Designed for self-starters, Stepping Stones for Novice Interpreters is a self-directed track designed to support people seeking credentials as they enter the field of interpreting. Courses will be provided in Canvas Learning Management system.
In addition to current offerings, you can see the course schedule for Year 3 of our grant (October 2023 – September 2024)
| MONTH | COURSE | ASL DESCRIPTION | ENGLISH DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 14 – October 15 | Dealing with Microaggressions for Novice Interpreters | This course is designed to increase awareness of microaggressions from multiple perspectives:
Course content is amplified with videos of black/brown interpreters discussing their experiences and sharing personal stories to provide other black/brown interpreters meaningful opportunities for connection, reflection, and empowerment. Content and case studies are also shared to support learning and deeper understanding for interpreters who do not identify as black or brown, including strategies to address intentional and/or accidental microaggression occurring during professional practice. |
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Year 3 Offerings |
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| October | Step by Step: Effective Skill-Focused Practice for Novice Interpreters | In this course, you’ll learn about characteristics of effective skill-focused practice, do a self-check activity designed to help you identify areas for improvement related to effective practice, and then dive deeper into materials and activities designed to help you improve your practice skills & habits. | |
| Language at Work: Deliberate Practice for Novice Interpreters | Build your ASL and interpreting knowledge and skills for a variety of work settings! Interpreters work in a variety of employment settings. The way language is used will vary depending on the setting and the people involved. This online course is designed to give novice interpreters opportunities to review possible frameworks for approaching interpreting, with practical applications to work settings. | ||
| November | Preparing for Interpreter Performance Exams | This self-directed course was developed for interpreters preparing to take professional performance exams or screenings and to provide resources and tools for reflection and practice. Participants will have the opportunity to self-assess interpreting samples, reflect on performance and readiness, and apply specific practice and preparation strategies. Course contains guidance and resources to support ongoing development and preparation. | |
| CASLI Exam Prep for Deaf Interpreters | The course focus is the CASLI Performance Exam for Deaf Interpreters and the Gap Test that will be required for those having completed the CDI Knowledge Exam before 2021. This course provides test preparation content in manageable and distinct sections, a total of eight modules. The overall goal of this training is to help you understand the process of performance testing and practice skills that will be required on the exam so you can better prepare for the CASLI Performance Exam for National Certification. | ||
| January | Interpreting in conservation corps settings | This course is designed to introduce novice interpreters to the potential of working within a Conservation Corps setting to provide access for Deaf, DeafBlind and hard of hearing participants and to gain valuable interpreting, language, and cultural experience with people from diverse backgrounds. | |
| February | Interpreting in Video Remote Settings for Novice Interpreters | This course introduces interpreters to the work of Video Remote Interpreting (VRI). Details for equipment setup and software functionality are discussed, followed by an introduction to the Role-Space Model framework. Using the Role-Space Model, participants will analyze decisions made in a recorded VRI session and then have the opportunity to practice in the same mock situation. The course emphasizes reflective practice and peer discussion. | |
| Interpreting Job Interviews | In this course, we will explore the varying structures of job interviews (e.g., one-on-one, panel, video), their characteristics, participants, and strategies to prepare for and perform interpreting work in this setting. Similar to other settings, interpreting job interviews has a real life impact on all involved. As interpreters, we influence the impression that the applicant leaves with the hiring manager and, thus, their likelihood for hire, as well as the perception the applicant may have of the job for which they are applying. Recognizing power, privilege, and systemic structure, this course aims to support interpreters’ (hearing, hard of hearing, and Deaf Interpreters) readiness for this work. | ||
| March | Ethical Decision Making for Novice Interpreters | This course is designed for ASL interpreters, Deaf and hearing, and has been created for two main purposes: 1) to prepare you for taking an ethical interpreting exam and 2) to achieve a broader view of ethics to guide your decisions on the job. This course is not meant to be comprehensive, but rather to encourage curiosity about ethics and deepen your understanding and application of ethical decision-making. One of the benefits of taking a closer look at ethics is that some of the frameworks can help you analyze the nuances of interpreting. It is our hope that you will come away from the modules in this course with an ability to apply these concepts in your real life work and on an ethics exam. | |
| Dealing with Microaggressions for Novice Interpreters | This course is designed to increase awareness of microaggressions from multiple perspectives:
Course content is amplified with videos of black/brown interpreters discussing their experiences and sharing personal stories to provide other black/brown interpreters meaningful opportunities for connection, reflection, and empowerment. Content and case studies are also shared to support learning and deeper understanding for interpreters who do not identify as black or brown, including strategies to address intentional and/or accidental microaggression occurring during professional practice. |
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| April | Reflective Self-Assessment for Novice Interpreters | This course is designed to encourage thoughtful work production as well as ongoing reflection and evaluation of factors influencing interpreting decisions. Participants in this course will each begin by individually interpreting a source text. They will then examine the interpretation they created and reflect upon their work using categories adapted from the Interpreting Performance Assessment Rubric (TIEM Center). The Interpreting Performance Assessment Rubric supports unpacking multiple aspects of the interpretation, not just language fluency or vocabulary choices. This course takes an additional step in examining interpretation and reflection by sharing the interpretations of this same source text by a group of expert interpreters who, similarly to this course format, had opportunities to reflect upon their work. Finally, participants can apply their discoveries to a personal professional development plan, including application of the reflective practice to other interpreting samples. | |
| Business Practices for Novice Interpreters | Under development | ||
| May | Preparing for Interpreter Performance Exams | This self-directed course was developed for interpreters preparing to take professional performance exams or screenings and to provide resources and tools for reflection and practice. Participants will have the opportunity to self-assess interpreting samples, reflect on performance and readiness, and apply specific practice and preparation strategies. Course contains guidance and resources to support ongoing development and preparation. | |
| CASLI Exam Prep for Deaf Interpreters | The course focus is the CASLI Performance Exam for Deaf Interpreters and the Gap Test that will be required for those having completed the CDI Knowledge Exam before 2021. This course provides test preparation content in manageable and distinct sections, a total of eight modules. The overall goal of this training is to help you understand the process of performance testing and practice skills that will be required on the exam so you can better prepare for the CASLI Performance Exam for National Certification. | ||
Year 3 Offerings
October
- Step by Step: Effective Skill-Focused Practice for Novice Interpreters
In this course, you’ll learn about characteristics of effective skill-focused practice, do a self-check activity designed to help you identify areas for improvement related to effective practice, and then dive deeper into materials and activities designed to help you improve your practice skills & habits. - Language at Work: Deliberate Practice for Novice Interpreters
Build your ASL and interpreting knowledge and skills for a variety of work settings! Interpreters work in a variety of employment settings. The way language is used will vary depending on the setting and the people involved. This online course is designed to give novice interpreters opportunities to review possible frameworks for approaching interpreting, with practical applications to work settings.
