Anyway, this quarter is a lot tougher than I ever would've thought it would be! I am finished with the ASL learning series (ASL I-V), and now have moved on to actual interpreting. Okay, so let me tell ya, interpreting isn't just knowing ASL. It's so much more...sheesh! Here are the classes I'm taking this quarter and descriptions so you can see what I'm talking about:
| Research Theory Intprting | |
| ITT-129-002 | |
| As interpreting students begin to learn the skill of interpreting, their knowledge of current interpreting theory is critical. The most relevant and up-to-date research will be examined and discussed as it applies to the profession. Topics include models of interpreting, processing, prosody, and discourse analysis. |
| Consecutive Interpret I | |
| ITT-205-001 | |
| This course is a theoretical and practical 'hands-on' approach to the process of consecutive sign language interpreting. The student will be actively learning how to identify the message in the source language and convey it accurately into the target language. |
| Ethics & Decisionmaking | |
| ITT-125-001 | |
| This course is a continuation of the ethics and decision-making topic introduced in ITT 110. Students will continue to explore the role that ethical decision-making has on them as they enter the interpreting profession. Students will focus on how the RID Code of Professional Conduct and interpreting theories will impact their decision-making. |
So, you can see how difficult this is. Sheesh! Did you know spoken language interpreters don't have to go through all this? They don't have a Code of Conduct, need to go to school, or anything. Well, that's because spoken language interpreters are usually native speakers. ASL interpreters cannot be native speakers because the interpreter cannot be Deaf. (There is a specialist certificate for Deaf Interpreters, but that is something different) Anyway, so the ASL Interpreter has to be trained in the cultural aspects of the Deaf Culture and everything else the spoken language native speaker already knows. See? So, it's like taking an outsider and bringing them into your culture and stating that they know everything they need to know to speak your language correctly with all the cultural aspects of the language, even though they are not from your culture. I guess I see why it's so important ASL interpreters need so much training. In fact, in the year 2012, all ASL Interpreters must have a Bachelor's Degree to be certified Interpreters. I will graduate just before then, so I am lucky. I may go for the Bachelor's degree anyway just to be sure.
One thing's for sure...I'd better be good because if I'm not in the top 20% of my class to pass my Practicums when those comes around, I will have to start over with those classes, thanks to the new rule. I don't want to re-take any class. I could be in college forever!
So, I guess I should get studying... :)
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