Professional Interpreting Discussions

I had a very inspiring moment while interpreting the other day. Of course I don't want to include exact situations or names but to give a broad idea I was voicing for someone and signing also. I had interpreted a question that I thought I had delivered the message correctly but it turns out it wasn't clear...after having the discussion with the person afterwards and really understanding the situation I understood that I needed to work on understanding the message and then interpreting it with a good understanding of the meaning behind it. This is so important in ASL...as I watch tapes and try to watch them without voice I really try to find if I can understand the interpretation as a WHOLE message from the speaker... I have been working on this and I find that I am really starting to get a better grasp on understanding interpreting and not transliteration...really starting to apply the concepts that I have been learning not only through my interpreting jobs, but also as I am st...

Today we are meeting to discuss all the new challenges I have been facing in the interpreting world and how I am feeling more comfortable with many situations that I was quite awkward a few months ago. Also we will talk about the goals and questions that we had discussed and how I have begun to understand the steps to take to find the solutions. Will post more later today... :)

The NIC Rubric was introduced for the first time at this workshop!! WHOA! I have been studying really hard for the NIC written test but had no idea the depth and challenge that this next part of the NIC test would be. I have a general overview of how they conduct the interview and how they will base the 5 sections for 5 minutes each on the NAD-RID Code of Professional Conduct, on how you can take multiple perspectives from all members of the community ex: Deaf, hearing, intperperter, etc. , How you need to focus on short term but also long term effects, etc. They gave out some practice senarios and I have a LOT of notes. I figure after my written test is over and I set up a test date I can really start to focus my attention on this part of the test as well as the preformance...just take one thing at a time. I'm just glad I have a basic understanding of what to expect and an outline of what to study and what they expect from me during the interview portion.

My mentor pat recommended this FANTASTIC workshop "Peer Conferencing: Let's Talk Ethics" by: Jo Linda Powell Greenfield and Anna Witter-Merithew to me a few weeks ago and I really benefited so much from the workshop! It really emphesized the fact that interpreters were out there working autonomously but you need to work with "competent autonomy" which means you need to process every decision you make in your mind and make the most ethical decision during your interpreting work. Peer Conferencing allowed you to evaluate your own work and others to make the right decisions when you are put in different situations. This really to me allowed me to really make the connection to why we are having this mentor program and how important this is to the interpreting field. There was also a part where the speaker really encouraged to get feedback from the Deaf person you are working with, asking for feedback if you feel you weren't clear on the message or if you could i...

I can't wait until tomorrow. Not only does this workshop introduce the elements of peer conferencing, but also the most important thing is that they discuss evaluation of the elements associated with the NIC Interview Rubric through group discussion, role play and ethical case study analysis!! My NIC Written Test is Dec. 20th (maybe I shouldn't be announcing that information until I pass??) ":c) and I have been studying very hard for that test. I also know that the NIC Interview/Performance Test is right around the corner and I better get started on it now. Testing is SOOOOOO stressful!! I got to just get over it and just do my best...so here I am trying to learn as much as I can. I'll update on how the workshop was soon....stay tuned!

What exactly does space with signing have to do with anything. Well during a discussion with one of my fellow interpreters and fresh with ideas from a new workshop she went to she was bubbling over with the opportunity to share some of the things she learned. She said this one workshop she had gone to was AMAZING and she really learned a lot from this particular one. Let me give you some background on this woman...she has been interpreting for a long time and this lady is GOOD so I was impressed. She went on to give me the packet she received from the workshop in the next week and with much curiosity I was excited to get it. This particular class spoke about Real Space - the space in which you point in the room towards an object that is actually there. Surrogate Space- An area of space that is not ACTUALLY there but the signer has conceptualized it like it were there. Token Space- An area just for reference that has no specific physical features. What I got most out of her notes was th...

Here is my first practice video! Please feel free to add your feedback positive & negative. Thanks.

There have been some scheduling changes and have not been able to make a video tape yet....but will work on it as soon as possible.

The other day I spoke on the phone with Pat's other mentee Pam. We were just exchanging ideas and discussing the things we have discovered along our journey of answering our questions and growing as interpreters through this Mentor Program. She shared with me all the classes she is taking and how passionate she is about the work she does, and I shared with her the research that I was doing and how much I truly love this job and care about doing my best. We had a wonderful conversation but she gave me one really useful tip to expand my vocabulary. In the magazine "Readers Digest" they have a section called Super Word Power and you can quiz yourself on the definition on the words they have. I found a on-line Super Word Power game that I have downloaded to my computer and I try to take some time to play it everyday. I run across so many words in interpreting situations and this will really help me a great deal to produce the best sign for the word. I am learning new things...

