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Programs > ASL/Interpreting Mentorship Program

ASL/Interpreting Mentorship Program

Background

The ASL/Interpreting Mentorship Program builds on the success of our ASL Mentorship Program, piloted in FY 08 with support of a RID/NCIEC Mentoring Grant, and expanded in FY 09 with support of local funders. Based on feedback from mentees, mentors, staff and community members, we can more fully address the needs of new interpreters across the state by offering a combined ASL/Interpreting Mentorship option, which provides one-to-one mentorship with a Deaf mentor coupled with regional work groups focused on ASL enhancement and interpreting practice in a supportive, small group environment.

Goal

ﾕ To improve menteesﾒ understanding and correct use of ASL linguistic features

ﾕ To increase menteesﾒ exposure to a variety of signing styles

ﾕ To increase menteesﾒ comfort in interacting with and interpreting for Deaf individuals of various backgrounds and cultures

ﾕ To expand menteesﾒ regional and statewide networks within the Deaf and interpreter communities

Design

Mentees will engage in a total of 20 hours of mentorship alternating between private sessions with a Deaf mentor and work groups focused on ASL enhancement and interpreting practice. Deaf mentors will identify specific aspects of ASL which are challenging for mentees (fingerspelling, classifiers, etc.) and will lead work groups/practice sessions on these topics. Interpreter mentors, in consultation with Deaf mentors, will lead interpreting practice work groups, providing opportunities for mentees to apply what they have learned in private and group sessions to mock interpreting situations with live Deaf mentor/ASL models. In this way, Deaf and interpreter mentors will work together to scaffold menteesﾒ learning.

A total of eight work groups (20 hours) will be offered, one or two in each region of the state ﾖ Greater Boston, Northeast, Southeast, Central and Western Massachusetts. Mentees will register for four work group meetings (10 hours total). Mentees requiring more focus on ASL may choose to participate in more ASL enhancement work groups while mentees looking to practice interpreting in a safe environment may choose to participate in more interpreting practice work groups. Any remaining work group slots will be made available to interpreters in the community who want to benefit from targeted ASL enhancement/practice and small group interpreting practice.

Mentee/Mentor Pairings

As part of the application process, mentees will submit an ASL sample, a self-evaluation of their ASL skills, an interpreting sample and goals for improvement. Once accepted into the program, the Coordinator for ASL Mentorship and/or the Coordinator for Interpreting Mentorship will meet with each mentee individually to learn more about their background, goals and expectations for the program and to answer any questions they may have. The Coordinator for ASL Mentorship, Coordinator for Interpreting Mentorship and Mentorship Program Director will then work together and in consultation with mentees and mentors to determine appropriate mentee/Deaf mentor matches.

Mentee/Deaf mentor pairs will meet once a month over an eight-month period for a total of 10 hours. Private meetings will focus on conversational ASL skills, with the mentor prompting the mentee to produce spontaneous ASL texts on various subjects, the mentor modeling how a native ASL-user would produce a similar text and the mentee practicing incorporating ASL features as modeled. At the conclusion of each meeting, mentoring pairs will discuss and document what the mentee learned and what the mentee would like to focus on for the next session. These Journal Notes will assist mentoring pairs in maintaining focus and continuity throughout their work together.

Training and Support

In addition to monthly meetings with Deaf mentors, mentees will participate in four work group meetings of 2.5 hours each (10 hours total) during the same eight-month period. One to two work group meetings will be held in each region of the state -- Greater Boston, Northeast, Southeast, Central and Western Massachusetts. Participating in regional work groups will foster local networking within each menteeﾒs home region. At the same time, mentees will necessarily travel outside of their immediate region for at least two of the work groups, promoting broader socialization and networking opportunities with other mentees, new interpreters, interpreter mentors, Deaf mentors and ASL models. Mentees will choose which work groups to participate in depending on their individual needs. Therefore, mentees requiring more focus on ASL may choose to participate in more ASL enhancement work groups while mentees looking to practice interpreting in a safe environment may choose to participate in more interpreting practice work groups. Any remaining work group slots will be made available to interpreters in the community.

Application Requirements

All applicants must submit a DVD/CD/video of a spontaneous (unrehearsed) ASL sample and interpreting sample and pay a non-refundable application fee of $60. This fee will be applied toward the program registration fee upon matriculation into the program. To apply, please print Application Form (see left navigation box) and mail in with ASL sample (instructions are on application form), Self-Evaluation of ASL Skills (included with application form), interpreting sample (instructions are on application form) and non-refundable application fee.

Registration Fee

The registration fee for the program is $300 per session for pre-certified interpreters and is non-refundable. The $60 application fee will be applied toward the program registration fee upon matriculation into the program. The balance is due in mid-August. Payment plans are also available.

Workshops

Mentees in the ASL/Interpreting Mentorship Program may choose to attend Mentorship Program workshops. Fees and registration requirements may vary. CEU/ACET credits are offered.

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Contact Information

For more information or to be added to our email list, please contact Irma Kahle, Director, at irma.kahle@massmentorship.org.

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