

Tony S.


Teaching Locations:


Teaching Locations:


Levels taught:
Beginner, Intermediate, AdvancedI've been teaching ASL for 23 years and my students have gone on to develop a deep love of ASL and Deaf culture! I am passionate about teaching, Deaf ministry, and ASL!
Within the first few lessons, you'll start signing simple sentences and as time goes on, you'll be able to converse with people who are Deaf! You will also be learning about the culture of Deaf people at the same time.
PRACTICE PARTNER/SIGN COACH?
Nervous about meeting people who are deaf? Want to learn some tips to get over those first moments of nervousness? Do you just need someone to practice with? I would love to help you!
Some of my students book private lessons with me just to have someone to chat with and practice. The more you practice, the more confidence you will have. Sign up for weekly 30 minute lessons and keep your skills in check!
BABY SIGNS
Having four children of my own, I have seen the importance of teaching babies sign language. I have seen first hand how it actually speeds up the speech development process and has given them stronger conceptual skills.
If you are a new parent or if you have a child that is losing their hearing and/or going deaf, I will support you and teach you how to communicate effectively.
If you want to avoid the "terrible 2's" let's get to signing right away! :)
ALREADY A SIGNER?
Let's work on perfecting your skills, work on expanded vocabulary and polish up on Non Manual Markers and mouth morphemes!
I love working with students of all experience levels and look forward to meeting you!
DEAF MINISTRY?
Are you wanting to start a Deaf Ministry at your church? Do you have a Deaf ministry and want some guidance or just someone to bounce ideas off of? Let's meet and discuss.
About Tony S.
Thank you so much for checking out my profile! My name is Tony and I've been teaching formal and private lessons since 1996 and have loved helping my students learn American Sign Language while developing confidence in their skills. I went to Harding University and was trained and tutored by a Master ASL Instructor (CODA) as well as the Deaf community.
My former students have gone on to become Interpreters for the Deaf, Deaf Education Teachers, ASL Teachers, and leaders in Deaf ministry. In fact, I now teach with one of my former ASL students!
I'm a patient and fun person and my teaching style is highly interactive. I look forward to helping you reach your goals!
Please keep in mind that it is very important to practice in between sessions and complete all the suggested activities to help you accomplish your goals faster. ASL is a VISUAL language and does not follow English grammar rules. ASL has its own grammar and syntax. In fact 50% of the language is comprised of nonmanual behaviors.
My favorite thing about teaching is getting to know my students. Every once in a while I will have a student that wants to be mentored beyond ASL skills and wants further mentoring in learning how to be the best they can be.
I enjoy teaching the Bible class for the Deaf at church as well as being involved in the Deaf community in this area. The Deaf community is a wonderful, vibrant, and very close knit group of people.
Thanks again for reading my bio. I hope to meet you soon!
Reviews
Write a Review

Good lesson, Tony, Thank you.

Excellent class, I can see and feel the growth.

I continue to learn so much. Thanks for a good lesson.

Good class and we worked very hard. The time went really fast. Thanks for a good class.

Good lesson,

Thank you for the great lesson, and as Mr. Rogers would say, Tigers, Lions and Bears, oh my!. thanks for the great lesson on animals.

Great class.

The more I learn to sign,I understand the great need to be able to communicate and have a voice. This is a motivation for me to learn sign. I have a great teacher and he keeps me inspired. Thank you.

I am still learning so much. I continue to enjoy my class and lessons.

Great class.

Tony is so EXPERT and awesomely funny 👍 teaching ASL .
He is an ASSET to the whole world and in Take Lesson .
Thank you Rachael for putting Tony on the lists of teachers for ASL ..
He is the best !!

great session.

I am learning so much. I can even feel my confidence improving. Thanks for being awesome and helping me progress.


Fantastic and I learn so much.

Great lesson.

I continue to learn so much. I can see the growth. My teacher is so awesome.

I thoroughly enjoyed my class. I am really motivated by teacher to do well, learning sign.

Awesome class, my receptive skills and expressive skills are improving. My instructor is really awesome and I continue to learn so much.

My instructor is awesome and he motivates me to practice all the time. I work on my finger spelling when I am waiting in a business. My retention and memory has improved because I am motivated to practice. Thanks for being a great motivator.

Awesome, having so much fun. Even when I mess up, I still want to try. I have a thirst to learn as much vocabulary as I can. My instructor is awesome.

