, military families, or remote learners

• Students or families who want downloadable materials without needing online records

Important

The Offline Course does not include:

• Online progress tracking

• Instructor support

• Assignment grading

• Signing evaluation

• Completion certificates

• Verified grade documentation

• Individual online student records

Choose the Offline Course if you want downloadable ASL course materials to use at your own pace and do not need online progress tracking, completion certificates, instructor grading, signing evaluation, or student records.

See Offline Course Options >

Homeschool Families

Start ASL is widely used by homeschool families.

Many homeschoolers choose:

• Online Self-Study

• Online Guided

• Offline Course Downloads

Larger homeschool groups and co-ops may also qualify for group purchasing options.

Homeschool Discounts

We offer special pricing for homeschool families, co-ops, and homeschool organizations. More information can be found in our Homeschool Discounts article.

Learning as a Family

• Offline Course Downloads may be a good fit if your family wants to learn together using downloadable materials and does not need individual online records, certificates, grading, or signing feedback.
• Online Self-Study may be a better fit if each student needs their own online account, progress tracking, and certificates.
• Online Guided may be best if the student needs instructor feedback, signing evaluation, grading, or school documentation.

School Credit

Many students use Start ASL courses to earn world language credit through:

• High schools

• Homeschool programs

• Colleges

• Independent study programs

Important:

• Credit is awarded by your school, not Start ASL.

• Schools determine whether they will accept our courses for credit.

• Online Guided is often recommended when schools require verified grades or completion documentation.

See our article: Can I Earn School Credit with Start ASL? for complete details.

What Age Is Start ASL Designed For?

Start ASL courses and curriculum were designed primarily for students ages 13 and older.

Many high schools, homeschool programs, and adult learners use our courses.

Younger students may also be successful if they:

• Have a strong interest in learning ASL

• Can work independently

• Have support from a parent, teacher, or homeschool instructor

For younger learners, we generally recommend active guidance from a parent or teacher.

Free Resources

If you're new to ASL, Start ASL offers many free resources to help you get started.

These include:

• Free ASL lessons

• Vocabulary resources

• Fingerspelling practice

• Grammar articles

• Deaf culture resources

We also offer a Free ASL 1 Trial Course that allows you to experience the Start ASL learning platform before purchasing a full course.

See Free Resources > 

Can I See Samples Before Purchasing?

Yes.

You can view samples and sign up for a free trial of our Online Course on this page: https://www.startasl.com/learn-sign-language-asl

You can download samples of our other resources here:

• Offline Course: https://files2.startasl.com/ASL_Offline_Sample.zip 
• DJSC! Student Guides:
  https://files2.startasl.com/maslg_sample.pdf
  https://files2.startasl.com/asldc_sample.pdf
  https://files2.startasl.com/dex_sample.pdf
  https://files2.startasl.com/dct_sample.pdf

Which Option Should I Choose?

Choose Online Self-Study if:

• You want to learn independently online

• You want your own online student account

• You want online progress tracking

• You want completion certificates

• You do not need instructor feedback, manual grading, or signing evaluation

• You prefer the most flexible online option

Choose Online Guided if:

• You want instructor support

• You want feedback on signing assignments

• You need manual grading

• You would benefit from accountability

• You want access to Practice Sessions or Office Hours

• You need stronger documentation for school, homeschool, charter, or program use

Choose Offline Course Downloads if:

• You want downloadable ASL course materials

• Your family wants to learn ASL together

• You want to work at your own pace without relying on the online platform

• Your internet connection is limited or unreliable

• You do not need online progress tracking, completion certificates, instructor grading, signing evaluation, verified grade documentation, or individual student records