Communicating with the Deaf in Emergency Situations (ASL 010)

The 9-hour (3 evenings) Workshop will introduce participants to strategies and techniques for effective communication with the Deaf in emergency situations. Participants will learn the ASL alphabet, basic sign language and communication strategies to be able to calm, reassure, assess and obtain contact and other necessary information. You will also learn about Deaf Culture in order to have a better understanding of how to communicate with individuals in the Deaf community. Participants will have an opportunity to apply what is learned in practice scenarios. At the end of the workshop, participants will receive a Humber College Certificate of Participation. This workshop is beneficial for first responders, Heathcare professionals and the general public. It is designed for participants with minimal or no previous knowledge of American Sign Language (ASL).

Course Content:
This course runs over three days and consists of 9 hours of lessons.

1. Alphabet and Numbers; Names and Occupations; Deaf Culture
2. Facial Expressions with WH-Questions and Yes/No Questions; Deaf Culture
3. Emergency Signs
4. Signs for Police, EMS/Nurse/Doctor and Firefighter Vocabulary
5. Signs for Places
6. Emergency Signs related to Conversational Phrases and Practice
7. Non-Manual Signals and Contrastive Structure
8. Practice Emergency Scenarios
9. Final Review

Watch the video on "Communicating with the Deaf in Emergency Situations". 

Communicating with the Deaf: Working with Young Children (ASL 020)

This five-hour interactive workshop will introduce participants to how to use American Sign Language (ASL) in educational settings with young children (early childhood learning centres, kindergarten and preschool classes, etc.). Participants will learn strategies and techniques to use with deaf and hard-of-hearing children. They will also develop skills for interacting with deaf parents and family members. The ASL alphabet, numbers, basic sign language words, phrases and sentences to use when communicating with deaf children will be taught in the workshop. These skills will assist in breaking down barriers and encourage interactions between deaf, hard-of-hearing and hearing children. Participants will also spend time learning about Deaf culture in order to have a better understanding of how to communicate with individuals in the Deaf community. Participants will have the opportunity to apply what they have learned in practice scenarios. No previous knowledge of Sign Language is required to take this workshop. At the end of the workshop, participants will receive a Humber College Certificate of Participation.

Supporting 2SLGBTQIA+ Employees in the Workplace (EDIQ 112)

This is a 5-hour online synchronous workshop which provide learners with knowledge and skills to better support 2SLGBTQIA+ employees/populations in the workplace. Learners will review key legislation in Ontario that protects 2SLGBTQIA+ communities from discrimination and harassment in the workplace and the important historical decisions that led to this protection. Learners will consider the range of individual and organizational motivations for supporting 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusion at work, including barriers to greater inclusion. Learners will also review and practice using cultural assessment tools used to measure 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusion in the workplace.

Learning outcomes:

1. Identify human rights of employees in the workplace.
2. Identify, question, and assess deeply-held assumptions – about our knowledge, the way we perceive events and issues, our beliefs, feelings, and actions.
3. Select the appropriate assessment, with consideration given to the reliability, validity, inclusivity, objectivity and practicality of the tool.
4. Apply Cultural Assessment Tools that reviews perceptions of the organization's values, communication, leadership, work-life balance, and overall work environment.

Working with 2SLGBTQIA+ Communities (EDIQ 111)

This is a 5-hour online synchronous workshop which provides learners with the knowledge and skills to support members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community in a variety of contexts. The workshop will contextualize how systemic discrimination, fueled by negative stereotypes and prejudice work to produce unfair outcomes for 2SLGBTQIA+ communities. Learners will be introduced to suicide screening methods, principles of “brief intervention” and ways to create brave spaces for greater inclusion. Learners will develop foundational levels of micro-skills in active listening, summarizing, and reflecting in a 2SLGBTQIA+ culturally responsive context.

Learning outcomes:

1. Acknowledge the need to understand a client’s life experiences to provide effective service to improve engagement, outcomes, and overall wellness.
2. Understand how early identification and screening of clients at high risk for suicide can play a key role in suicide.
3. Acknowledge, understand and appropriately respond to a diversity of cultures/identities when providing service.
4. Use skills like summarizing and reflecting to demonstrate understanding not only the content of what is being said, but also the emotions present and the body language.
5. Identify, question, and assess deeply-held assumptions – about our knowledge, the way we perceive events and issues, our beliefs, feelings, and actions.

Simultaneous Interpretation Workshop (LITC 001)

In the Simultaneous interpretation Workshop, the Simultaneous interpreter will refresh their skills in reproducing the speech in the target language as it is being delivered in the source language, through simulations, role plays and audio/visual exercises. Subsequent to the brief theory overview, participants will practice the flowing preparatory skills: active listening, shadowing, memory exercises and self-evaluation. Based on exposure to exercises, participants will refresh their skills by practicing and using simultaneous interpreting techniques drawn from their previous courses and field experiences, in various settings and contexts.

Learning outcomes:

1. Demonstrate knowledge of the skills required for simultaneous interpretation.
2. Demonstrate development of the preparatory skills for simultaneous interpretation.
3. Analyze simultaneous interpreting practice with a view to recognizing errors and developing strategies for improvement.
4. Perform simultaneous interpreting.

Consecutive Interpretation Workshop (LITC 002)

Following a brief refresher of the theoretical framework underlying the process of consecutive interpreting, this workshop focuses on the development of advanced skills essential to the task of effective interpreting including memory, comprehension and vocabulary building. Consecutive interpreting exercises are incorporated throughout the workshop to analyze and improve practice.

Learning outcomes:

1. Demonstrate advanced development of listening and memory retention in the context of consecutive interpreting.
2. Analyze interpreting practice with a view to recognizing errors and developing strategies for improvement.
3. Demonstrate additional vocabulary development related to specific contexts.
4. Integrate consecutive interpreting skills in simulated role play situations.