Participants will learn about the use of non-manual markers in their signing and interpreting. They will learn and demonstrate how to correctly produce facial expressions, mouth shapes, and head movements that are an integral part of ASL and the task of interpreting.

Educational Objectives

By the end of this session:

• Learner will be able to distinguish and correctly produce facial expressions that dictate sentence structures

• Learner will demonstrate the ability to use specific mouth shapes and head movements to alter or intensify the meaning of manual signs

• Learners will integrate non manual signals seamlessly into their signing to convey the proper emotional tone, attitude, and conversational flow.

Presenter: Beverly Woodel

Teaching undergraduate ASL courses since 2004, Mrs. Beverly Fletcher-Woodel was a faculty member at the Central Piedmont Community College in Charlotte, NC, where she taught American Sign Language courses for 10 years. She is retired with 30 years of state service. She holds a certificate from the National American Sign Language Teachers’ Association (ASLTA). She holds a Master’s Degree from Gallaudet University in Sign Language Teaching and a Bachelor’s Degree from Gallaudet University in Physical Education.

Mrs. Fletcher-Woodel holds the position of Chair of the North Carolina Interpreter and Transliterator Licensing Board and serves on the Board of the North Carolina School for the Deaf Foundation. Mrs. Fletcher-Woodel comes from a Deaf family and was raised in Morganton, NC, where she attended the North Carolina School for the Deaf (NCSD), as did many generations of her family. During her leisure time, she enjoys quality time with family, traveling, and outdoor activities.

Beverly enjoys participating in cross-fit training classes, running, playing basketball for the Deaf women’s team, and working outdoors. Beverly and her family currently reside in Morganton, NC.