Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

Upon completion of this course", students will be able to:

Explain the process by which an occupation comes to be regarded as a profession

Outline the history of sign language interpreting as a profession in the United States

Relate the history of sign language interpreting as a profession in the United States to the professionalization process

Determine appropriate placement of an interpreter within given physical surroundings

Determine preparation needed for a specific interpreting assignment and describe ways to obtain the needed information

Recognize terminology used in the interpreting profession and use it correctly

Describe the various role metaphors which interpreters use to describe their work, their place in the history of the profession, and appropriate uses of each

Describe the impact of cultural differences on an interpretation 

Apply the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf Code of Professional Conduct to given situations

Explain the appropriate use of interpreters to an inexperienced consumer

Communicate with consumers in a professional manner

Activities include readings, lectures, videos, discussions, small group problem-solving tasks, role playing, and student presentations.

Student presentations, homework assignments, and written examinations or quizzes.

This course introduces students to the professional aspect of interpreting, and covers the following topics:

• The professionalization process as it relates to interpreters
• History of interpreting and the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf
• Terminology used by interpreters to talk about their work
• Logistics of interpreting, including physical factors such as placement and lighting
• Interpreting techniques, including processing time issues, dealing with questions, speaker identification, clarification & correction, self-care, and team interpreting
• Techniques for preparing to interpret, including preparation for content, determining language preference, and self-awareness
• The impact of differences between Deaf and hearing cultures on interpreting; cultural adjustment
• The various metaphors which interpreters have used to describe their role: Helper, Conduit, Communication Facilitator, Bilingual Bicultural Mediator, Ally.
• The Codes of Professional Conduct of the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf and the National Association of the Deaf, and the values underlying it
• Decision-making strategies and application of the Code
• Techniques for communicating in a professional manner with consumers of interpreting services.