Interpreters

What is an Educational Sign Language Interpreter?

• A professional member of the educational team who acts as a communication link between people who are deaf and hearing.

• Interpreters are the “ears” for the Deaf student and are responsible to interpret EVERYTHING for that student.

What Will I Do If I Get an Interpreter in My Class?

• Meet with the interpreter before the first class.

• Discuss the best placement for the deaf student and the interpreter.

• Write that you have an interpreter in your substitute plans.

I Have So Many Questions. Where Can I Find Answers?

• Your interpreter can provide you with many answers to your questions.

• Always keep communication open with your interpreter.

• Talk to the teacher of the deaf. They know the deaf students strengths and weaknesses.

• Check out this web site www.rit.edu/classact

We Love Visuals!

• Use visual resources such as overhead projectors, maps, graphs, and computer technology.

• Make sure the TV you are using has closed captioning.

• Choose videos that are closed captioned.

• Notify the interpreter in advance when a non-closed caption video or audio tape will be used in class.

• Please put writing assignments, homework, test dates on the board.

Notetaking

• Notetaking is the support service most widely used by students who are deaf or hard of hearing.

• Provides them access because of the physical impossibility of watching an interpreter while simultaneously taking notes.

• Used more in the grades 3-5

Selecting a notetaker

• Select a volunteer student in the class that has organizational skills. Their notes should be legible, clear, complete, and accurate.

• This student will be provided with pressure sensitive paper in a special notebook.

• The volunteer retains the copy and gives the original to the student who is deaf.

• If the regular paper is used, the notes are photocopied by designated personnel within 24 hours.

Communicating With Your Deaf Student

• Look directly at the student when speaking. Don’t use words like “Tell him.”

• Check for understanding during instruction directly with the student.

• Each deaf student communicates differently. Some use their voice, some use the interpreter to voice for them. This way deaf students can fully participate in class discussions.

• Be sure one person is talking at a time. If everyone is talking at once it is impossible for the interpreter to indicate who is talking. Students can raise their hand or the teacher can pass a ball to the student who is answering a question.

• Think Visually!

The First Day of Class!

• The first day of school is very busy. Having a deaf student in your class with an interpreter may feel awkward but after the first day or two, teachers say that interpreters feel like they are a part of the class.

• The first day for your hearing students will feel awkward too. They will be mesmerized looking at the interpreter. You may want to have the interpreter explain their role to the class.

• It may seem like the students are only looking at the interpreter but after a few minutes the interpreter will become a normal part of the class.

• Make sure the students know not to walk in front of the interpreter, rather walk around the interpreter.

Please Don’t!

• Ask the interpreter to do other jobs while they are interpreting.

Ex: Go make copies, collect or pass out papers.

· Interpreters are responsible to interpret all auditory input that takes place in the classroom. If the interpreter is doing other jobs, the deaf student is left out.