Overview of Courses in the Interpreting Skills Series
As of 2022, the Interpreting Skills Series was a 19-credit-hour, four-course series covering interpreting skills and theory in the ASL-English Interpretation BA program at the University of Northern Colorado. The courses were designed for delivery during four sequential semesters (summer, fall, spring, and summer).
Interpreting Skills & Theory I
Interpreting Skills & Theory I was the first in the sequence of interpreting courses. It was taught in the summer semester and provided a foundation in consecutive interpreting, upon which interpreting students built their skills in the third and fourth years of the program. Load and pedagogy are reflected in the assigned 5 credits. This course was best taught by a team of Deaf and hearing instructors.
This course emphasized consecutive interpreting.
INTR 245
5 credits
6 weeks
Hybrid
This course presented six (6) lessons:
-
Lesson 1: An Introduction to Consecutive Interpretation
-
Lesson 2: Interpretation as Mediation
-
Lesson 3: Interpretation as Process
-
Lesson 4: Process Miscues
-
Lesson 5: Role Space: Interpreting as Human Interaction
-
Lesson 6: Role Space: Interpreter as Regulator
Interpreting Skills & Theory II
Interpreting Skills & Theory II was the second in the sequence of interpreting courses. This course was taught in the fall semester and built on the previous course, and interpreting students were expected to increase their skills through increasingly complex content and language use (e.g., register, dialect, etc.). Load and pedagogy are reflected in the assigned 5 credits. This course was best taught by a team of Deaf and hearing instructors.
This course increased complexity across content and language use and incorporated the Demand-Control Schema and Discourse Analysis frameworks.
This course presented nine (9) lessons:
-
Lesson 1: Role as Authority
-
Lesson 2: Interpreting as Decision-Making
-
Lesson 3: Demand-Control Schema (DC-S): Decision Making in Action
-
Lesson 4: DC-S: Teleology and Practice Values
-
Lesson 5: DC-S: Reflective Practice
-
Lesson 6: Deliberate Practice
-
Lesson 7: Dialogic Work Analysis
-
Lesson 8: Intersection of Role and Intention
-
Lesson 9: Using Deliberate Practice Strategies to Look Ahead
6 credits
16 weeks
Online or In-Person
INTR 345
Interpreting Skills & Theory III
Interpreting Skills & Theory III was an intermediate course primarily focused on interpreting from ASL to English. This was the third in the sequence of interpreting courses and was taught during the spring semester. This course was best taught by one instructor, likely a hearing one, who could provide feedback on the learner’s production of the English target language and comprehension of the ASL source language.
This course focused on interpreting from ASL to English.
Feedback from graduates indicated they felt more instruction in this area was needed.
This course presented eight (8) lessons:
-
Lesson 1: Communication Assessment as Part of the Interpreting Process
-
Lesson 2: Feature Analysis Applied to Samples of Deaf Consumers Language Use
-
Lesson 3: Communicating Requests to Decision-Makers
-
Lesson 4: Interpreting Via the Use of Technology
-
Lesson 5: Interpretation of ASL Narratives
-
Lesson 6: Prosodic Elements of Interpreting from ASL to spoken English
-
Lesson 7: Conducting Observations
-
Lesson 8: Wrapping Up and Revising Your Deliberate Practice Plan of Action
3 credits
16 weeks
Online or In-Person
INTR 355
Interpreting Skills & Theory IV
Interpreting Skills & Theory IV was the fourth and final course in the series. This intermediate-to-advanced course required students to build on their interpreting skills by modifying their interpretations based on consumer preferences and needs, including DeafBlind consumers, language use for those with diverse backgrounds, and strategies for identifying atypical language use. This course was taught during the summer semester and included complex recorded and live scenarios. The assigned 5 credits reflect both load and pedagogy.
This course increased complexity across content, language, and settings.
INTR 445
5 credits
6 weeks
Hybrid
This course presented six (6) lessons:
-
Lesson 1: Systems Thinking for Interpreters
-
Lesson 2: Sight Translation During Interpreting Assignments
-
Lesson 3: Specialization in Interpreting
-
Lesson 4: Interpreting for Individuals Who Are DeafBlind
-
Lesson 5: Unfolding Scenarios—Enhancing Ethical Decision-Making
-
Lesson 6: Continuing Education and Lifelong Learning