Super Great! I am learning so much. I practice vocabulary and the phrases I am learning often. I mean morning, noon and nigh. My instructor Rocks!!


Extremely nice & clear

He makes me want to work harder and practice because I am learning.

He was excellent and the class was great. He had the right chemistry and I felt that I found the teacher that was the best for me. His teaching style matched my learning style.

What a fantastic first lesson - it really charged me up and got me excited to keep learning ASL! I’m really looking forward to continuing learning with Tony! Absolutely recommend!

I really enjoy learning new languages, and I truly believe that having a great teacher is essential to success. Tony is AWESOME. He is so patient and kind. He really helps you understand why the signs are what they are and how the deaf community communicates even beyond signing. I am really enjoying our lessons and the 'homework' he assigns is fun and manageable. I highly recommend him!

Thank you Tony! This was a great first lesson.


Love Tony's energy! We are going to have a great time!

Fantastic. Got 5 lessons as a birthday gift, and by the fifth lesson, it was entirely in sign language! Tony is a great teacher with lots of patience and preparedness, I highly recommend him and I hope I can take more lessons with him in the future!


Just finished with my first lesson with Tony. Great guy; very personable! He explained some things I didn't know and encouraged me to keep at it. He also gave me some resources and helped me fine tune some of my signs. Wish we could talk more often. If you take a class with him, you won't be disappointed!!! Thanks Tony!
It was a great introductory lesson, and we are so excited to begin taking lessons with Tony!

Haven't been in a classroom in 45 years and this was my very first online class. I was very nervous. Tony was very patient and put me at ease right away.

Tony was friendly, fun and easy to learn from.
I had a wonderful first lesson and I look forward to more!





Very clear to understand, patient, encourages me to try instead of doing things for me. I'm walking away from my first lesson much further along than I would have expected and feeling very positive about the experience. Thanks, Tony!

Very patient, nonjudgmental, entertaining, useful logical conversational signs.

Thoroughly enjoyed my first lesson with Tony! His passion for the deaf community and ASL is absolutely contagious! He is patient, encouraging and thorough during the lesson. I’m so glad I chose him as an instructor and am more excited than ever to continue this journey in learning ASL!

Honestly, the best. Don't listen to anyone who gives this man under three stars: he is responsive, dedicated, profoundly knowledgeable about the language and culture, and is always looking to give more to his students. Tony is the best investment you could ever make for your ASl education.

There isn't a better teacher to learn ASL from. Tony Slate has been working with me for over 1 year on 1-1 sessions. After about 9-10 months, I was able to have a basic conversation in ASL and I became active in my local Deaf community. I've become friends with several Deaf neighbors and am really enjoying the hard work pay off now that I'm able to sign. Getting out there in public and signing with strangers was very scary but it really helped accelerate my learning and it's really fun. I highly recommend working with Mr. Slate.


Mr. Slate is a caring person that desires you to learn and love the language. I have really enjoyed my experiences with him and I have learned so many valuable skills. I would say that I have become a better signer because of his teaching style and dedication.

He has made the asl learning experience fun and easy. I have taken lessons from him for less than a year and I have a great understanding about the language and the culture that's revolved around it.
Mr.Slate is the all time best teacher! I have learned so much on such little time and from him I realize s that’s no one can say he isn’t a good teacher beacause if they didn’t that’s means they have no liking for animalsthank you.

Mr. Slate is fantabulous. He is an OUTSTANDING teacher and gives us all a good laugh.

Mr. Slate is the best teacher everrrrrrrrrrr. He is my favourite teacher in all my 13 years of life. Anyone who thinks of Mr. Slate as a bad teacher cannot be correct..at all. That's a big no no. Not okay. One of the best teachers ever and can never be thought otherwise. I understand very well because of him. Thank you. Bye bye

I have been working with Tony for over a year now and would recommend him to any person who wants to learn or practice ASL. Tony is very skilled at ASL, has lots of ways to help increase your personal skills, understands the regional differences in signs and strives to help people get a better understanding of a language he loves. He makes learning an enjoyable experience with his patience, knowledge and his humor.

before purchasing lessons, double think about it.

What a nightmare!!! I guess you can say we had a bad start. I purchased a 60 minute of 10 sessions with him. The first session he left 7 minutes early without any explanation. The 2nd and 3rd lesson I had with him he arrived late. (10 & 15 mins) When reading all his great reviews I question how I'm the only one that had problems. But good luck if you are reading reviews and sign up with him.

