Brenda Liebman Aron  -- from Bellevue, Washington -- she has presented previously

What Are Those X#$*& Signs? Introducing ASL Expressions Part I -- for advanced/interpreters to be offered Friday period 1 and for intermediates Saturday period 7
       There are a great many ASL expressions that do not always have equivalent English words in translation however those are frequently used expressions by ASL signers. This workshop introduces participants to those expressions, their meaning and how these are used in context. 55 ASL expressions of slang and colloquialisms will be introduced in Part 1.

“How Do You Express That in ASL?" -- two hours – to be offered Friday periods 5-6 for advanced/interpreters
       Using segments of short stories in English, Participants will learn and choose best techniques in applying ASL classifiers, spatialization, role-shifting and non-manual signals  to express concepts and ideas.

“Funny in Deaf, About Deaf Humor” – to be offered Saturday period 9 for intermediates and period 10 for advanced/interpreters
      Participants will be introduced to four categories of Deaf Humor, along with several examples. Participants will learn and understand about the kinds of Deaf humor.

Jon Barr – new presenter -- President of  Silent Word Ministries from Georgia:

"Interpreting Sensitive & Difficult Topics in Scripture" – to be offered Friday period 1 for advanced/interpreters
       Many interpreters feel inadequate interpreting the Bible into Sign Language.  This workshop discusses strategies and solutions for interpreting hard-to-understand verses and passages in the Bible, Biblical subjects that could be considered offensive in today’s culture, and archaic wording in the Bible.  The following topics will be discussed:  Archaic Wording, Prophesy, Slaughter, Sexual Matters, Subjects Differing from Interpreter's Viewpoint or Society's Norm, Strategies to Accurately Interpret These Topics.

Marta Belsky and Brenda Cartwright – new presenters --  from Michigan State University co-presenting

Trix Bruce  -- she has been with us the past several Silent Weekends

ASL Slangs – to be offered Friday period 4 for intermediates
          Write English slang and show how to convert English slang into ASL slang. Demonstrate English Slang and ASL Slang and discuss their differences. Also show how specific ASL slang is used to convey accurate concept using appropriate facial expressions. Will have participants do short hands-on tasks.

Computer Terminology – to be offered Saturday period 12 for advanced/interpreters
         Demonstrate useful computer terminology and explain why the sign is formed. List of variety of computer terms and how it is used in accurate concept. Variety of signs is applied such as E-mail, CD-burn, Internet, etc. Have audience involved by giving the terms to presenter then presenter will demonstrate the signs.

Concept vs. Context – may be offered if space opens up
          Why do some signs have more than one meaning? A better question for audience to ask is, “Why are there so many words in English that means the same thing?” Wondering why signs have more than one meaning most likely results from matching one English word to just one ASL sign. Rather than thinking this way, try to understand the meaning of a concept, whether it is an ASL sign or an English word. Display variety of English concepts and context is translated into ASL.                                 

Culture Sensitivity – to be offered Friday period 5 for intermediates
           Discuss the analogy of two different cultures – hearing and deaf. Learning ASL is not sufficient to be part of Deaf culture. Thus, culture is essential to understand why Deaf people use specific signs to reflect the true meaning. Give examples of variety of culture sensitivity.                                        

Drug Vocabulary 101 – to be offered Friday period 6 for intermediates 
          Demonstrate list of drugs and have a specific word choices to apply the accurate concept. Give examples if specific signs that are used in a setting environment such as formal and informal conversation. Have audience come up with drug words and presenter will provide the accurate signs.                                      

Mathematical Terminology – to be offered Saturday period 11 for advanced/interpreters         
         Can’t image to sign mathematical terms in front of a math student and teacher where you feel you are lacking knowledge in mathematics? You don’t have to become an “expert” in mathematics to interpret. Demonstrate Algebra, trigonometry, geometry, calculus, and differential equations terminology into ASL visually and explicitly. Encourage audience to participate and see if they can be creative with signs. 
                                                                        
