ASL Coach (free)
Rated 4+
Compatible with iPhone, iPad and iPod touch
Language: English
If you’re just beginning, this app will teach you to sign the alphabet and numbers one through nine.
Rated 4+
Compatible with iPhone, iPad and iPod touch
Languages: English
This app is a practice tool designed to help improve ability to read fingerspelling. Users like the variety of words and ability to choose the speed of fingerspelling.
Rated 4+
Compatible with iPhone, iPad and iPod touch
Languages: English
Academy Award winning deaf actress, Marlee Matlin, teaches the fundamentals of ASL, from the signed alphabet and basic vocabulary through common expressions in everyday life. Each lesson is broken down into individual videos so users can learn at their own pace. The app keeps track of completed lessons and features a “slow motion” setting to allow viewing in greater detail.
Rated 5
Compatible with Android
Languages: English
Simple illustrations show you how to sign common letters, numbers and a few common words in American Sign Language.
Rated 4+
Compatible with Android, iPhone, iPad and iPod touch
Languages: English
Created by the makers of My Smart Hands, an international baby sign language program with more than 150 instructors in more than 10 countries, this app features 45 minutes of instructional video from ASL instructor and My Smart Hands founder Laura Berg. The video dictionary demonstrates ASL signs and explains how to make, remember and understand them. My Smart Hands Baby Sign Language Dictionary is also available on the android market.
Rated 4+
For kids 5 and under
Compatible with iPhone, iPad and iPod touch
Languages: English, Simplified Chinese, traditional Chinese
This app includes 40 real-life signing video demonstrations to help you learn to sign with your baby. Each sign has a detailed video tutorial and is organized into categories such as action words, animals, daily routines and feelings. The app also comes with a fun interactive video quiz to help you learn and remember the signs.
Rated 4+
Compatible with iPhone, iPad and iPod touch
Languages: English
This app teaches ASL relating to school, helping parents ask common questions of their deaf children such as: “What did you do in school?" and "Where is your homework?"
While these apps can help you learn sign language, keep in mind that ASL is much more than just making gestures with your hands. Like any language, you’ll want to learn the grammar, history and culture of the language to become proficient. These aren't the only hearing-friendly apps for your phone, also check out "the best apps to measure noise levels," "the best apps for phone captioning" and "the best apps to check your hearing."