Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

Upon completion of the course students should be able to:

• Outline the history of sign language interpreting as a profession in the United States and relate it to the professionalization process.
• Understand and accurately apply the various models of interpretation and role metaphors which interpreters use to describe their work and the history of the profession.
• Describe the impact of cultural differences and individual's perspectives on an interpretation.
• Apply the Demand-Control Schema and Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf Code of Professional Conduct to given situations.
• Demonstrate a general understanding of the appropriate use and positioning of interpreters.

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

Students will be evaluated through student presentations, homework assignments, and written examinations or quizzes.

Course Content

• Logistics of interpreting, including physical factors such as placement and lighting
• Interpreting techniques, including communicating in a professional manner, preparation techniques, managing processing time, determining language preference, handling questions, speaker identification, clarification & correction, self-care, self-awareness, and team interpreting
• The impact of differences between Deaf and hearing cultures on interpreting; cultural adjustment
• The various metaphors and models which interpreters have used to describe their role and process
• The Code of Professional Conduct of the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf and the National Association of the Deaf; The values underlying the CPC and the application of the ethics