Whether you're completely new to ASL or looking to build on what you already know, there's a place for you at Queer ASL!

We offer ASL classes where 2SLGBTQIA+ learners and allies can come together, make connections, and learn in a welcoming, queer & trans centred environment. Along the way, you'll discover that learning ASL is about so much more than vocabulary and grammar. It's also about connecting with Deaf Culture, history, and community!

All our classes are taught by Deaf 2SLGBTQIA+ instructors. This is at the heart of what we do! We're committed to creating safer, affirming workplaces for Deaf queer and trans educators while building classrooms where queer and trans identities are centred and celebrated.

Our classes follow a voice-off approach, creating an immersive signing environment where students can develop their ASL skills through conversations, games, and interactive activities. Our flipped classroom format also allows students to explore video lessons, homework, and Deaf Culture readings at their own pace before coming together to practise.

We offer sliding-scale tuition of $100–$400 per course, in your own currency, with all learning materials included. If cost is a barrier, we encourage you to check out our Registration FAQ for information about additional options.

Our classes are currently fully online, welcoming students from across Canada, the United States, and beyond. We're also exploring opportunities to bring back in-person classes in the future!

Our ASL Levels

Whether you're brand new to ASL or looking to take your signing skills further, we've got a class for you! Our courses are designed to build on each other, starting with the foundations of ASL and gradually exploring more complex conversations, grammar, and ways of expressing yourself.

From ASL 101 for beginners to our ASL 104 storytelling and conversation classes, there's plenty of room to learn, practise, and grow. Not sure which level is right for you? No worries! Our self-assessment page can help you find a good starting point.

  • Queer ASL 101 is the perfect starting point for anyone with little or no previous ASL experience!

    We'll explore the foundations of ASL through everyday conversations, including introductions, fingerspelling, likes and dislikes, identities, and where we live. Along the way, students will learn essential ASL grammar, including different question types, time signs, and contrastive structure.

    We'll also introduce Deaf Culture, history, and community throughout the course. In our final class, students will put their new skills together by sharing a short autobiography in ASL!

  • Queer ASL 102 is for students who have completed ASL 101 or have a similar foundation in ASL.

    We'll build on what we've learned by exploring life stages, living situations, everyday activities, money and payments, calendars, and making plans with others. Students will also deepen their understanding of ASL grammar, including past, present, and future tense, topic-comment structure, directional verbs, and gender-neutral signing approaches.

    Deaf Culture and community remain an important part of our learning journey. We'll wrap up the course with a fun ASL Jeopardy game to celebrate everything we've learned!

  • Queer ASL 103 is for students who have completed ASL 102 or have a similar level of ASL knowledge.

    This course builds on your existing skills as we explore more complex conversations and deepen our understanding of ASL grammar. We'll focus on using signing space, directional verbs, topic-comment structure, and time grammar to communicate more naturally and express increasingly detailed ideas.

    Students will continue developing their receptive and expressive skills through interactive activities, conversations, and Deaf Culture discussions. We'll finish with a fun review of everything we've learned throughout ASL 101–103!

  • Queer ASL 104 Storytelling is for students who have completed ASL 103 or have a similar level of ASL knowledge and are ready to explore the art of storytelling!

    We'll dive into the visual richness of ASL through classifiers (depicting signs), mouth morphemes, role-shifting, and other storytelling techniques. Students will learn how to bring characters, actions, and environments to life through expressive signing.

    Throughout the course, students will develop their own ASL storytelling skills by working on a children's book of their choice, culminating in a signed storytelling presentation during our final class!

  • Queer ASL 104 Conversation is for students who have completed ASL 103 or have a similar level of ASL knowledge and want to strengthen their conversational skills.

    These classes are intentionally smaller, creating a more relaxed and welcoming space to connect with fellow signers. Through games, group discussions, and breakout room conversations, students will deepen their receptive and expressive skills while becoming more comfortable communicating in ASL.

    We offer three rotating conversation classes (A, B, and C), each featuring different topics and themes. From everyday experiences to deeper discussions about our lives and communities, there's always something new to talk about!

    We also offer a dedicated PWD Conversation class for Disabled, chronically ill, and neurodivergent students. This class centres conversations about disability, accessibility, and our lived experiences, creating an affirming space to connect, share perspectives, and explore these topics in ASL.

How Class Works

At Queer ASL, we use a flipped classroom approach, which means you'll get to explore new vocabulary and grammar before class, leaving more time for signing, conversations, and activities when we meet on Zoom!

Our learning experience is divided into three parts: before class, during class, and after class. Here's what you can expect!

  • A few days before your Zoom class, you'll watch prerecorded lesson videos introducing new vocabulary, grammar, and everyday conversations.

    Take your time! Pause, rewind, rewatch, and practise signing along as often as you'd like. There's no need to memorize everything before class. Just come ready to give it a try!

  • This is where everything starts coming together!

    During our live Zoom classes, you'll practise what you've learned through interactive activities, games, and conversations with your classmates. Your Deaf instructor will guide you through the activities, answer questions, and help you build confidence in your signing.

    Don't worry about getting everything right. Making mistakes is part of learning a new language, and we're all here to learn together!

  • Keep the learning going with our weekly homework and Deaf Culture readings!

    Our new homework videos help you develop both receptive and expressive ASL skills. You'll practise understanding what someone is signing, then challenge yourself to think about how you'd express different ideas in ASL. Afterwards, you can check your understanding and watch signed examples.

    You'll also explore Deaf Culture, history, and community through weekly readings, including our Deafie of the Week and Deaf Culture in Media features.

    And remember, you can always revisit your lesson videos whenever you need a refresher!

Our Learning Spaces

At Queer ASL, we know that learning isn't one-size-fits-all! Different people thrive in different environments, and we want our students to feel comfortable, supported, and connected while learning ASL.

That's why we offer four different classroom spaces: General, QTBIPOC, PWD (Persons with Disabilities), and QTBIPOC PWD classes. Each space is designed to centre different communities and learning needs while sharing the same love for ASL and Deaf Culture!

  • Our general ASL classes (listed as ASL 101, ASL 102, etc.) are open to everyone!

    Whether you're part of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community or an ally, you're welcome to join us. Our classrooms centre queer and trans experiences, so we simply ask that everyone comes ready to learn, respect one another, and celebrate the diversity of our communities.

  • Our QTBIPOC classes (listed as QTBIPOC ASL 101, etc.) are dedicated learning spaces for queer and trans Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour.

    These classes are taught by Deaf QTBIPOC instructors, creating opportunities for students to learn ASL together in a space where their identities, experiences, and communities are centred and celebrated.

    Half of the proceeds from our QTBIPOC classes go towards our scholarship fund at Vancouver Community College, supporting BIPOC students pursuing careers as ASL–English interpreters.

  • Our PWD classes (listed as PWD ASL 101, etc.) are dedicated spaces for Disabled, chronically ill, and neurodivergent members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.

    These classes meet twice a week for one hour per session, offering shorter sessions and a more flexible pace. We place extra emphasis on exploring sign modifications, accommodating different learning and communication needs, and discussing accessibility within ASL.

    Most importantly, these classes are about learning together in a space where different bodies, minds, and ways of signing are welcomed and respected.

  • Our QTBIPOC PWD classes bring together both of these learning spaces, centring Disabled, chronically ill, and neurodivergent QTBIPOC members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.

    Following the same accessible format as our PWD classes, these sessions offer opportunities to learn ASL, explore access needs, and connect with others who share intersecting experiences and identities.

    It's another way we're working to create learning spaces where our communities can feel seen, supported, and celebrated.