Duration of the online course: 4 hours and 51 minutes
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Improve global communication with a free sign language course exploring how everyday words and cultural ideas are signed worldwide—learn and earn a certificate.
In this free course, learn about
Recognize how key concepts are signed across many world sign languages
Learn signs for pop-culture terms like HARRY POTTER and YOUTUBE in multiple languages
Learn emotion/action signs: LOVE, GIVE, PRACTICE, EXPERIENCE, GOOD
Learn holiday/season signs: SANTA CLAUS, HALLOWEEN, HOLIDAY, CHRISTMAS, WINTER, AUTUMN
Learn place/identity signs: HOME, COUNTRY, DEAF, HEARING, SIGN LANGUAGE
Understand how movement/direction changes meaning (e.g., GIVE in ASL)
Identify cultural/iconic elements embedded in signs (e.g., Santa’s beard imagery)
Compare different grammatical ordering (e.g., French Sign Language for “SIGN LANGUAGE”)
Spot common cross-language themes for concepts (e.g., VOTE/ELECTION patterns)
Recall specific country-unique variants (e.g., distinct HARRY POTTER or CAR signs)
Answer targeted quiz questions about which country/language uses a described sign feature
About the free online course
World Sign Languages is a free online course designed for anyone curious about how people communicate visually across countries and cultures. Instead of treating sign language as a single universal system, you will discover how different communities express the same ideas in distinct ways, shaped by history, daily life, and local references. By the end, you will be better prepared to recognize patterns, appreciate variation, and approach Deaf cultures with more awareness and respect.
Through engaging demonstrations and guided practice, you will compare how common words and seasonal or cultural concepts can look completely different from one sign language to another. You will build a practical foundation for interpreting meaning beyond a direct translation, paying attention to handshape, movement, location, and the visual logic behind each sign. Along the way, you will also notice surprising similarities that appear across regions, which helps you remember new signs and strengthens your ability to learn additional sign languages later.
This course is especially useful for language enthusiasts, travelers, educators, content creators, and anyone beginning their journey into sign language studies. It supports confidence in visual learning and cross-cultural communication, showing how to ask better questions and avoid assumptions when encountering unfamiliar signing. The included exercises reinforce what you see, helping you test recognition and recall while reflecting on how culture influences expression.
If you want a flexible way to broaden your communication skills and deepen your understanding of sign languages around the world, this course offers an accessible starting point. Learn at your own pace, build cultural insight, and leave with a clearer sense of the diversity and creativity within global signing communities.
Course content
Video class: How to Sign HARRY POTTER in World Sign Languages!10m
Exercise: Which of the following sign languages has two distinct signs specifically for 'Harry Potter'?
Video class: How to Sign LOVE in World Sign Languages (like France, Brazil, Pakistan, Japan, and more)09m
Exercise: How is the concept of 'LOVE' visually represented in the sign language of Bulgaria as described?
Video class: How to Sign GIVE in World Sign Languages (like ASL, CSL, SSL, FSL, BSL, and more!)06m
Exercise: In American Sign Language (ASL), how does the movement of the sign for 'GIVE' typically convey meaning?
Video class: How to Sign SANTA CLAUS in World Sign Languages! (Including BSL, JSL, ASL, SSL, and more!)06m
Exercise: What cultural element is commonly represented in the sign language gestures for Santa Claus?
Video class: How to Sign HALLOWEEN in World Sign Languages (like LSM, BSL, TiD, JSL, ISL, ASL, and more!)06m
Exercise: Which country's sign language interpretation for HALLOWEEN is described as reminding the presenter of blood?
Video class: How to Sign HOLIDAY in World Sign Languages (like LIBRAS, JSL, BSL, ASL, and more!)09m
Exercise: Which of the following interpretations of the sign for 'HOLIDAY' is mentioned in the description of different country's sign languages?
Video class: How to Sign HOME in World Sign Languages (like BSL, DGS, JSL, CSL, ASL, ILS and more!)10m
Exercise: In the exploration of various signs for 'HOME' worldwide, which country uses a three-part sign that might be related to God or the door where you knock?
Video class: How to Sign VOTE / ELECTION in World Sign Languages (ASL, LSF, BSL, ISL, and many others!)09m
Exercise: What is a common theme among the various sign languages for the word 'vote' or 'election' described in the text?
Video class: How to Sign PRACTICE in World Sign Languages (like ISL, LSE, ASL, RSL, CSL, ZGS, and many more!)07m
Exercise: In which of the following countries is the sign for 'PRACTICE' similar to Russia's Sign Language?
Exercise: In which sign language is the sign for 'PRACTICE' similar to the sign for 'work' due to the repetitive action it conveys?
Video class: How to Sign WINTER in World Sign Language (like LIBRAS, BSL, JSL, ASL, ISL, and more!)07m
Exercise: What is a common gesture that can help convey the concept of 'cold' when using sign language across different countries?
Video class: How to sign CHRISTMAS in World Sign Languages! (Japan, UK, Bulgaria, Sweden, and more!)10m
Exercise: How is Christmas typically represented in Latvian Sign Language according to the text?
Video class: How to Sign FALL / AUTUMN in World Sign Languages (like CSL, ISL, ASL, BSL, JSL, and more!)10m
Exercise: Which sign language gesture often represents the season of AUTUMN as the movement of leaves falling softly from trees?
Video class: How to Sign EXPERIENCE in World Sign Languages (like LSF, BSL, ISL, LSE, ASL and more!)09m
Exercise: Which Sign Language described has a gesture similar to 'holding knowledge and then recording it' for the word EXPERIENCE?