I wasn't able to complete the sign language video last week to identify patterns and develop strategies for a change BUT I did get the new edition of VIEWS and there is a whole article on legal interpreting. Not to mention that it answered my question #4...What steps do I need to take to become a legal interpreter. I went on the www.rid.org web site and found this useful information! It answered all of my questions. This will be a way to go but it gives me a goal and a time frame to just be aware of in my career. I can work on getting the legal interpreting/mentoring through out the next few years and just keep it in my mind as one of my goals. I'm so excited that I found this!! Eligibility An individual interested in taking the SC:L exam must either currently possess a valid legal interpreting certificate issued prior to 1987 or satisfy all of the eligibility criteria in at least one of the following categories: Category #1 - Possess valid RID certified membership, successful ...

This week I will be working on obtaining a video tape of my fingerspelling with the permission of the person I am working with during the week on a classroom situation.Below is my ABC Recording Form.You should be able to double click on the picture and it will expand to full size. I should have a video on this blog at the end of the week. More to come...

Between moving and my son having surgery over the past few weeks I have completely had my attention drawn in other directions, there are too many to even try to recap without recreating the stress that I have all so recently experienced. Yet, I am thrilled to be able to say that it has seemingly returned back to normal and the fact that I find myself sitting here at my computer desk with time to update my sign language mentor/mentee blog shows that I am for the most part back to my normal schedule. Phew! I have found that through my interpreting jobs usually after I'm walking to my car I have been approached by someone who is interested in finding out more about sign language, possibly looking in to making this their new career. I have exchanged my number and of course extended my help in any way they needed be it to get them to the right resources or to help guide them to the right direction. In reflection of these situations I realize that at any stage of the interpreting career ...

Skill Challenges in the mentor program: 1) Increase use of ASL Classifiers 2) Expanding Vocabulary in ASL 3) Increase Process time while interpreting 4) Slowing down through interpreting 5) When voicing use more variations in speech, rhythm, and rate.

I am so excited that my mentor Pat got her web cam hooked up! We used it tonight and I am thrilled that we are going to be able to connect more easily now and really it was great that she now knows how easy it is to use a web cam. There are a few "bugs" but what technology without that~ LOL I'm sure we can get it fixed soon. I actually got my sound to finally work tonight after months of not working so I was thrilled about that too! Thanks Pat!

I am a little late in writing this post...It seems that this past few weeks has just gone by so quickly. It's funny what a few nights of being up all night with your sick baby will do to your whole schedule! :) He's better now (smile) and now I am back on track with my Signs of Development Mentor Program and my NIC Study group. Okay...back to the meeting I had with Pat, it was so funny because the whole idea of this mentor/mentee group is to really have the mentee do some soul searching and find the answers for themselves with the guidance of these wonderful mentors who have so much experience. When Pat and I sat down I really felt like I was at a loss for words...it would have been so much easier for Pat to go ahead and tell me, "Sarah...I think these are the things you have to do to be a successful interpreter. Just go here, do this, and you will be on track." That I guess is what everyone wants--to be told what to do but to be quite honest with you, after our meeti...

Okay I am guilty...after I took my EIPA & VQAS test I got the evaluation of my signing skills back but I was just so happy to pass that I didn't really read the most important part of passing the test. The diagnostic assessment of my interpreting skills. Realizing what a HUGE mistake I have made in overlooking this valuable resource for improving my signing skills I have decided to start to read and understand which areas I can improve on in ASL. Hopefully this will help me to find the questions and answers to incorporate in to the mentor program that I am currently involved with through Signs-Of-Development. More to come on this...

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/studygroupNIC/

There is no such thing as getting your feet wet in ASL, I found you have to dive right in. I have started interpreting 2 years ago and have been so lucky to be able to meet people that have allowed me to be exposed to so many new things in ASL that I have never seen before. So now I am trying to sort through all the information, take as many workshops as possible, and get feedback on my preformance, and meet people who have been involved with this profession. I am a CODA and I thank my parents everyday for giving me a skill that I can use in a profession that I enjoy doing so much. It hasn't felt like I've been working these past 2 years and that is what ASL and interpreting is all about. Enjoying what you do, but more than that you have got to be good at what you do. You have a responsibility to serve the Deaf community and provide interpreting services that they can understand. I feel the responsibility to keep up my signing skills and that is where this web site comes in. Th...