Communicating with people is something we all do everyday assuming that we can both be understood and understand others. However, for deaf, hard of hearing, and deaf-blind persons, communicating with people that do not know American Sign Language (ASL) becomes a central issue. In these situations, a sign language interpreter is hired to be sure communication and understanding occurs. Sign language interpreters mediate language barriers between people who are deaf and use ASL and people who can hear and speak English.

Qualified Interpreters wanted:

American Sign Language (ASL) is the natural language of deaf people in the United States. Two programs in ASL and Interpretation are designed to prepare hearing students to communicate with deaf people, and then to interpret between deaf and hearing people.

The Career Studies Certificate in American Sign Language is a one-year, part-time program. Prospective students include parents of deaf children and people who plan to work in deaf-related fields, such as social work, vocational rehabilitation, deaf education, etc.  Office personnel who want to make their businesses more “deaf friendly” will benefit from this program of study. The program
does not prepare a student to perform interpreting services between spoken English users and ASL users. Proficient ASL users require further training to become interpreters.

The ASL-English Interpretation Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree is an aggressive two-year, full-time course of study designed to benefit those who are interested in providing communication access between deaf and hearing people. The requirements for admission to the program are proficiency in American Sign Language and proficiency in English as demonstrated by placement into ASL 261 and placement into ENG 111. Students must earn at least a ‘C’ or better in each applicable prerequisite course in order to register for its subsequent course. Successful completion of this program prepares the student to pursue either a Virginia Quality Assurance Screening (VQAS) Level III, or national certification. These credentials qualify the student to interpret in entry-level settings, either in education or the community.

These two programs of study are not intended to prepare students for transfer into a baccalaureate degree program. The limited number of general education courses required in the program may be transferable to four-year colleges and universities.  

Public Service Technology: American Sign Lanuage   @ TCC

The biggest misconception concerning interpreting for deaf or hard of hearing is the assumption that a beginners course in sign language or fingerspelling is sufficient to work as an interpreter.  A person that knows conversational sign language does not necessarily possess the expertise required to perform well in the role of an interpreter.   Professional interpreting requires intense training and experience before proficient levels of skill are attained.

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