Tony does an amazing job of connecting with and working with his students to help them reach their goals at a comfortable speed. He keeps things fun and entertaining while continuing to meet and exceed my goals.


One of the best teacher's I have ever had. He is very informational and helps out in any way possible. The most qualified and the best teacher to have been taught ASL by! Have taken many lessons by him and definitely recommend having him teach you if you want to really truly learn the beautiful language of sign!

I am now fluent in ASL! Fantastic teacher :)

Best instructor ever! WOW! I learned so much! Would totally recommend to anyone needing help with study skills.


I just finished my first lesson with Tony and I am even more excited to pursue ASL now than before. Tony put me at ease right away. He is very personable, easy to talk to, and a great teacher. His passion for ASL is obvious and he teaches with excitement. I am so excited to pursue the next 14 weeks of classes!


Tony makes learning fun. He is very knowledgeable and kind. Very professional. I will be taking tutoring from him for a long time.

I am returning for lessons, and we have a great plan for my ASL learning.

Full immersion. Tony is THE BEST!

Always feel welcomed in his classes! He is very outgoing and I love that there is no talking. He is always patient and willing to answer any questions. Definitely the best instructor I've had.

I can't express just how awesome Tony is as an ASL instructor. He is patient, very knowledgable and fun to learn with. He has a strict "no voice" policy, but if you work hard for him, you will benefit greatly. Highly recommended instructor.



what an Awesome first experience! Cant wait until my next class!

I'm a shy person and I was nervous about taking a class as interactive as ASL. From the first time I joined one of Tony's TakeLessons Live classes, he encouraged me to get involved and kept things light and fun. Since then, I've begun taking one-on-one classes and I always come away with a smile on my face and a lot more knowledge than I went in with. Tony's great at adapting to your learning style and goals and he's very supportive and encouraging. You never feel bad for messing up or forgetting a sign. Each lesson is like having a quick visit with a friend, all while learning another language.

Tony's lessons helped me get into Gallaudet!

Very helpful and friendly, wants you to be successful while having a fun time learning. Easy to understand teaching style and very knowledgeable on the subject matter. Great teacher but an even better person. Tony=Goat

Tony is one of the best teachers I’ve ever had. He’s not like most teachers who just give you the answers and expect you to understand why is it that answer. He will deeply explains things with you and he will give you critiques. He also teaches in a variety of ways not like most teachers that they just do the same teaching stile all the time. He is just really a great teacher.

Tony slate is an amazing teacher. Unlike other teachers who might just give you the answers and not let you learn he makes you try to figure it out so that you can learn and if you cant figure it out then he steps in. Tony helps you learn signs teaches you about deaf culture he knows all about deaf people and deaf culture. I have been taking his class for 2 years now and i feel like i fully understand the language and can almost interpret!




As of the first lesson, very pleased with Tony. He is personable and has a great teaching style.




he is really going to help you learn ASL. He would really improve receding or beginning skills in sign language, and is a really well meaning person.

A few months ago I stumbled upon TAKE LESSONS website and found that there were several ASL instructors ready to teach me ASL in the privacy and comfort of my own home. The thought of learning from home sealed the deal! No driving to/from school. I read through the different instructor profiles and decided to sign up with Tony Slate. I’m so happy with my decision. Tony is very easy going and makes the lessons fun. In the 8 sessions I’ve had so far, I’ve learned enough to have mini signing conversations and Tony is also helping me to gain an understanding of Deaf culture. I’m planning on continuing for at least a year more and I’m even looking forward to attending some Deaf events in my local community. I wish I knew about Take Lessons years ago. I highly recommend Tony – 5 stars for sure!

Mr. Slate was not my first ASL instructor, but he did reinforce key aspects of ASL that made my foundation solid. He really takes the time to make sure each student is learning and try’s to figure out the best way to teach in order for the student to succeed. Thanks to Mr. Slate I was able to discover my passion for ASL.

Lessons with Tony are a wonderful way to learn and get practice. Tony matches his tutoring with the students needs and abilities and encourages growth in signing and fingerspelling skills. He makes the lessons stress free, fun and I look forward to more lessons with Tony.

OMG!!! My daughter’s first class was last night and she loved it!!! He’s passionate about what he does and so relatable to the kids. She’s currently take live lessons but we’re going to switch to the personal lessons.
God Bless You!


