Blog

As attested in Kathleen Stephenson’s series “What’s Your Story?” as sign language interpreters, we are often asked how we learned American Sign Language (ASL), whether it took a long time, how hard it was to learn, etc. The next question many people ask is: Where can...

Vicarious trauma, also called compassion fatigue, is a real threat to Sign Language interpreters in any setting. In a primary school setting, an interpreter could witness the effects of physical abuse on a d/Deaf student at the hands of a parent. In a hospital...

If you are a sign language interpreter who is new to the field, welcome! When you first enter the field as a novice sign language interpreter, it can be overwhelming to navigate all the new challenges and experiences. The lessons that you learned from your Interpreter...

The governing body for American Sign Language interpreters, The Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID), produces Standard Practice Papers for each of its specialties; this includes the specialty of Legal interpreting. The RID first defines what Legal Interpreting...

Often times when I am on an interpreting assignment, the question is posed.... “Why or how did you become an interpreter?” After speaking with many of my colleagues, this is a common occurrence. I thought it would be interesting and fun to find out why or how...

When I first started interpreting, I was struck by how many skills were needed beyond language mastery. We take for granted, but ultimately rely on, life skills like thinking on our feet, staying calm under pressure, and going with the flow. As professionals, it would...

This blog begins the “INTERPRET THIS!” Series, in which a stimulus will be presented either in ASL or English for the purpose of honing your interpreting skills at your leisure. No matter whether you are well-seasoned or fresh out of an Interpreter Training Program,...

Spoken language interpreters are given the opportunity to live in a country with native speakers to understand the nuances of culture and language i.e.: learning French, live in France. In our new world with limited travel, there are self-paced programs available to...

Often times when I am on an interpreting assignment, the question is posed.... “Why or how did you become an interpreter?” After speaking with many of my colleagues, this is a common occurrence. I thought it would be interesting and fun to find out why or how...

When was the last time you got together with your loved ones and played a game?  Playing games with friends and family can lead to some of the most lighthearted and joyful memories.  In addition to the emotional benefits and stress relief that can be found in games,...

Continuing this series, we will dive into yet another hypothetical interpreting scenario including an ethical dilemma to ponder. Previous blogs in this series mention that people are often faced with ethical dilemmas—some big, some small—that we must negotiate through...

One thing I have noticed since joining this field, is that some days the work lights up our hearts and other days are harder. I am sure we have all experienced those kinds of ups and downs, and come to expect it as a natural part of our journey as interpreters. When...