Interpreting

**Why become an interpreter?** There is always a need for sign language interpreters. The language is growing more and more, and they are becoming a more important part of our society. Many people have been denied an interpreter because of the lack of interpreters that are available. Here are a few examples: 1. A young boy's dad, who was a coach on his baseball team, was dismissed because there was allowed only a certain amount of staff on the team. His son was left without an interpreter and had a tough time understanding what the coach and players were saying. 2. A Deaf woman was admitted into the hospital, and she requested an interpreter upon her arrival. She was given treatment, but was unaware of the condition she was in. 5 days later, she was given an interpreter, but in the mean time her pleads were ignored. Due to instances, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 was formed. It states that you cannot discriminate against someone because of a disibility in the work force, the state and government levels, public services and trasnportation, and basic public business like hospitals, grocery stores, and banks. So, if we had more people who are willing to work hard and indulge themselves in this unique culture, there wouldn't be as many people left without interpreters. **How do I become an interpreter?** Most employers will check to make sure you have an associates degree before they hire you, along with certification. To ensure you're going to get somewhere as an interpreter, you might want to consider getting a bachelor's degree, especially since this field is beginning to be quite competitive. Pay: The better the degree & certification, the better chance you have of getting paid more. Depedning on your experience, and where you live, you can make from $15-$65/hr. Here's a general idea of what your pay might look like... Without a bachelor's degree, you can expect to earn about $24,722.88 - $31,973.76/yr. <span style="color: #f37762; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">With a bachelor's degree, you'll make around $1000 more. <span style="color: #f37762; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">With a master's degree, you'll make around $2000 more. <span style="color: #f37762; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">With certification of interpretation, you'll make about $750 more.

<span style="color: #9e00ff; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">**What types of jobs/careers are there as an interpreter?** <span style="color: #f37762; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">There are 2 main groups of jobs you can have as an interpreter: A staff employee, and a freelance interpreter. <span style="color: #f37762; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Most people start out as a staff employee so they can build up their experience and reputation, although some like a steady job. <span style="color: #f37762; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">You don't have as much of an option on your day-to-day activities when working as a staff employee as you would as a freelance interpreter, and you are expected to do each job that is given to you. <span style="color: #f37762; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Some jobs you can do as a staff employee: <span style="color: #f37762; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">-Interpreting in an educational environment <span style="color: #f37762; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">-Interpreting at government levels <span style="color: #f37762; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">-Interpreting for an agency or court system <span style="color: #f37762; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">These are just a few examples. Don't think this is all you are limited to. <span style="color: #f37762; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Freelancers have a better chance of getting more experience out in the world of interpreting. They don't have a specific job they go to every single day. <span style="color: #f37762; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Some jobs include interpreting for: <span style="color: #f37762; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">-weddings/funerals <span style="color: #f37762; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">-banquets <span style="color: #f37762; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">-seminars <span style="color: #f37762; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">-jails/police stations <span style="color: #f37762; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">-courts <span style="color: #f37762; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">-job interviews <span style="color: #f37762; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Again, these are just a few examples. <span style="color: #9e00ff; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">**What are the negatives and positives of interpreting?** <span style="color: #f37762; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Besides a great opportunity to reach out to another culture and having new, unique experiences comes some negatives. <span style="color: #f37762; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">1. The pay isn't all that great. <span style="color: #f37762; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">2. You have a sporadic schedule (if you're a freelancer). <span style="color: #f37762; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">3. If you have a steady job, then you're stuck with the same person every single day. <span style="color: #f37762; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">4. You can't talk about what you have interpreted for other people, no matter how wrong or bad it is, so the guilt of not doing something can really get to you. <span style="color: #f37762; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">5. You have a higher risk of getting carpal tunnel. <span style="color: #f37762; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">6. You could be sued for malpractice if you interpret something wrong in maybe a doctors office, or a court hearing. <span style="color: #f37762; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">These are just some things you should know if you are actually interested in interpreting.

<span style="color: #9e00ff; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">**Models of Interpreting:** <span style="color: #f37762; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">These models are ordered from the earliest model used to the most current models used. <span style="color: #9e00ff; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">__Helper Model-__ <span style="color: #f37762; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Someone who helps the Deaf individual, even when help is not needed. The interpreter usually makes all decisions for the individual. Using this model can lead to the Deaf person to expect help all the time, and see themselves as dependant on others for almost everything. <span style="color: #9e00ff; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">__Conduit/Machine Model-__ This is someone who comes to get the job done. They simply do their job, and they leave. They don't care about the needs or wishes of the Deaf individual. Say the interpreter is standing in front of a window, and the Deaf person can't see thier face. The interpreter doesn't care, and will continue to go on with what the hearing person is saying. Say the interpreter is wearing distracting jewlery, and the Deaf person wants they to take it off. They won't. They will continue to do what they are doing until the job gets done. <span style="color: #9e00ff; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">__Communication Facilitator Model-__ <span style="color: #f37762; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">The pendulum started to swing back as both interpreters and deaf people came to realize that something was missing. Interpreters started to assert their needs. The interpreters would take responsibility for introducing their role, lighting, seating, meeting the deaf person before the assignment, and interpersonal skills. The positive thing was that these things were appropriate to take charge of since it allowed interpreters to do their work; the negative thing was that interpreters still didn't take on responsibility for the communication. ([]) <span style="color: #9e00ff; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">__Bilingual-Bicultural Model-__ Someone who knows sign language fluently and is very familiar with the Deaf cutlure. They also know English fluently and are very familiar with the English culture. They take into account both perspectives of the two individuals speaking to sort out conflictions between the two cultures. <span style="color: #9e00ff; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">__Ally Model-__ <span style="color: #f37762; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">This model is more of an extention of the Communication Facilitator Model. <span style="color: #f37762; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Their job is to contribute to the goals of the Deaf Community in positive and supportive ways. <span style="color: #f37762; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Although, they are not there to take control of their actions or fight for Deaf rights. It focuses mainly on understanding oppression and inbalances of power within the two communities. <span style="color: #9e00ff; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">__The 'Sore Thumb' Model-__ <span style="color: #9e00ff; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> <span style="color: #9e00ff; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">__Feminist-Relational Model-__ <span style="color: #f37762; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Not only will this model include the language and culture, like the Bilingual-Bicultural mode, but it will also add the relationship of all participants, the relationship between the Deaf individual and the interpreter, and the relationship of the majority language user, the minority language user, and the bilingual interpreter to society. <span style="color: #9e00ff; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">