Video class: How to Sign CAR in World Sign Languages (like BSL, TiD, ASL, JSL, SSL, ISL, and many more!)05m
Exercise: Based on the description provided, which sign language could have a unique sign for 'CAR' as opposed to many others that are similar?
Video class: How to Sign “HEARING” in World Sign Languages (like BSL, ISL, ASL, LIBRAS, TiD, AUSLAN, and more!)04m
Exercise: Which sign language gesture is commonly used to signify a hearing person in several different sign languages, including American Sign Language?
Video class: How to say “SIGN LANGUAGE” in World Sign Languages (like BSL, LGP, ASL, LIBRAS, SSL, etc.)09m
Exercise: In French Sign Language, how is the phrase 'SIGN LANGUAGE' structured differently compared to the English structure?
Video class: **1,000 Subs GIVEAWAY!** How to Sign “YOUTUBE” in World Sign Languages08m
Exercise: Which country's sign for 'YouTube' does the creator mention as their favorite?
Video class: How to Sign DEAF in World Sign Languages (including BSL, LSM, LIS, SSL, T?D and many others!)06m
Exercise: Which of the following statements is true regarding the sign for 'DEAF' in various sign languages around the world?
Video class: How to Sign “GOOD” in World Sign Languages (ASL, JSL, LIBRAS, T?D, SSL, NZSL, HZG, more!)08m
Exercise: Which of the following sign languages is used in Japan?
Video class: How to Sign COUNTRY in World Sign Languages (ASL, ÖGS, CSL, DGS, LSM, LSF, JSL, T?D, SSL, more!)09m
Exercise: In the video about the sign for 'COUNTRY' across different sign languages, which language is mentioned to use a 'P' handshape to represent the word 'country'?
Video class: How to Sign NEW YEAR in World Sign Languages (like Mexico, China, Sweden, USA, and more!)06m
Exercise: Which sign language uses a gesture that symbolizes fireworks in its sign for 'New Year'?
Video class: How to Sign EDUCATION in World Sign Languages THE DEAF DREAM!10m
Exercise: Which countries are mentioned as having scholarship students supported by the organization THE DEAF DREAM?
Video class: How to Sign BATHE in World Sign Languages07m
Exercise: In Latvia Sign Language, which part of the body is specifically used to indicate 'BATHE'?
Video class: How to Sign READ in World Sign Languages (like in China, Britain, Japan, Cuba, USA, Sweden, etc.)06m
Exercise: In which sign language does the 'READ' sign involve a V shape hand to represent the movement of eyes reading?
Video class: How to Sign PARTY in World Sign Languages (like Sweden, India, China, UK, Argentina and more!)07m
Exercise: Which of the following sign languages uses a gesture that represents traditional dancing when signing the word 'PARTY'?
Video class: How to Sign PRACTICE in World Sign Languages (like ISL, LSE, ASL, RSL, CSL, ZGS, and many more!)07m
Exercise: In which of the following countries is the sign for 'PRACTICE' similar to Russia's Sign Language?
Exercise: In which sign language is the sign for 'PRACTICE' similar to the sign for 'work' due to the repetitive action it conveys?
Video class: How to Sign PLAN in World Sign Languages (ASL, BSL, CSL, DGS, LSM, LSF, JSL, T?D, SSL, more!)06m
Exercise: What does the Portuguese sign for 'PLAN' resemble in American Sign Language?
Video class: How to Sign HAPPY in World Sign Languages (lots of adorable happy animals)09m
Exercise: In which sign language does the movement for the sign 'HAPPY' typically move downward unlike most others that move upward?
Video class: How to sign SPRING in World Sign Languages (like Japan, Italy, Greece, South Africa, ASL, and more!)09m
Exercise: Which country's sign language representation for 'Spring' involves gesturing as if smelling the fresh air and the scent of flowers?
Video class: How to Sign EASTER in World Sign Languages (Argentina, Italy, China, BSL, Poland, USA, more!)06m
Exercise: In American Sign Language, how is the sign for EASTER traditionally associated with the concept of the holiday?
Video class: How to Sign HISTORY in World Sign Languages (like in Italy, Mexico, Chile, Germany, IS, etc!)10m
Exercise: Which country's sign language for HISTORY is described as being 'like a chain of events through the years leading up to today'?
Video class: How to Sign REMEMBER in World Sign Languages (like Pakistan, South Africa, Russia, Japan, Tanzania!)06m
Exercise: What is a common visual concept used in multiple sign languages to represent the idea of 'remembering'?
Video class: How to Sign WORK in World Sign Languages (like South Africa, Mexico, Argentina, Croatia, Tanzania)05m
Exercise: Which of the following Sign Languages mentioned in the text has a sign for 'work' that also means 'practice'?
Video class: How to Sign CHURCH in World Sign Languages (in England, Germany, Chile, India, and more!)08m
Exercise: Which country's sign language for 'church' is based on the historical use of flags by priests during processions into cathedrals?
Video class: How to Sign MOTHER in a Whole Bunch of World Sign Languages! (cute gifs!)08m
Exercise: What is an interesting characteristic that stands out in the Namibia Sign Language for 'mother'?
Video class: How to Sign BROTHER in World Sign Languages06m
Course comments: World Sign Languages
Sahidul Hasan Saymoon
this course is very helpful, I learned sing language by this course, Thank you
Sahidul Hasan Saymoon
This course is very helpful, I learned sing language by this course, Thank you,