First lesson done, and can't wait for the next! Comfortable environment, easily understood, and very nice guy! I know I will learn a lot!

You da best

Tony was awesome as usual. We talked about the review words in my last current unit of my curriculum. He asked to help me with reviewing my recent test. We will go over my class notes next week.

Tony is very knowledgeable, kind, polite, punctual. I am learning vocab, sentence structure and deaf culture. Very happy.

Mr. Slate is one of the best teachers I have ever had! He is funny, kind and compassionate and he loves his students and is invested in making sure they succeed in his class. ASL has changed my life because of him and how he teaches us that it isn't just a language, but also a culture. He makes learning fun and therefore it allows me to do better in his class. He's awesome! Anyone would be blessed to have him as a teacher!

Mr. Slate is truly an amazing teacher! He is always willing to help his students and better his students in any way that he can and he keeps his classes fun and interesting. I have learned more ASL with him than I have with anyone else because he is constantly pushing me to do better and is very approachable if I have any questions or need extra help. He is very invested in his students and is very knowledgeable in ASL and is amazing at his job! Love him!

Tony is always punctual and reassuring. I sent him my syllabus and he will have a clear picture of where I am in my college class. Thank you.
Mr. Slate is one of the best teachers i’ve ever had. I went into ASL not expecting it to have such a big impact on me. It wasn’t just ASL that had the impact but Mr. Slate as well. Having someone so great in my life teaching me one of my favorite subjects is so amazing. If you are thinking about learning asl sign up with Mr. Slate now !!!

Mr. Slate has helped me advance my Sign Language skills far more than I could ever imagine. I went into his class just cause I didn’t want to take spanish. Little did I know that class was going to change my life forever. I recommend Mr. Slate to anyone and everyone. Definitely the best teacher I’ve ever had.

Mr. Slate is a pretty radical guy. I loved him as a teacher and as in a brother in God. He truly cares about his students and wants nothing else but their success in the classroom and in their personal relationship with Christ. He is always looking for ways to spice up his classes and brighten his students day. He was and will be my favorite teacher for a very long time.

Mr. Slate is awesome!! He helped me so much on my very first lesson and I am continuing to extend my signing ability every lesson! He is so so helpful!! He is the best ASL teacher!!

My first tutor session and it was incredibly helpful...I emailed him sentences I needed to confirm the sentence structure. It is for a presentation due this Wed. He had printed it and we got all the sentences covered. Thank you. #teamTonyASL

Learned a lot in only the first lesson!

Tony is awesome and I'm so excited to continue learning!

Tony is teaching ASL to my 6-year-old. He is so awesome with her. So patient and kind and such a great teacher. Highly recommend!


You're awesome!

We learned some basic ASL with Tony to help give us an extra way to communicate with our Hard of Hearing baby. Tony is extremely knowledgeable, is a fantastic teacher, and was a real pleasure to work with. When we want to learn more ASL, we'll definitely be signing up (pun intended) with Tony!


Mr. Slate is one of those teachers that you remember. He taught me in High School 8+ years ago. His teaching style doesn't simply lead to fact memorization, but to understanding subject matter on a deeper level. He is intelligent, funny, and most importantly, cares deeply about developing his students to get them to the next level.
Mr. Slate is passionate about teaching and his excitement transfers to his students. He is one of those teachers that manages to be everyone's favorite!

I highly recommend Tony Slate to anyone that is interested in improving in the services he provides. The foundation of my study skills and habits are based off everything he has taught me and helped me with. Without him I wouldn't have been able to make all A's, have one of the highest GPA's in my class and just feel extremely comfortable with anything I need to study. Tony Slate came highly recommended to me and I will highly recommend him to anyone else.

Mr. Slate is a virtuous man who invested his time in me outside of school to help mold my character during my youth. I would recommend him not only for his adept teaching skills in ASL but for his ability to communicate with clarity and dynamism to people at different stages of learning. A compassionate man with great interpersonal skills that bring learning to life!

