How long does it take to learn ASL (American Sign Language)?
Most interpreters, regardless of how long they have been at it, will tell you that they are still learning. They are not “just saying that.” They mean it.. It takes a long time; longer than most people might guess. A rule of thumb is that it takes about five years to develop some fluency, and about 10 years to be fairly proficient. You may find that you progress more quickly or more slowly than that. As a second- or third-language learner, you will probably enjoy some early successes, learning lots of ASL vocabulary, and picking up a few idioms. You will also begin learning ASL grammar, to use signing space, role-shifting, and referents.
