Begin with the first lesson, if the program has directed lessons. Begin with word groups if no organized lessons exist. Choose a specific number of new signs to add each time you sit down with the video. The number of words will depend on your time and memory retention.
Watch the signer perform the signs. Pay attention to the shape of the hand, where the sign is made in reference to the body and the motion of the sign if the sign includes movement. Watch to see if the sign has relevance or a clue to its meaning. For example, "learn" mimics taking something out of the hand and moving it to the forehead, just as you would take knowledge from a source and move it from the source to memory.
Watch the signer sign the word several times before replicating it. Watch the face at least once, as some signs also have facial component. For example, with emotion words like "surprise" and "fear," the signer's face will express the emotion.
Replicate the sign and say it aloud the first time as you watch signer do it. Pattern yourself as a mirror image of the signer.
Close your eyes and feel the way the sign is made as you sign and say it. Continue this two to three times before signing it to yourself in a mirror. Your sign should appear exactly like the signer. Make adjustments to your signing as needed.
Repeat this pattern with each word in your lesson. Every three or four words, review the words you have already done, adding the new words at the end of the list.
Jot down the clues for your words so you will remember them later. Look up the words in books like "The Joy of Signing," "The American Sign Language Dictionary" or "American Sign Language The Easy Way" for more ideas on the clues behind the sign.
Practice the words several times a day before moving on to the next lesson. Do them in different order each time.
Understand that ASL structure doesn't follow spoken English. ASL is a concept language, and some words have no sign and some signs may mean several similar words. "American Sign Language The Easy Way" has detailed information on syntax. Watch the fluid signing of complete sentences and thoughts by a competent signer to get a feel for the language construction. Watch signed music as another way to assimilate this.