Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to live in Richmond to take ASL Champs classes?
No! Our classes can be taken from anywhere with internet access.
What is the cost for your ASL courses?
$125 per student per course. This includes access to 120 days (4 months) of e-course materials and weekly live ASL class sessions (via zoom) that occur for the course within this time period. Private and corporate class rates available upon request.
I am hard of hearing/deaf myself and want to learn ASL. Will I be able to learn through your classes?
Absolutely! Our classes are taught via ASL-immersion — SILENTLY. You won’t miss a thing!
How are your ASL courses structured?
Each course is designed to be completed over 8 weeks with one short lesson and live class each week. But since you receive all course materials and have access to them for 4 months, you can start any time, working faster, slower or reviewing at your own pace. Then you join for the weekly live ASL class sessions on the schedule.
When are your classes offered?
Our course enrollment is continuous. You can join at any time to access the class material to start learning!
Weekly live ASL class sessions are 8-week sessions offered 5-6 times per year.
We highly recommend prospective students SUBSCRIBE to our mailing list We announce the updates to our subscribers first!
OK, I’ve registered! What’s next?
Yay! You should receive an email from WORDPRESS prompting you to setup a username and password. Once you have set that up, head over to the STUDENT LOGIN page to enter your credentials. Then you should see a page showing you the courses you are enrolled in. Just click to enter the course and click on “Getting Started.”
Do you have a minimum age requirement?
We recommend all students are over the age of 14 to fully benefit from our classes. Children 10-13 may be admitted to the live sessions as long as their parent or adult family member is also registered for the same class or an agreement is made to be present and an assurance the child is able to reasonably participate in the curriculum.
Do you offer classes specifically for children?
Not at this time. We ARE working on it, though! Meanwhile, we recommend these resources for children interested in learning ASL!
What is the order of your classes? Which one should I take?
ASL Champs offers the following class levels in this order (click the link for specific class descriptions):
ASL 1A – you should take ASL 1A if you have no previous ASL experience or have not had live conversations using ASL structure in an everyday environment.
ASL 1B – you should take ASL 1B if you have previously taken 1A with ASL Champs or another level 1 class elsewhere or can demonstrate the equivalent knowledge base in Deaf culture, ASL vocabulary, grammar and conversational levels.
ASL 2A – you should take ASL 2A if you have previously taken 1B with ASL Champs or another level 1 or 2 class elsewhere or can demonstrate the equivalent knowledge base in Deaf culture, ASL vocabulary, grammar and conversational levels.
ASL 2B – you should take ASL 2B if you have previously taken 2A with ASL Champs or another level 2 class elsewhere or can demonstrate the equivalent knowledge base in Deaf culture, ASL vocabulary, grammar and conversational levels.
ASL 3A – you should take ASL 3A if you have previously taken 2B with ASL Champs or another level 2 class elsewhere or can demonstrate the equivalent knowledge base in Deaf culture, ASL vocabulary, grammar and conversational levels.
How/where can I practice ASL outside of class?
Practicing ASL is how you become fluent! Online group practice sessions are baked into our classes! And if you are local, we list in-person ASL immersion opportunities in the Richmond, VA area. If you are looking for in-person opportunities to practice outside of our area, it can’t hurt to ask us -we’re happy to share what we know!
Do you offer any classes “In person”?
Yes, we periodically offer some select in-person classes in Richmond, Va. Some private classes will have the option to be taken in-person (subject to instructor availability). Our tutoring service as well as the majority of our class offerings remain on Zoom.
Are your classes virtual or in-person?
The majority of our ASL classes are offered via our e-course materials with live sessions meeting virtually via Zoom.
What time zone are the live ASL class sessions in?
Our live ASL class sessions are listed in Eastern Standard Time (EST).
Do you offer group rates or discounts?
We are able to offer individual discounts in our group classes: to parents of Deaf children only.
If this is you, please email [email protected] before registering.
As a small business, we’re unable to offer other discounted rates and still cover our operational costs. We appreciate your understanding. We strive to keep our classes affordable so our community members have more access to learning ASL.
What equipment do I need for virtual classes?
Ideally, you will have:
- a laptop or desktop computer with a camera
- internet access to the zoom website/application
- a strong WiFi connection
- a distraction-free environment for 60-90 minutes 1X per week for 8 weeks.
Can I share a monitor with my family member/roommate/spouse?
No. Each student should use their own monitor/zoom window. Our live ASL class sessions are interactive, so we need to be able to see each other clearly.
What if I have to miss a live ASL class session?
While we encourage you to attend all the weekly live ASL class sessions, we understand you may have some conflicts. Luckily, you will have access to all the class materials in the e-course. Just make sure to take advantage of the practice materials and participate as you would in a class.
Does ASL Champs offer high school/college credit/certificates?
Unfortunately, no. ASL Champs are community-based classes taught by our ASL/Deaf community members. We are not able to offer formal educational credit or certification.
While we do have many high school and college students take our classes, many times it is to supplement their for-credit classes by practicing what they have learned gaining valuable experience in signing with other Deaf teachers.
For high school or college credit options offered online in ASL studies, we recommend first checking with your local community colleges and universities. You can also check out these reputable online resources:
ASL University (Lifeprint) can provide documentation of students’ abilities, but these arrangements must first be approved in writing by the institution you are seeking the credit from. ASLU itself is not accredited, but can give CEUs if your institution approves.
ASL Connect offers online ASL courses for non-degree credit through Gallaudet University in Washington, DC.
Have a question you don’t see here? Ask us!