Please note:

Financial support is available to eligible applicants in the form of a leadership education grant and leadership travel grant. Apply online at ecegrants.on.ca.

To effectively participate in this program, students must have reliable Internet access and a device that meets these requirements.

About the program

Conestoga College and Canadian Hearing Services are pleased to offer the American Sign Language (ASL) Basic Skills joint certificate part-time program. ASL is the language of most Deaf Canadians. It is a visual language made up of specific gestures (signs), hand shapes and facial expressions with its own unique grammatical rules and sentence structure. This program will be of interest to those who wish to develop sign language concepts and use basic ASL skills.

Our qualified Deaf instructors use an established curriculum that teaches both ASL and Deaf culture. You will learn abstract concepts dealing with the environment outside of the classroom as well an introduction to Deaf Culture where language, values, rules, and traditions will be explored. An immersive "no-voice" teaching method is used to reinforce the learning experience. You will learn through classroom instruction and role-play, as well as through videotext and a workbook. The videotext and workbook supplement and reinforce the classroom instruction, providing an opportunity to review, practice and retain what has been taught. This program will give graduates sufficient skills to enable them to communicate, at a basic level, with members of the Deaf Community in a variety of situations.

Program information

All courses must be completed within 5 years of acceptance into the program.

Admission requirements

  • Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD), or equivalent, OR 19 years of age or older.

Note re: admission requirements

  • Students must be able to receive instruction, respond and research in the English language.

Admission procedures

  • Submit a completed Conestoga College Program Application Form.
  • Attach proof of Admission Requirements.
  • Final selection is made following an assessment of the admission requirements.

Graduate opportunities

For more details on related occupations, job market information and career opportunities, see the Government of Canada website: https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/home

Program outcomes

  • Use expressive, receptive and grammatical American Sign Language skills to communicate effectively with members of the Deaf Community in a variety of situations.
  • Discuss various features of Deaf Culture, including language values, rules of behaviour and traditions.

Program related resources

Program contact

Continuing Education
Upcoming registrations

Mark your calendar with our registration dates, so you can plan your future.

Spring registration: Opens March 11, 2024
Fall registration: Opens July 22, 2024