Sex Vocabulary 101  -- to be offered Saturday period 10 to advanced/interpreters
          The signs shown in this session will enhance your ability to identify and understand specific word choices that are not used in normal daily conversation. This session can be used by anyone who has a strong sign language foundation and is looking to heighten their awareness of explicit sexual signs to facilitate communication between individuals/groups in Medical/Interpreting fields. Most courses in Interpreting Training Programs (ITP) may not include these specific necessary terms in their curriculum. You will enjoy these provocative and sexually explicit signs as they are presented in this presentation.                                        

Topic comment???  Rhetorical questions???  What is all this??? – to be offered Friday period 3 to beginners
        This class is for beginners who know how to sign in ASL, but now would like to advance those skills.  We will focus on signing more fluently and using grammatical principles used by the deaf.  Once again, verbal instruction will be given.

Conceptual Accuracy…HUH?!?!?  You mean I can’t sign my nose is running? – to be offered Friday period 4 to beginners
          This class will focus on teaching the conceptual inaccuracies of the English language and how to translate that to ASL.  For example, I will explain how to translate:  my nose is running, I feel blue, coffee break, and I’m onto you.   Also, we will go over deaf idioms.  Yes, there will be verbal instruction.

Classifiers…Making ASL so much more efficient and beautiful. – to be offered Saturday period 7 to beginners
         In this class, you will learn what a classifier is and how to use them.  You will cut down on your signing time and sign much more clearly.  Plus, it’s TONS OF FUN!!!!!  Do you have to ask????

Putting it all together… Signing without talking or mouthing!!!!! – to be offered Saturday period 8 to beginners
         This class will focus on conversational ASL and bring everything that has been taught in the 4 previous classes together.  You will get individualized practice signing with a partner. 

Peter Cook – from Chicago -- after missing the last two Silent Weekends --- he’s back!

Kris DaCosta – new presenter – teaches ASL at a high school in Virginia

Focus on Fingerspelling – to be offered Friday period 4 for beginners
        It will help make receptive skills easier in fingerspelling based on how the way the fingers are moved when fingerspelling.   If you practice fingerspelling on your own, it is possible that the kinesthetic message of fingerspelling from the hand to the brain can establish a visual memory. The more often you fingerspell words that are commonly fingerspelled, the more likely you are to be able to read it when it is fingerspelled to you.

Various Groups of Signed Words that have More Than One Meaning in ASL – to be offered Saturday periods 9-10 for intermediates
        You will realize that ASL offers more meanings in phrases while English phrases usually  have limited meanings.  After focusing on two or three different groups of brief phrases which are expressed with one same signed word but are different in its own meaning in expression that usually occurred in ASL.

Frequently Overlooked, But Vital Signs (Signs that are directly influenced by context) – to be offered Friday periods 5-6 for advanced/interpreters
         It will help you pick up many  new signs that are rarely seen in ASL I-IV classes.  These signs or phrases occur within the context of ASL discourse.  It generally follows either the grammatical link or the narrator’s own personal opinion or emotion in a negative or positive manner.  It can be just facial expression and/or mouthing alone without the signed word, a kind of derivational approach.

Analysis, Expression and Translation in Comparison from English Brief Narrative into ASL  -- to be offered Saturday periods 7-8 for advanced/interpreters
        Interpreters who are trying to translate from an English idiom into ASL expressions tend to still interpret in English manner. This is a workshop  to understand and practice their ability to transliterate hearing idioms into ASL. 

Mike Ernest – a returning presenter – former Interpreter Training Program in Tampa's Director, now from Virginia

Renee Jackson – a returning presenter –  Her presentations are geared to those in the deaf ministry.

Bible Pictures – to be offered Friday period 2 for intermediates and advanced/interpreters  

      You DON'T have to be a "good" signer to learn from this class...push yourself to the edge.  Come join us!

