Communication Skills Workshop

  • CSW 2023 July 9-28, 2023 registration deadline June 6, 2023
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  • Communication Skills Workshop (CSW) provides sign language skill improvement sessions in an immersive and interactive environment during one of its three 4 - day workshops in July. 

    CSW participants will have the opportunity to:

    • Improve their expressive and receptive signed communication skills
    • Interact with deaf, hard of hearing, and hearing professionals 
    • Learn more about deaf culture and the deaf community
    • Be exposed to the difference between American Sign Language (ASL) and English Sign Systems 


    In small-group classroom instruction or large-group settings, participants will find the topics and activities challenging and fun! Instructors are deaf and hard of hearing professionals or certified interpreters. Certified interpreters are highly qualified, holding BEI Level IV, V, or Masters certification.

  • CSW Schedule

    CSW is a four-day workshop with 16 sessions. The conference-style schedule allows participants to attend all possible sessions. Session topics and activities vary and may include, but are not limited to: 
     

    ASL Grammar and Structure

    Deaf Culture

    Facial Grammar

    Sign Language Games

    CASE (Conceptually Accurate
    Signed English)     

    Fingerspelling

    Sign Vocabulary Building

    Mouth Morphemes

    Classifiers and Directionality

    Number Incorporation

    Conversational Strategies

    Use of Space

    Discourse Analysis

    Deaf Humor

    Idioms and ASL Phrases

    Educational Vocabulary

    Sight Translations

    Code of Professional Conduct for Interpreters

     

    Participants have an opportunity to take a self-assessment tool that helps them choose the sessions that best suit their language development goals. Optional evening activities on special topics are offered. View the example Schedule

  • Workshop Participation

    Funding is provided through an IDEA-B discretionary grant through Texas Sensory Support Network at Texas Education Agency and program support from the Texas School for the Deaf. Due to the grant requirements, only the following individuals can participate in CSW:

    • Parents of deaf and hard of hearing children in early childhood through grade 12
    • Certified & Non-Certified Interpreters working in K-12 settings in Texas
    • Interpreter-Aides
    • American Sign Language Teachers
    • Deaf Education Teachers


    Participants are expected to attend and participate in all activities and workshops.

    Click on each icon below to learn which group most closely fits you.

    Participation Categories

    Parents of deaf and hard of hearing children in PIP - grade 12

    Certified and Non-Certified Interpreters working in K-12 setting in Texas

    		American Sign Language Teachers Deaf Education Professionals