Lessons
PocketSign
PocketSign

How to Sign "Students"

To sign students, start by holding your non-dominant hand flat in front of you with the palm facing up, representing a book or paper. With your dominant hand, pretend to grab information from that 'book' by closing your fingers into a flattened 'O' shape and bringing it up toward your forehead. Immediately after, change both hands to flat shapes with palms facing each other, and move them straight down to show the 'person' ending. This combines the signs for learn and person.

Examples Using "Students" in a Sentence

1

The students are reading.

Sign students by combining the learn motion and the person marker, then sign reading by pointing your dominant 'V' hand at your non-dominant flat palm.

2

I am a new student.

Point to yourself for I, sign new by sweeping your dominant hand over your non-dominant hand's palm, and finish with the sign for student.

3

How many students are in the class?

Sign class, then students, followed by how many while furrowing your eyebrows to indicate an open-ended question.

How to Sign "Students"
To sign students, start by holding your non-dominant hand flat in front of you with the palm facing up, representing a book or paper. With your dominant hand, pretend to grab information from that 'book' by closing your fingers into a flattened 'O' shape and bringing it up toward your forehead. Immediately after, change both hands to flat shapes with palms facing each other, and move them straight down to show the 'person' ending. This combines the signs for learn and person.
Visual Logic(Etymology)
This sign is a great example of a compound sign in ASL. It combines the sign for learn—which looks like you are physically taking information from a page and putting it into your brain—with the 'agent marker,' which indicates a person who does that action. Literally, a 'learn-er'.
Signing Tips
When signing students, make sure the transition between the learn motion and the person marker is smooth. You do not need to pause between the two parts; they flow together as one continuous concept. Keep the 'person' marker hands parallel as they move straight down.
Common Mistakes
A common mistake is bringing the dominant hand all the way to touch the forehead during the learn portion. You only need to bring it up toward the head before smoothly transitioning into the downward motion of the person marker.
Regional Variations
This sign is widely used and understood across the ASL community with minimal regional variation.
Examples Using "Students" in a Sentence
1

The students are reading.

Sign students by combining the learn motion and the person marker, then sign reading by pointing your dominant 'V' hand at your non-dominant flat palm.

2

I am a new student.

Point to yourself for I, sign new by sweeping your dominant hand over your non-dominant hand's palm, and finish with the sign for student.

3

How many students are in the class?

Sign class, then students, followed by how many while furrowing your eyebrows to indicate an open-ended question.

Frequently Asked Questions
How do I make the sign plural to mean 'students' instead of 'student'?

In ASL, plurality is often shown through context or by adding a sign like many or group. You can also sweep the 'person' marker slightly to the side to indicate multiple people, but often just signing student is enough if the context is clear.

Do I have to actually touch my forehead?

No, you do not need to make physical contact with your forehead. Bringing your hand up toward your head is enough to convey the idea of absorbing information before moving into the person marker.

Which hand should act as the 'book'?

Your non-dominant hand should act as the base or 'book', while your dominant hand does the active motion of grabbing the information and moving toward your head.

ASL is a beautiful, expressive language. Practice regularly and have fun!