Conceptual Accuracy and Idioms – to be offered Saturday periods 9-10 for beginners
       Most beginning signer become confused and frustrated because they cannot think of or recall the sign for a particular word.  Hearing minds tent to rely on their native which is based on sound and is not a conceptual language.   ASL is not a word for word system of communication.  ASL is a CONCEPTUAL system.   Individuals who want to become skilled singers must become conceptual signers and not WORD signers.   In this class we will take a good look the meaning of CONCEPTURAL ACCURACY and learn ways to train the mind to SEE rather then HEAR.    Join us for the fun as we also throw in a few English idioms to make that signed word for  word will blow your mind !!!!

Conceptual Accuracy in a Church Setting  -- to be offered Saturday period 11 for intermediates and advanced/interpreters
        How many concepts are there in the scripture for the word “glory”?   Are you using the same sign for all of them?  What about phrases like: “the carnal mind”, ‘without a vision men parish” or “be ye not unequally yoked together”   How many concepts for simple words like sleep, dead, or though can you find in the scripture.  We will examine both words and biblical phrases in this class.  Knowing and understand scriptural concepts is vital for those who want to give a clear message.  As the scripture says, “If the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself for the battle”.  If you want to "tune up your  trumpet" this is the class to take.

Teaching Bible Study to the Deaf – to be offered Friday period 6 for 90 minutes for intermediates and advanced/interpreters
       I started teaching bible study to Deaf individuals 18 years ago and during those 18 years the Deaf have taught me as I taught them.  In this class I will be sharing with you what both God and the Deaf themselves have taught me.  
Such as: 
1.  How the Deaf view the bible.
2.  Tips on teaching Deaf bible study.
3.  Necessary tools you can’t do without.
This class is a must for those who work in Deaf Ministry
. 
Deaf Ministry vs. Successful Deaf Ministry  --  to be offered Sunday at 9:10 a.m. for all levels
     This class will either move you or anger you.  I will share with you some facts that have been confirmed to me by both the Lord and my experience of 27 years in this Ministry.   If you feel like you are spinning your wheels and getting no where in your ministry this class is for you.
       Why is it that only 1 or 2 % of the Deaf population goes to church???
       Why is it that when they do go we don’t always see a life change????
       How do the Deaf view the church????
       How do I go from Deaf Ministry to SUCCESSFUL DEAF MINISTRY!!!
      What constitutes a SUCCESSFUL DEAF MINISTRY???

Animal Crackers for Intermediates (topic comment & descriptive classifiers) – to be offered Friday period 1 for intermediates.
        Remember the fun you had with the furry folk when you were learning wh-questions?  Well, now you can even more fun!  This hands-on workshop will cover descriptive classifiers and topic/comment sentences ... and have a warm fuzzy while we're at it.

Animal Crackers for Advanced (classifier predicates) – to be offered if space opens up
       What happens when Bambi meets Smokey?  Well, now’s your chance to find out!  This hands-on workshop will cover narratives, role shifting, and classifier predicates ... and have a warm fuzzy while we're at it.

Out With The English, In With The ASL – to be offered Friday periods 3-4 for advanced/interpreters
        This is an interpreting level workshop.  Participants will look at a technical script (i.e. Polar Bears in Alaska or Hummingbirds West of the Continental Divide) written in English and, working collaboratively, will develop strategies for translating and signing the material in ASL.

PMS in ASL – to be offered Friday periods 5-6 for advanced/interpreters
        PSM in ASL?  It’s definitely not what you think!  Phonology, Morphology, & Syntax – the building blocks & structural components of any language can help you improve your signing skills and nary a cramp!  Come find out just how simple (and fun!) linguistics can be at this combination lecture/hands-on workshop! .. two hours for advanced/interpreters

Crom Saunders  -- a returning presenter from Sacramento, California

Ronnie Mae Tyson – a new presenter – a former Miss Black Deaf America

Confession of a Miss Black Deaf America – to be offered Saturday period 10 for advanced/interpreters
       The Deaf Ugly Duckling, Confessions of a Miss Black Deaf American.  Growing up, ridiculed, because of my looks and socially ignorance.  Even at the Deaf school, I was an odd ball.  Come and see the rest of my story.

