workshopS
Interested in an American Sign Language workshop? Learn more below, and feel free to contact us with any questions.
All workshops CEU eligible.
ENHANCE YOUR ASL
DESCRIPTION:
This workshop helps participants develop both expressive and receptive ASL skills by exploring classifiers, non-manual markers, fingerspelling, and other key features of ASL grammar. Designed for learners at all levels, it supports those strengthening foundational skills as well as those challenging themselves to refine and enhance their current abilities, integrating core ASL concepts into clear, expressive signed messages.
EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES:
By the end of this workshop, participants will identify key ASL features, including classifiers, fingerspelling, and non-manual markers, in relation to the signs being used. Participants will incorporate these features to convey intended meaning accurately when interpreting between ASL and English. Participants will recognize and extrapolate meaning from ASL source material and apply these strategies to produce accurate and expressive signed messages from English material.
BUILDING FLUENCY
THROUGH FINGERSPELLING
DESCRIPTION:
This workshop focuses on strengthening the core skills of ASL fingerspelling: accuracy, speed, and flow. Participants will explore how clear handshapes, smooth transitions, and rhythmic movement work together to support effective comprehension and production. Through guided practice and targeted exercises, we’ll revisit and strengthen the foundational components of fingerspelling.
EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES:
By the end of this workshop, participants will demonstrate accurate ASL fingerspelling through consistent handshapes, orientation, and smooth letter transitions. Participants will utilize strategies to increase fingerspelling speed while maintaining clarity and accuracy across a variety of communicative settings. Participants will develop greater control and consistency in fingerspelling, supporting clearer and more effective communication across a range of signing contexts.
STORIES IN MOTION:
VISUAL VERNACULAR
DESCRIPTION:
This interactive workshop helps participants explore and experiment with Visual Vernacular (VV) in ASL. We’ll examine differences between conversational ASL, performance ASL, classifiers, and VV, while practicing strategies to create visually rich concepts and effectively use 3D signing space. Designed for all levels, participants will build accuracy, expressiveness, and creativity in their signed messages.
EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES:
By the end of this workshop, participants will examine the differences between conversational ASL and performance-based ASL. Participants will distinguish classifiers from Visual Vernacular, identifying their distinct purposes and uses. Participants will extrapolate key details from images and text to visually depict source material in ASL and apply these strategies to their own work in order to visually depict the source material in ASL.
EXPRESSIONS IN ACTION:
ENHANCING ASL WITH NMMS
DESCRIPTION:
This workshop focuses on improving the accuracy, clarity, and expressiveness of non-manual markers in ASL. Participants will practice integrating facial expressions, head movements, and body language to enhance meaning and communication. Designed for all levels, this session provides strategies to strengthen control and consistency, supporting more effective and natural signed interactions.
EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES:
By the end of this workshop, participants will accurately identify the scope of non-manual markers in relation to the signs being used. Participants will apply non-manual markers to convey the intended meaning in both ASL production and English interpretation. Participants will demonstrate increased control and consistency of non-manual markers, supporting clearer and more expressive communication in varied conversational and professional settings.
BEYOND THE SIGN:
CLASSIFIERS IN ACTION
DESCRIPTION:
This workshop focuses on understanding and using ASL classifiers to represent size, shape, movement, and location in sign language. Participants will explore how classifiers add precision, detail, and visual indicators to ASL, enhancing both clarity and expressiveness. Designed for all levels, this session provides strategies to accurately select and apply classifiers, improving fluency and effectiveness when describing actions, objects, and spatial relationships in a variety of communicative contexts.
EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES:
By the end of this workshop, participants will extrapolate key details from images and text in order to visually depict the source material in ASL. Participants will select and apply appropriate classifiers to accurately represent size, shape, movement, and spatial relationships. Participants will demonstrate increased control and consistency in using classifiers, supporting clearer, more expressive, and visually precise signed messages.