Ghost Ranch ASL Weekend with Joi Holsapple & ShaShonie Reins – G26080106
This introductory American Sign Language (ASL) workshop provides participants with a fun, interactive opportunity to begin learning the basics of ASL while gaining insight into Deaf culture and community. Designed for beginners, the course focuses on practical communication skills through hands-on activities, games, and group interaction.
The workshop begins Friday evening with an overview of expectations for learning ASL and an introduction to the Deaf community and culture. Participants will engage in icebreaker activities and begin practicing essential communication skills such as introducing themselves, learning names, using greetings, and understanding the importance of facial expressions in ASL.
On Saturday, participants will continue building their skills through three engaging learning blocks. The first block focuses on reinforcing introductions, greetings, and meeting others through interactive activities and games. The second block introduces basic signs and commonly used ASL phrases, allowing participants to expand their vocabulary in a fun and supportive environment. In the third block, participants will learn how to describe people and explore signs connected to New Mexico, while continuing to practice new phrases through group activities.
The workshop concludes Sunday morning with a review of key concepts to strengthen understanding and confidence in using basic ASL. The course will wrap up with a closing session that celebrates participants’ progress and encourages continued learning.
This weekend experience offers a welcoming space to explore ASL, build communication skills, and develop a deeper appreciation for Deaf culture.
Instructors
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Joi HolsappleBorn in Seoul, South Korea and raised in Indiana by a loving Deaf family, she graduated from Gallaudet University with Master’s Degrees in Counseling and Administration & Supervision. Joi is proud to have lived in Santa Fe for twenty years now. She has two Deaf children; the oldest will be a junior at Rochester Institute of Technology this fall, and her youngest is a volleyball aficionado, she cannot be seen without playing or talking about volleyball! She also has two adorable long-haired mini-dachshunds, Bebe and Lava. Joi likes to try new things at least once.
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ShaShonie ReinsI came here from the Bay Area, California, twenty-two years ago, and have been teaching deaf and hard-of-hearing children at the New Mexico School for the Deaf. I graduated from Gallaudet University with a master’s degree in Family Centered Early Education. I have also taught ASL for 15+ years in New Mexico. I have a deaf son who is the 8th generation with deafness in my family. He is a sophomore and an avid basketball player.