If you keep forgetting signs, do this.

Vlog | Destiny Yarbro | November 4, 2026 | 6.5 min watch

Video Transcript

0:00 Intro

Hey, do you learn a sign but then instantly it slips your mind and you forget it?

Does that mean your memory is bad?

No!

It just means your brain has filed ASL away as a "fun fad".

Here's how to fix that!

I'm a total language nerd. I loved learning different languages all growing up. I'm going to show you how I memorized them all.

0:30 ASL Retention Tip #1

First, set up regular conversations in ASL.

I know that having a conversation is scary, but really that's the most effective way to help your brain prioritize ASL.

Right now your brain sees ASL as a fun fad, a random hobby, something that's just fun to do.

That's it. Unimportant.

Like it thinks, "Eh, you'll just move to a new hobby soon."

When you start conversing in ASL every month or every other month, now your brain recognizes, "Ohhhh, this is important! I WILL use this sign, I should hold onto that!"

Instead of treating the sign as unimportant or random, it knows you WILL use it in the future and does exactly what we want: MEMORIZES it.

That's why I set up a monthly ASL conversation practice group. If you want to join it, it's at the link below.

1:23 ASL Retention Tip #2

When you learn a new sign, what should you do?

Immediately put it into a sentence!

Stick it in a sentence with other signs you already know.

Should that sentence be random and off the cuff?

No! It should be a sentence that you will use in a conversation.

So do you just learn it and leave it?

No! It's like... do you know habit stacking?

It's that concept. You attach it to other signs you already know.

Again, that helps your brain recognize this sign is important and that you will use it later.

So, I'm curious y'all.

What helps you memorize, remember a sign?

Comment below and share it with us all!

2:08 ASL Retention Tip #3

If I'm teaching, what should you be doing?

Just passively sitting there?

No, you should follow along and copy what I'm signing.

If I sign something, you sign something.

But why copy me? Two reasons:

1. Muscle Memory

Meaning doing the signs yourself helps you memorize. You now have two senses at work: visual and kinesthetic.

2. Watching is a passive activity

So is your brain engaged, eager, and trying to learn and memorize?

Nope, it's just watching passively.

You may assume you're learning, but when you get to the end of my video you can't remember much, "what signs did I learn again?"

Passive learning becomes active learning if you copy what I sign.

Now your brain's neurons are firing and you're learning more quickly, and typically your retention lasts longer.

3:12 ASL Retention Tip #4

If you're learning a new sign, what should you do?

You should learn about the sign's roots: the meaning and reason behind a sign, where it's a descendant of, etc.

For example, the sign for FAITH.

"Oh so that's like THOUGHT and then HOLD ON, like holding onto a rod to get to heaven, right? HOLD."

Now from here on out, you'll remember that like focusing your thoughts on God, like holding onto Him = FAITH.

I've noticed that many ASL teachers here online often just show a sign. They might even show it from different angles, sure, but they don't explain the roots, which is interesting.

That's SHOWING, not TEACHING.

True teaching helps a sign stick.

4:15 ASL Retention Tip #5

Now some signs have no obvious roots, then what should we do?

If there's no roots, come up with a silly association!

You might have noticed that I often teach signs with silly associations.

It helps them stick, ya know?

For example, the sign for candy is this:

It might be related to fruit or sweet, but a silly association for this sign could be:

You know when you eat candy, or really stuff your face with candy, what happens?

You have to go to the dentist, right?

And what do they do there?

They drill your teeth!

Drill your teeth = the sign for candy.

So now you'll remember that sign (you might be a little traumatized by it) but you'll remember it, right?

Silly associations help!

Now, a while ago, someone commented under one of my videos saying, "You're degrading ASL, you're infantilizing it, treating it like a baby..."

And I can understand their view point. But let me just explain a bit.

That method, silly associations, is a documented, researched method proven to help someone learn a new language.

I've learned many different languages with that method, not just ASL. :)

The research typically labels it "Imagery Mnemonics" or the "Keyword Method."

5:31 Example of How to Apply All Five to a New Sign

Now let's apply these 5 tips to a new sign.

For example, your new sign is: TRICK.

You've learned the sign, but are you done?

Nope! You now put it into a sentence.

For example, "Today is Halloween. My friends and I are going to knock doors" (see how I signed knock with an A handshape here?) "Trick or Treat!" (see how I signed candy?)

So here's the sign for trick, see it's similar to knocking on a door? (Typically knock is with an S but I did it with an A to help remember.)

Trick (this finger shows the person getting tricked) or treat (candy)!

And now you can use this sentence for Halloween tonight!

So, do you want to see how I teach? You can check out these videos here.

You'll notice that I use all 5 tips when teaching to help students' retention.

Also, a reminder that the conversation practice group link is in the description.

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