Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Steps On How To Be A Sign Language Interpreter

By Maritza Conrad


Knowing how to communicate through sign language is something that most family and friends of those who are deaf are aware of. However, a professional sign language interpreter is also important on occasions wherein a family or a friend is not available to translate for them. They are the ones who can transform one type of communication, such as speech, to hand signals, and vice versa.

Formal training is required for those who would like to practice this profession. The communication professional converts one's thoughts to another's understandable means of communication. They should also be able to correctly express the other person's feelings across.

In Canada and the United States, the Registry of Interpreters for the deaf offer education and formal training to students who are interested in becoming a communications specialist. Their curriculum provide them with the skills needed to perform their duties as a communication professional. Most communication professionals seek their education through the RID.

Once a student completes the required education and training, they are required to get a certification. The candidate needs to pass the NIC or National Interpreter Certification test that is jointly created by the RID and the National Association of the Deaf. The test includes an interview, a written test, and a performance test. The three levels of certification are the NIC, NIC Advanced, and NIC Master. Education and further training can be a bit costly, and students can look for the best schools around to compare the rates.

Those who successfully pass the certification are now qualified to work as a communications specialist on this field of expertise. However, there are others who would like to pursue their studies further, and train with experienced mentors to gain more knowledge on that field. Organizations like the CIT offer programs to aspiring trainers.

Choosing this career can be both challenging and rewarding. Although the training and education required can be difficult, one can expect fulfillment in this field of expertise. A sign language interpreter can help bridge the gap when it comes to communicating with others who are speech incapable.




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