Course Description
This is the second of two field-based, capstone courses providing students with further opportunity to synthesize classroom learning. Under the direction and mentorship of professional interpreter practitioners as they work in the field, students will be challenged to apply, integrate and reflect upon their own development of practical interpreting skills and professional readiness. Students will further examine their personal and professional experiences while participating in seminars with their college instructors and classmates.
Course Content
The following global ideas guide the design and delivery of this course:
- Interpreting is a complex cognitive task requiring sophisticated language skills and rapid mental processing; interpreters require preparation for successful interpretations.
- Technical proficiency must be balanced with professionalism and sound ethical decision making.
- Recognition of one’s own power and privilege in any given situation will assist the practitioner in mitigating their effects.
- Supervised practice interpreting in the field provides opportunities for students to integrate interpreting theory, cultural and linguistic mediation, ethical decision making, and interpersonal skills.
- Reflection, evaluation, and integration of self-critique and collegial feedback form the basis of on-going professional development regarding skills, interpersonal expertise, attitude and other observable behaviours.
- Maintenance of personal wellness is an essential component of an interpreter’s practice.
Learning Activities
The methods of instruction for this course include:
- Field experience with supervision
- Seminar
Means of Assessment
This course will conform to the Douglas College Evaluation Policy regarding the number and weighting of evaluations. Typical means of evaluation would include a combination of:
- Site mentor observations
- Interpretation assignments
- Self-evaluations
- Reflection activities
This course is mastery/non-mastery.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- communicate effectively with a diverse range of language users, in both American Sign Language (ASL) and English
- simultaneously interpret, with field-ready, meaning-based accuracy, between ASL and spoken English at an entry-level degree of difficulty
- consecutively interpret, with field-ready, meaning-based accuracy, between ASL and spoken English at an entry-level degree of difficulty
- examine and synthesize the application of theory to practice
- demonstrate awareness of own positionality in a variety of settings, conducting self appropriately with culturally and linguistically diverse individuals
- use timely, effective and respectful interpersonal communication with consumers of interpreting services, mentors, colleagues and others
- actively seek and integrate feedback from consumers, mentors, colleagues and others
- discuss and apply the Canadian Association of Sign Language Interpreters’ Code of Ethics and Guidelines for Professional Conduct
- use self-care and wellness strategies, including ways to maintain personal boundaries and to manage stress
- identify own focus areas and set goals for ongoing and future development
- demonstrate increasing levels of responsibility, independence and self-direction
- demonstrate increasing levels of responsibility and self-direction through a developmental learning experience in a series of stages similar to an employment experience
Textbook Materials
Readings as assigned by instructor.