Will it be useful to learn ASL fingerspelling?

I understand your question perfectly fine. The answer is ABSOLUTELY. First off, I am sorry that you do not know any deaf people and I am really impressed that you are interested in learning sign language. Seeking and asking on yahooanswers is the best thing to do which is really weird cause I am deaf myself, not kidding. Lol. That gives you the perfect opportunity to get the best answer directly from a deaf person, myself. Now, ill give you some of the reasons why fingerspelling is a good start. Actually, it is a MUST first step to learn because in some sign language there are form of letters using for that sign like "try" there is a letter "t" used for that word "try". Not all signs are using with letters now a days since most people are using pure american sign language with classifieds instead of using the english form which it uses "to" "the" "or" "and"... It makes it exaggerate longer. ASL is faster, simpler, and quicker... My daughter who is 4 years old, she has been signing the alphabet everyday A to Z and says now I know my abcs will u sing with me? So cute. She will be fluent in sign language later on cause she learned the alphabet first. Remember, its all about patience and how motivated you are and you'll do good in the long run. Sign language is very easy! You'll do more than great actually! :)