Professional Interpreting Discussions

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.