Interpreting Services
A classroom is a busy environment with students, teachers, educational sign or oral language interpreters and possibly other educational assistants all in the room. In the smooth running class, the roles complement each other to facilitate the learning environment.
Both educational sign language and oral interpreters provide interpreting services in the school and community, adjusting the signing, educational and communication levels required. They reinforce the educational program, by facilitating communication with Deaf and hard of hearing students and hearing students and staff, in and out of the classroom, in a variety of settings and activities such as student-to-student dialogue, tutorials, assemblies, parent/student meetings, and field trips and extracurricular activities. It is necessary for educational interpreters to familiarize themselves with course material, vocabulary and concepts prior to the class. The interpreter may be required outside of class time to expand on concepts and reinforce vocabulary with the student. Interpreters will interpret all comments made in the presence of a Deaf or hard of hearing student. They do not censor or change information being communicated, nor do they carry messages for or speak on behalf of the student or the teacher.
Educational interpreters are a part of educational teams, often attending team meetings and giving input into the IEP in order to collectively meet the needs of students.
In this section: