Program of Study (33-36 credit hours)
Interpreter Education: Past, Present and Future (3 credit hours)
Students will review the history of spoken and signed language translator and interpreter education from the 18th century, including key theories and people in the field as well as the social, political and legal perspectives that have influenced the development of interpreter education. They will assess the current state of interpreter education in the U.S., identify current issues, and vision together some strategies to move the field forward.
Distance Learning in Interpreter Education (3 credit hours)
Students in this course will examine current best practices in distance learning and effective teaching skills for both distance and face-to-face instruction. Topics covered include online instructional design, developing objective and measureable learning outcomes, techniques for assessing student knowledge and skills and how to provide efficient and useful feedback.
Teaching Cognitive Processing (3 credit hours)
This course presents interpreting process from the perspective of interpretation pedagogy and introduces students to the key concepts of comprehension and working memory, self-assessment of fidelity, cognitive capacity, language availability, and effort models. The course prepares students to integrate interpreting theory into interpreter education through personal skill acquisition and curriculum development.
Service-Learning in the Deaf Community (3 credit hours)
This course is designed to strengthen the student's ability to acculturate to the rich linguistic and cultural values of the Deaf community through civic engagement and acknowledge personal responsibility as an ally of the Deaf community. Students will contribute to empowerment of the Deaf community and participate in structured experiential settings that are identified using an asset mapping approach to community need identification.
Interpreting in Intercultural Contexts (3 credit hours)
This course explores interpreting in intercultural teams with individuals from diverse racial, ethnic, economic, religious, sexual, and social backgrounds. Students will identify the role and function of interpreters within the context of these dynamics, conduct ethnographic research, and assimilate methods for applying cultural and linguistic competence to a variety of settings.
Applied Research in Interpreting (3 credit hours)
This course introduces students to current research in the field of spoken and signed language interpreting and directs students in conceptualizing research projects. Students will learn about research ethics involved in social science research and become certified to conduct research with human subjects. Informed Consent and other requirements of the Institutional Review Board (IRB) process for research approval are covered. Students are mentored through topic investigation, problem identification, research design, literature review, and IRB proposal development. The goal of the course is for students to become consumers and practitioners of research applicable to the interpreting profession.
Adult and Transformative Learning in Interpreter Education (3 credit hours)
Students are introduced to the body of knowledge concerning adults as learners by focusing on the principles of adult and collaborative education, determining learning styles, and selecting appropriate instructional techniques. Students will review variables that affect adult learning, motivation techniques, appropriate training methodologies, reinforcement of learning, skill transfer, and measurement procedures for identifying learner characteristics.
Mentoring in Interpreter Education (3 credit hours)
Students will explore their interpersonal and communication strengths and learn the necessary dynamics of a successful mentor relationship, including the logistics of mentoring and the challenges encountered. They will explore profiles of successful mentors and identify goals for themselves as mentors. Students will analyze a variety of interpreting samples to accurately identify performance patterns and engage in dialogue with a mentee to determine which patterns should be the focus of skill enhancement activities. They will practice techniques for asking reflective questions so mentees can take the lead in their professional development and skill enhancement activities.
Curriculum Development and Revision (3 credit hours)
Students will synthesize information from previous courses in the program by applying it to curriculum development in interpreter education. Topics include curriculum standards and maps, course goals and performance objectives, and student evaluations, and lesson plans. Students will develop instructional methods and strategies using role-plays, group activities, and case studies. Students will utilize learning theory to develop a teaching module with instructor manual, student materials, and media presentations.
Leadership in Interpreter Education (3 credit hours)
This course introduces the social, political, and economic context in which colleges and universities operate. Historical perspectives on the development of higher education provide students with a background for understanding characteristics of our current system and future trends. A major focus is exploring how leaders of higher education can apply current knowledge to renew their commitment to student learning and more effectively achieve their department mission and goals.
Internship I (3 credit hours)
Students with three years of interpreter education teaching experience at the post-secondary level are exempt. This course mentors students through the teaching experience and provides the opportunity to teach in seminars at VRSII or at UNF during short-term institutes. Course requires onsite attendance in Salt Lake City, UT or Jacksonville, FL for two days and includes online work prior to and following the onsite component.
Internship II (3 credit hours)
This course is designed for experienced interpreter educators to further develop skills in teaching the interpreting process, designing curriculum, and assessing student outcomes. Students will gain mentored experience in online teaching by working as a Teaching Assistant in interpreter education programs that offer distance delivery of courses.
