FingerSpell FlashCards

Learn, Practice and Master FingerSpelling

Why FingerSpell Flashcards?

The hard part of learning to sign the finger alphabet is not learning the forms, but learning to read and sign them at the speed that a native speaker would actually use.

Fingerspell Flashcards is an online flash card system to learn and build proficiency in Fingerspelling, both spelling out words and reading words that other people sign to you.

To reach this level, you need to practice. Other tools let you practice one letter at a time, and some learning CDs have a few words recorded as video, but these are quickly memorized.

You also need to practice your own alphabet. Most tools out there know about ASL, but that is really confusing if your languages is slightly different (say DSGS or DGS) and totally useless if your alphabet is completely different, such as the two handed British Sign Language (BSL).

What makes a good learning program?

Fingerspell Flashcards helps you to master fingerspelling:

1. Learn the signs
2. Practice words
3. Build to "native speaker" speed and proficiency.

With Fingerspell Flashcards, you can

• Learn fingerspelling.
• Practice in your language.
• Begin with individual letters or the whole alphabet
• Practice with or without displaying the corresponding text
• Complex characters like j and z are displayed as animations
• Build proficiency - you can see a random word finger spelled. If you understand it, show a new word. If you are not sure, click "Repeat" or "Unhide".
• Build speed - chose from Beginner (Each character is displayed 1.5 seconds) to "Deaf" (2 letters per second)

Presently the FingerSpell Flashcards support:

• ASL — American Sign Language
• DGS — Deutsche Gebärdensprache/German Sign Language
• DSGS — Deutschschweizer Gebärdensprache/Swiss German Sign Language
• LSF — Langue des Signes Française/French Sign Language is in preparation.

Others languages can be included on request.

FSFC has three dictionairies:

• Letters are simply the individual letters of the alphabet.
• Easy consists of common first names and has an average word length of about 5 characters.
• Hard consists mostly place names (some of them quite exotic) and has an average word length of around 9 characters.

By combining speed and complexity, you can increase your proficiency until you are satisfied with your abilities.

How to use the Flash Cards

Step 1 - learn the signs

You can display the whole alphabet, enter your own word, or let Fingerspell Flashcards pick a character at random.

• To display the whole alphabet, click "Alphabet"
• To display a random character, select the Dictionary "Characters", then click "New Word"
• To hide the text, click on the photo or "Hide Word"

At this point, it is easy to learn the letters. Just repeat the letters as you see them. If you don't know the letter, click on the picture to show the letter.

Step 2 - start practicing words

Once you know the signs, switch to the "Easy" dictionary. This is a collection of around 400 popular first names. The average length is 5 characters, and you are familiar with most of the words. Reading the words helps you learn to recognize words. Repeating builds dexterity. As you get better, increase the speed.

The principal is the same:

• Start by reading the letters
• When you can read the letters, start signing the letters together with the FingerSpell FlashCards.

Step 3 - build proficiency

The challenge of fingerspelling is keeping up with proficient signers at their accustomed speed.

When you are proficient with the easy dictionary played "Fast", it is time to switch to the "Hard" Dictionary. Probably you will have to slow down to understand the words, but with practice, you'll be able to read and sign long words.

The principle is the same:

• Start by reading the letters
• When you can read the letters, start signing the letters together with the FingerSpell FlashCards.

Tip

With long words, it helps to parse into syllables as you read them. It's easier to remember 3 syllables than 10 characters.