Really efficient instructor and truly gets involved with students. Teaches with a passion

Tony is a great teacher and is very patient with his students. I took 3 years of classes from him and still remember a lot of what I learned from that time. Would highly recommend him as a teacher and person!
Great Christian man with a passion for teaching and cares about his students

Tony Slate is the reason I became a Deaf education teacher. Learning sign language from Tony was the best decision I have made. I learn under Tony for about three years while I was in high school. I firmly believe that my signing skills would not be where they are today if it was not for him. When I began college my signing skills were easily above the majority of the students begins at the same or even higher level than me. I would recommend lessons from Tony to any one that wants to learn American Sign Language. He is dedicated, passionate and knownadlage.

Tony (Mr. Slate) was a huge influence on me during my high school years. He cares more about his students than any other teacher I've had. He is one of those special teachers you never forget, and I am so thankful to have known him! You rock, Tony!

Tony is clear with his teaching style and encourages progress from your current level. He is also a great example of not only instructing, but modeling the importance of genuine relationships within the ASL/deaf community.

Tony is an amazing guy! I've never seen someone as selfless and caring in their teaching as him. I am honored for Tony to be my mentor and friend and could not recommend him enough! Love him!


My daughter loved her lesson! Not to mention Mr. Slate was my ASL teacher in high school, I see his awesomeness has not faded!

Tony is a great teacher.... lessons show he has a true passion to teach ASL. Can not say how impressed I am with what my daughter has learned in such little time.

Tony teaches from the heart. Tony has given my child the confidence he needs to succeed while teaching him ASL. He has picked up so quickly and I am constantly amazed at what he has learned. I can't say enough good things about the way Tony interacts with students to make them feel like they can accomplish anything they set their mind to. We are grateful to have him in our child's life. We highly recommend him to friends and family.

Amazing teacher!

Tony's one of the nicest, patient and excited people I've met. He puts his all into his projects and clients and anyone who works with Tony is going to find their real potential.

Tony is one of the best teachers I have ever had!

Tony's heart and skill level cannot be matched. I recommend him without reservation!

Excellent instructor & very down to earth. My son had Mr. Slate as a HS teacher & he says he is one of his favorite teachers- hands down. He was able to learn ASL bey quickly under his instruction.

Mr.Slate is probably the best teacher I've ever had. He does the above and beyond to help you academically. Mr.Slate does his best to make sure every student is treated well. You will the best experience in his class .

I was pleased to be Tony's first principal. His knowledge of subject matter and interest in his students was exemplary. He was a devoted teacher who had an enthusiasm for all aspects of his responsibilities and that zeal seemed to radiate toward those around him. I would highly recommend him and have little doubt but that you'd find him eager to meet the needs of any student. If you are looking for an instructor who will make a difference, look no further!

The most caring teacher a student can ever ask for. Mr. Slate pushes his students to a higher level than the rest but does so in a way that makes the students enjoy themsleves and learn better.

Tony is a patient teacher who loves his subject and his students. He loves to teach, and truly gets excited when he sees his students "getting it". He is a rare teacher because he is so connected personally to the subject and to every student. He is a great encourager and motivator, and he is extremely skilled in ASL. This is no "side job" for him. He is devoted to the deaf community, and part of that devotion is teaching hearing folks to communicate with the community he loves so much. If you want to learn ASL, you will not be disappointed with Tony.
Photos & Videos
10 Photos & VideosExperience
Department Head and ASL I, II, III, IV Teacher
Aug 2015 - PresentChristian Academy
ASL Teacher and Department Head of World Languages. Mentor and Eagle Week Mission Trip Leader to Jamaica Deaf Schools. ASL Honor Society Sponsor
Department Head/AVID Coordinator/ASL I, II Teacher
Aug 2012 - May 2015Elkins HS
ASL Teacher and AVID Teacher helping students reach their full potential academically. Regularly taught test taking and note taking strategies, critical thinking skills and mentor to other teachers.
Teacher
Aug 2001 - May 2011Fort Bend Baptist Academy
ASL Teacher Levels I-V
Teacher
Aug 1996 - May 2001Westbury Christian School
Education
BS Art education; ASL
Aug 1991 - May 1996Harding University
Languages
ASL
Fluent / Native Proficiency
BSL
Limited Proficiency
Certifications
ASL Texas Teacher Certification
May 2012State Board of Education (Texas Education Agency)
ASLTA Provisional Certifcation
Jan 2007ASLTA
Awards
Teacher of the Year Nominee
Apr 2015Elkins HS (FBISD)
Teacher of the Year
May 1998Westbury Christian School
Affiliations
American Sign Language Teachers Association
Aug 2006Let Our Student Counselors Help You
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