I don't know

[cm wannabe]

if this the right place to ask this, so please forgive if it's not.
I am a Santa during the holiday season and I am trying to find a good way to learn sign language. Can anybody recommend a book or other way that might help. Thanks for any help you might be able to give me

 

[Talking Hands]

Find someone deaf to teach you. While books are nice they are 2D reditions of a 3D language and this makes it hard if you do go the book route then get a book that includes a dvd. Signing Naturally is a good course and a A Basic Course in American Sign Languae is good.
Also see if you can check out the Bravo series tapes from your llibrary.
Check and see if any local churches have deaf ministries and have a sign language class. Also Deaf Services Bureau.

 

[bonybroad]

I definitely recommend a video or a person to teach you. Sometimes you need to SEE someone do it.
I took classes and watched videos.
I loved learning the origin of some of the signs!

 

[Mrsjvb]

every single community college I have ever seen offers a class too. usually as part of their adult education/enrichment program. altrenately see if a local school for the Deaf offers classes. that's where my SIL and BIL learned for their non verbal autistic son( who taught himself ASL from watching one of his classmates)

I actually tried, but literally cannot physically speak the language due to not having wrists that do little things like flex.

 

[DisneyDreams4P&B]

This might give you a nice head start..

http://www.start-american-sign-language.com/sign-language-phrases.html

 

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

When I was getting re-cert for CPR, the American Red Ccross had ASL for emergency situations, and the instructor had add-on classes for "conversational" situations.

She also taught at a local community college (like some PP have said) that was in the continuing education department (minimal cost!)

 

[SueM in MN]

All the places I was going to suggest were already suggested.
One thing to think about is whether a class is likely to teach words that would be helpful to you as Santa or not. If you take a regular class, they are likely to have different vocabulary than Santa would use.
It might be helpful to make a list of things kids might say to you so that you could learn some of those things in sign language. Then, make a list of things that Santa typically says to the kids so that you can learn the signs for those things.
Whether you take a class or find someone to teach you privately, it would be helpful to have a list of words you know you will need.

I am going to move this thread to the disABILITIES Community Board because it will be more on topic there.