This course will focus on the development of a professional interpreter identity through examination of one's positionality in the Deaf community. Students will use critical thinking to explore historical and current perspectives on the interpreting community of practice. Students will consider how to be agents of change toward social, economic and racial justice by examining issues of diversity, intersectionality, privilege, marginalization, self-determination and systemic inequities.

This course provides students with an introduction to the profession of American Sign Language - English interpretation and will involve three significant areas: observation of interpreters at work in the field; development of pre-interpreting foundational skills; and an introduction to the decision-making framework known as the Demand Control Schema.

This course provides opportunities to practically apply a cognitive model of interpreting in which the interpreter actively constructs meaning based on cues provided by others. Students will develop skills in analyzing and translating ASL and English texts, exploring multiple parameters of discourse and message analysis. These may include speaker/signer intent, implied and explicit content, emotional affect, culturally-bound elements, and the impact of contextual factors.

This course is the first of two courses designed to strengthen the interpreting student's ability to adapt to linguistic and cultural diversity within the Deaf community and to appropriately engage in the cultural norms of the Deaf community. Service learning provides authentic immersive experiences in a way not possible in the classroom. Through collaboration and volunteer service, students will participate in activities designed and led by Deaf community members. Guided by a Deaf instructor, students will participate in classroom seminars to reflect on their learning. The language of instruction will be ASL.

This course provides students with opportunities to clarify their own values and integrate that knowledge into the concept of sign language interpreters as cultural mediators within their professional role. Applying prior learning regarding power, privilege and oppression, students will discuss and analyze meta-ethical principles and the Code of Ethics and Guidelines for Professional Conduct espoused by sign language interpreters in Canada. Students will also further their understanding of the decision-making framework known as Demand Control Schema and its application to ethics.

This course provides students with opportunities to expand their understanding of the practice profession of sign language interpretation. Continued foundational learning focuses on development of pre-interpreting skills such as English vocabulary development, discourse mapping, discourse reconstruction, paraphrasing and cognitive multi-tasking. Students will be introduced to the Deafblind community and to the variety of setting types where interpreters typically work.

This practical course provides opportunities to develop ASL-English interpreting skills during simulated practice in the classroom and while doing volunteer interpreting in the community. Students will integrate their learning in all settings and will participate in seminars to reflect upon their professional growth and to identify focus areas for ongoing development. They will learn interpreting theory, terminology and process models, and will practice strategies for both consecutive and simultaneous interpreting.

This course is the second of two courses designed to strengthen the interpreting student's ability to appropriately engage in the Deaf community. Students will participate in community volunteer service and they will also plan and host social events to complement monthly Practical Learning Days (PL Days). PL Days will comprise intense practice interpreting in simulated scenarios role-played by Deaf community members and non-signing hearing volunteers. Guided by a Deaf instructor, students will reflect on their experiential learning in classroom seminars. The language of instruction will be ASL.

This course provides opportunities for students to build on their understanding of what it means to be culturally Deaf. Students explore the complexities of Deafhood, considering what people who identify as Deaf have in common but also how they differ. Key themes are intersectionality, diverse life journeys, and Deafhood as a global concept. Students examine how these themes inform the work of interpreters. The language of instruction in this course is ASL.

This practical course provides opportunities to build and enhance ASL-English interpreting skills during simulated practice in the classroom and while doing volunteer interpreting in the community. Students will gain versatility in meeting the needs of Deaf, hard of hearing, and Deafblind consumers across a spectrum of varied language use. The primary language of instruction will be ASL. The classes in May and June will be augmented by ongoing volunteering in the summer and a one-week practical learning experience at a Deafblind camp in August.

This course prepares students to take on the challenges of building a practice as a professional interpreter while maintaining physical and mental health. The emotional labour and potential for burnout inherent in interpreting work will be examined, along with strategies for time and stress management. Students will learn basic business skills for working freelance as well as how to utilize resources, mentorship and peer support within the community of practice.

This course provides opportunities for students to explore historical and current sociopolitical influences that impact the pedagogical perspectives, goals and practices in the education of Deaf students. Learners will examine the interpreter’s dynamic and adaptive responsibilities to accommodate various Deaf students’ needs while applying ethical decision making appropriate for working in educational settings. Major emphasis will be on the characteristics of interpreting in a K-12 school environment and on developing strategies for communicating successfully as a member of an educational team.

This practical course provides opportunities to further develop and enhance ASL- English interpreting skills (in both language directions) during simulated practice in the classroom and while doing volunteer interpreting in the community. Students will integrate their learning in a wide variety of setting/topic types and will participate, in both English and ASL, in reflective discussions and feedback sessions with their peers. They will continue to develop their skills for critically analyzing interpretations, with emphasis on identifying focus areas for improvement of their own work. They will regularly set goals and monitor their own learning.

This advanced ASL course for students in the second year of the interpreting program supports their preparedness for their final term of practicum placements. Students will expand their ASL vocabulary and hone their proficiency in applying ASL’s visual-spatial techniques to make clear visual sense. Emphasis will be on developing versatility and range in order to participate in contextualized discourse that respects the needs and goals of specific ASL users in specific situations, considering parameters such as setting, topic, register, and user demographics.

This course prepares students for the practicum experiences in their final semester of the sign language interpreting program. Students will be challenged to reflect on their new and prior skills, knowledge and experiences, integrating these with their emerging professional identity.

This is the first of two field-based, capstone courses providing students with further opportunities to synthesize classroom learning. Under the direction and mentorship of professional interpreter practitioners as they work in the field, students will be challenged to apply, integrate and reflect upon their own development of practical interpreting skills and professional readiness. Students will further examine their personal and professional experiences while participating in seminars with their college instructors and classmates.

This is the second of two field-based, capstone courses providing students with further opportunity to synthesize classroom learning. Under the direction and mentorship of professional interpreter practitioners as they work in the field, students will be challenged to apply, integrate and reflect upon their own development of practical interpreting skills and professional readiness. Students will further examine their personal and professional experiences while participating in seminars with their college instructors and classmates.