November
- Preparing for Interpreter Performance Exams
This self-directed course was developed for interpreters preparing to take professional performance exams or screenings and to provide resources and tools for reflection and practice. Participants will have the opportunity to self-assess interpreting samples, reflect on performance and readiness, and apply specific practice and preparation strategies. Course contains guidance and resources to support ongoing development and preparation. - CASLI Exam Prep for Deaf Interpreters
The course focus is the CASLI Performance Exam for Deaf Interpreters and the Gap Test that will be required for those having completed the CDI Knowledge Exam before 2021. This course provides test preparation content in manageable and distinct sections, a total of eight modules. The overall goal of this training is to help you understand the process of performance testing and practice skills that will be required on the exam so you can better prepare for the CASLI Performance Exam for National Certification.
January
- Interpreting in conservation corps settings
This course is designed to introduce novice interpreters to the potential of working within a Conservation Corps setting to provide access for Deaf, DeafBlind and hard of hearing participants and to gain valuable interpreting, language, and cultural experience with people from diverse backgrounds.
February
- Interpreting in Video Remote Settings for Novice Interpreters
This course introduces interpreters to the work of Video Remote Interpreting (VRI). Details for equipment setup and software functionality are discussed, followed by an introduction to the Role-Space Model framework. Using the Role-Space Model, participants will analyze decisions made in a recorded VRI session and then have the opportunity to practice in the same mock situation. The course emphasizes reflective practice and peer discussion. - Interpreting Job Interviews
In this course, we will explore the varying structures of job interviews (e.g., one-on-one, panel, video), their characteristics, participants, and strategies to prepare for and perform interpreting work in this setting. Similar to other settings, interpreting job interviews has a real life impact on all involved. As interpreters, we influence the impression that the applicant leaves with the hiring manager and, thus, their likelihood for hire, as well as the perception the applicant may have of the job for which they are applying. Recognizing power, privilege, and systemic structure, this course aims to support interpreters’ (hearing, hard of hearing, and Deaf Interpreters) readiness for this work.
March
- Ethical Decision Making for Novice Interpreters
This course is designed for ASL interpreters, Deaf and hearing, and has been created for two main purposes: 1) to prepare you for taking an ethical interpreting exam and 2) to achieve a broader view of ethics to guide your decisions on the job. This course is not meant to be comprehensive, but rather to encourage curiosity about ethics and deepen your understanding and application of ethical decision-making. One of the benefits of taking a closer look at ethics is that some of the frameworks can help you analyze the nuances of interpreting. It is our hope that you will come away from the modules in this course with an ability to apply these concepts in your real life work and on an ethics exam. - Dealing with Microaggressions for Novice Interpreters
April
- Reflective Self-Assessment for Novice Interpreters
This course is designed to encourage thoughtful work production as well as ongoing reflection and evaluation of factors influencing interpreting decisions. Participants in this course will each begin by individually interpreting a source text. They will then examine the interpretation they created and reflect upon their work using categories adapted from the Interpreting Performance Assessment Rubric (TIEM Center). The Interpreting Performance Assessment Rubric supports unpacking multiple aspects of the interpretation, not just language fluency or vocabulary choices. This course takes an additional step in examining interpretation and reflection by sharing the interpretations of this same source text by a group of expert interpreters who, similarly to this course format, had opportunities to reflect upon their work. Finally, participants can apply their discoveries to a personal professional development plan, including application of the reflective practice to other interpreting samples. - Business Practices for Novice Interpreters
Under development
May
- Preparing for Interpreter Performance Exams
This self-directed course was developed for interpreters preparing to take professional performance exams or screenings and to provide resources and tools for reflection and practice. Participants will have the opportunity to self-assess interpreting samples, reflect on performance and readiness, and apply specific practice and preparation strategies. Course contains guidance and resources to support ongoing development and preparation. - CASLI Exam Prep for Deaf Interpreters
The course focus is the CASLI Performance Exam for Deaf Interpreters and the Gap Test that will be required for those having completed the CDI Knowledge Exam before 2021. This course provides test preparation content in manageable and distinct sections, a total of eight modules. The overall goal of this training is to help you understand the process of performance testing and practice skills that will be required on the exam so you can better prepare for the CASLI Performance Exam for National Certification.