Black Deaf Culture – to be offered Saturday period 7 for advanced/interpreters
        Famous "Educated" Black Deaf Americans.  Yes, we have some well educated black Deaf Americans with Phds, performers, lawyer, etc.  Can share my experience recruiting in the south for NTID, how students flipped out when they saw me, a Black Deaf Lady travelling alone in Mississippi, etc.  I will list famous black Deaf Americans who can be invited to present during Black History month, talk a little about NBDA and NAOBI, etc.

Who Said Deaf People Don't like Music? – to be offered Friday period 3 for intermediates and advanced/interpreters
       Deaf people like Music -- songs signed conceptually accurate. I have always enjoyed music and was involved in Dance and Theatre during college days, Prism and Company, and was a member of First Coast Signing Theatre in Jacksonville, Florida during the late 80's, I am a  music lover indeed, including Broadway, old school, and inspiritational/Christian.
       Yes, we do, especially Black Deaf people, do you ever wonder why not many black Deaf don't show up at the Deaf clubs?  Because there is no music!

Spirit Filled Church, from Depression to Deliverance – to be offered Friday period 4 intermediate and advanced/interpreters
        This workshop is about how YOU can overcome depression.  Will share personal experience of being in a hearing church for nearly 18 yrs without an interpreter.  Share the importance of church interpreting, how two support groups formed to help spiritual growth of Deaf women, Virtuous Women bible study and Sisters for Christ.  Purpose being to help ASL students and interpreters enhance their skills.

        For opening night, she will do a song, Cabaret.  The song goes like..."what good is it sitting alone in your room, come to the Cabaret,  life is a Cabaret old chum, come to the Cabaret....I may change th words and sign, come to my ASL workshop, get rid of the English, PSE and SEE, now it is time for ASL, etc. (put down the knitting, book and broom, time for a holiday), etc.

Improv – can't I just make it up? – to be offered Saturday period 11 for intermediates and period 12 for beginners.
       Interactive Improv games to improve your confidence in using everything you have to be understood by the other person.  Hands, Arms, Legs, and those faces…just make it up..interpreters do!

Signaoake!  -- to be offered Friday periods 5-6 for intermediates and Saturday periods 9-10 for advanced.
         Come discover your ASL performer inside and play with songs. Along with Keith Wann learn to 'listen' to the song and decide how you will portray it on your hands, body and face. Discuss the artist's intent and the message meant for the audience. Come discover edutainment- a fun way to learn!'

Using ASL to Sign Songs – to be offered Friday period 4 for all levels.
       Discussing the use of ASL and how it applies to sign choices for songs.  Discussion and hands on practice to define the meanings of the song and how to portray it as either a character or classifier influenced theme to show meaning and intention of the artist and/or the listener. 

       Many workshops on this subject have talked about singing choices without taking into consideration the cultural impact that is involved or even missed when the song itself is not consider including the artist’s intention and his/her story behind it.  Popular culture will be also discussed in how the listener expects certain frozen register to help identify the song. 

      The workshop will involve some comedy as performance pieces from the show “My Experience…Different” are analyzed along with other popular songs. 

Jon Ziev – a returning presenter – he’s a professional conference planner also.

“Deaf idioms, How to Translate That?” – to be presented Friday periods 1-2 for advanced/interpreters
       Participants will learn how to change conceptually accurate transliterating Deaf idioms into visually exciting and appropriate interpreting through games, observation, brainstorming and “hands on” practice.

“Hearing Idioms, How to Translate That” – to be presented Saturday periods 7-8 for advanced/interpreters
       Participants will learn how to change conceptually accurate transliterating hearing idioms into visually exciting and appropriate interpreting through games, observation, brainstorming and “hands on” practice.

Click this link to see last year's topics.