ASL with April

Flashback Friday: The first time I interpreted for the Academy Awards (Oscars) in 2022 💛💛

It was a humbling and honorable experience to work with such amazing people.



Photo description: April in a yellow dress, showing different facial expressions across various background settings. Short video clip of her son pointing at the TV screen while April is interpreting.

When you're interpreting Black history, April wants you to know about these two different signs.

Learn more about interpreting for Black history, including how to sign events and historical figures -- and some BASL signs too. Enroll for $20 in the self-paced online course "How to Interpret Black History" at signplaying.com (or signplaying.thinkific.com). You will earn a Certificate of Completion and 0.1 PPO RID CEUs. 100% of your payment (after taxes) goes directly to April Jackson-Woodard.

IMAGE DESCRIPTION: There are two screens. The person on the top screen is wearing red long sleeves. The person on the bottom screen is wearing blue long sleeves. The title says "Tip for interpreting Black history / @ ASLwithApril".

TRANSCRIPT:

[There are two screens. The person on the top screen is wearing red long sleeves. The person on the bottom screen is wearing blue long sleeves. The title on top says "@ ASLwithApril".]

Signplaying: When it comes to interpreting for Black history topics, what are two words that we must be intentional in signing?

April: I would say uprising and riot. Uprising is an event that's taking place and we're now working towards a common goal. Whereas a riot is an event and it's negative. But the sign itself, you have to take a look. There is an online course readily available that will teach you more.

[Video cuts to a montage of various clips showing the website. The title changes from "Online course" to "Black history events" to "Black ASL (BASL) signs" to "Vocabulary" to "Final Exam" to "Earn PPO RID CEUs" to "Get a certificate" to "Enroll today at signplaying.com" to "100% of your payment (after taxes) goes directly to instructor April Jackson-Woodard".

As an ASL interpreter, it's important for you to have the ability to translate things without prior rehearsal. Like in this video, April did a cold "reading" of an English paragraph about the Underground Railroad. Notice how April naturally incorporated roleshifting and spatial mapping in her impromptu interpretation to effectively communicate Black history.

Learn more about how to interpret for Black History Month. April will give a Zoom session to teach you at least 10 BASL signs and to train everyone, especially educational interpreters, to accurately interpret topics related to Black History month, including vignettes about famous Black historical figures and terminology related to Black culture.

The Zoom session happens at 5-6 p.m. ET Sunday, Jan. 25. If you register, you will also receive a video-recording so that you can prepare for interpreting Black History Month topics that may come up in the classroom. (The video recording will only show the presentation, but the Q&A part will not be video-recorded.)

You will earn a Certificate of Completion and 0.1 RID CEUs in the PPO category (Power, Privilege, and Oppression). Register for $20 at tinyurl.com/eduterp

Everyone is welcome to attend. Even if you don't know much ASL, the Zoom session provides English voiceover.

100% of your payment goes directly to April Jackson. She is a freelance Deaf Interpreter who teaches ASL and interpreting courses and provides training workshops for agencies and organizations nationwide. She has also presented at multiple conferences, sharing her cultural insight and linguistic expertise. Follow her at ASL with April on Facebook and on Instagram. Learn more at www.AprJacksASL.com

IMAGE DESCRIPTION: A Black woman with very short platinum-blond hair is seated. The top and bottom of the screen shows a background of a misty forest. The title says: "Underground Railroad / @ ASLwithApril".

TRANSCRIPT:

[A Black woman with very short platinum-blond hair is seated. The top and bottom of the screen shows a background of a misty forest. The title says: "Underground Railroad" (unrehearsed translation) / @ ASLwithApril".]

English: Enslaved people looked for ways to escape bo***ge.
ASL gloss: SLAVEver PEOPLEdis GET-TOGETHER VISUALIZEix ESCAPE HOW-HOWth

English: Running away was extremely dangerous
ASL gloss: ID(point) ESCAPE NO-BIG-DEAL NO DANGEROUSsym

English: because it could lead to severe punishment.
ASL gloss: BECAUSE-WHY8 PUNISH FUTUREstr OOH SERIOUS SOME

English: Some people tried to escape on their own.
ASL gloss: PEOPLEdis EXPLORE DARING TRYa

English: They relied on secret networks for help.
ASL gloss: INFORMATION SECRET DRAW4(buildings) CONNECTION ASKonex HELPpa GIVE-IN-SECRET FINEstr

[Video cuts to title page that says "How to interpret for Black History Month / Zoom session / 5-6 p.m. ET Sunday, Jan. 25 / Offers RID CEUs (PPO) & Certificate of Completion / Register for $20 / tinyurl.com/eduterp / Everyone welcome!]

Learn about April's favorite BASL sign!

She will give a Zoom session to teach you at least 10 BASL signs and to train everyone, especially educational interpreters, to accurately interpret topics related to Black History month, including vignettes about famous Black historical figures and terminology related to Black culture.

The Zoom session happens at 5-6 p.m. ET Sunday, Jan. 25. If you register, you will also receive a video-recording so that you can prepare for interpreting Black History Month topics that may come up in the classroom. (The video recording will only show the presentation, but the Q&A part will not be video-recorded.)

You will earn a Certificate of Completion and 0.1 RID CEUs in the PPO category (Power, Privilege, and Oppression). Register for $20 at tinyurl.com/eduterp

Everyone is welcome to attend. Even if you don't know much ASL, the Zoom session provides English voiceover.

100% of your payment goes directly to April Jackson. She is a freelance Deaf Interpreter who teaches ASL and interpreting courses and provides training workshops for agencies and organizations nationwide. She has also presented at multiple conferences, sharing her cultural insight and linguistic expertise. Follow her at ASL with April on Facebook and on Instagram. Learn more at www.AprJacksASL.com.

IMAGE DESCRIPTION: A Black woman with very short platinum-blonde hair is seated. On the screen is a tiny corner showing a white man wearing a coat. The title says "Favorite BASL sign / @ ASLwithApril".

TRANSCRIPT:

[A Black woman with very short platinum-blonde hair is seated.]

April Jackson: My favorite BASL sign is ... this sign for "ice cream". My grandfather signed it that way. I'm a sixth-generation Black Deaf family member.

Let me tell you a short story. I remember this: it was one hot summer day that I went over to my grandfather's house. It got so hot when I was playing outside, so I went back into the house to have a drink of water. And my grandfather asked me this: "Do you want some [sign looks like soup]."

But I didn't want soup at all, it was so hot outside. Soup? No way! I went outside to play some more.

When I had enough, I went back inside. I saw my grandfather and he was eating ice cream with a spoon. I told him, "I want ice cream!"

My grandfather replied, "I asked if you wanted some [sign looks like soup]" Then, I got it.

So, in this workshop, I will explain why "ice cream" is signed like this, and the history behind that sign.

And not just that, I will teach you at least 10 BASL signs, and this workshop will train educational interpreters to properly translate stories, so that students can understand information related to Black History Month.

[Video cuts to a white man who is wearing a coat. The background is blue.]

Signplaying: I look forward to it!

[Video cuts to the title page: "How to Interpret for Black History Motnh / Zoom session / 5-6 p.m. ET Sunday, Jan. 25 / Offers RID CEUs (PPO) & Certificate of Completion / Register for $20 / tinyurl.com/eduterp / Everyone welcome!"]