Course Description
This course prepares students for the practicum experiences in their final semester of the sign language interpreting program. Students will be challenged to reflect on their new and prior skills, knowledge and experiences, integrating these with their emerging professional identity.
Course Content
Professional Skills
- Expectations of the college, practicum site and mentors
- Navigating professional space as a student
- Clear and precise communication
- Working relationships
- Coordinating and facilitating meetings
- Ethical decision making
Feedback
- Attaining feedback and engaging in discussions of the work
- Clarifying and incorporating feedback
- Foundational exercises to support skill development
- Identifying own focus areas and goals for ongoing development
Preparation for work
- Co-interpreting strategies
- Co-interpreting preferences
- Preparation needs
- Preparation strategies
Learning Activities
Methods of instruction for this course will include some or all of the following:
- seminar
- small group work
- guest speakers
- course readings/video
Means of Assessment
Evaluation is consistent with the Douglas College Evaluation Policy. This is a mastery/non-mastery course.
Typical meeans of assessment include:
- Attendance and participation
- Field experience
- Capstone portfolio of student’s work
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- demonstrate effective professional communication;
- express preferences and discuss strategies when working in a co-interpreting team;
- coordinate and facilitate evaluation meetings including professional mentors and college instructors;
- analyze their own areas of strength and challenge, and identify areas for development;
- apply an ethical reasoning framework (e.g. Demand Control Schema) in real-world situations;
- solicit and apply feedback provided by professional mentors;
- determine preparation needed, gather materials/resources, and employ appropriate preparation strategies;
- express own learning, including successes and struggles, in a written formatand;
- undertake each practicum experience with increasing confidence.
Textbook Materials
Readings as assigned by instructor.