The Research.......
If we knew what we were doing, it would not be called research. -Albert Einstein
This research is currently under going a lot of changes as I work through the PhD process. Below you will find an outline of the original proposal that was submitted to Heriot-Watt University. As I continue to study the literature many changes have been made. The goal however remains the same- I am on a pursuit to educate and train interpreters to be qualified in the workplace. I will update this information as it becomes more clear. I am currently working on the proposal of a pilot study that will aid in the development of this research. Stay tuned.
How do the deaf successfully communicate with the hearing world? People who are deaf or hard of hearing communicate through sign language. This language is not universal; each country has its own signed language. These languages are visually interactive, using a combination of hand motions, body gestures, and facial expressions to convey meaning. Often, the Deaf Community relies on the skills and abilities of a sign language interpreter to facilitate communication when interacting with people who converse through spoken language rather than signs. How well that interpreter is able to conduct the translation can be the difference in assuring clear and accurate communication.
The interpreting profession is relatively young; it was not until 1964 that sign language interpreting was first recognized as a career opportunity in the United States. As the interpreting field has gained recognition, more Interpreter Education Programs have been established. Likewise, as the demand for qualified interpreters has increased, so has the establishment of Interpreter Education Programs. Unfortunately, students are graduating from these programs without the adequate skills necessary to serve effectively as interpreters. This has resulted in a plethora of under-credentialed interpreters attempting to provide interpreting services, which essentially can be detrimental to the Deaf Community.
Based on the need to ensure the availability of qualified interpreters, I will be conducting a detailed analysis on current barriers to student success within Interpreter Education Programs. This research will be global in scope, as it will involve participants in Australia, Canada the United Kingdom, and the United States. These countries share similar advances in research and training. They also share the same spoken and written language. Increasing the sample size beyond the United States broadens the range of possible data inclusion and forms a better picture for analysis.
The results of my research will initiate opportunities for the exchange of ideas among the interpreters in these three countries. Further, as the shortage of qualified sign language interpreters is becoming a global problem, my research will be applicable across many institutions who share a common desire to strengthen their Interpreter Education Programs. My research is vital to the future development of capable sign language interpreters. Without qualified interpreters, the Deaf Community is denied communication access to many of life’s day-to-day activities. Moreover, our global society is weakened when a major portion of the population is not able, or allowed, to participate because the available communication systems fail them.
As I continue to work within the Deaf Community, I am becoming increasingly concerned that some interpreters are not linguistically meeting the needs of their clients. This occurs when interpreters do not translate messages equivalently, which includes conveying the correct meaning, as well as taking into account culture, affect and intent. My research will address the lack of qualified interpreters and seek to create opportunities for the deaf and hard of hearing to engage fully in the communities in which they live and work. Through my extensive experience in American Sign Language Studies and Interpreter Education, I have noticed many students struggle with mastering skills needed to become effective interpreters. Therefore, the goal of this study is to determine if there are systematic and/or consistent barriers affecting student success rates within Interpreter Education Programs. This research proposal directly aligns with my passion to ensure students develop the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to enter the workforce successfully.
I will be conducting this research under the direction of Dr. Napier, Professor in Department of Languages and Intercultural Studies at the Heriot-Watt University.
In conducting my research, I plan to utilize survey data and personal interviews as part of a mixed-method design. The primary sources of data accumulation will be through (1) an analysis of previously published research results, followed by (2) qualitative investigation using semi-structured interviews and (3) quantitative surveys and testing. Participants for this research will include faculty, staff, and students of participating Interpreter Education Programs. The correlation between identified barriers and student success (or failure) rates can be further assessed with the participation of credentialed interpreters who have graduated from Interpreter Education Programs.
The foundation of the study will include the development of testing instruments and the creation of data collection tools. Initially, I will begin with piloting testing instruments with subject matter experts. Additionally, research participants will be surveyed. Research findings will then be published and circulated through professional publications, Interpreter Education Programs, and onsite conference training or through pod/web casts. Once barriers are identified, the possibility exists to more effectively delineate specific characteristics needed to become a qualified sign language interpreter. With these findings, Interpreter Education Programs will be better equipped to develop new instructional methodologies, enhanced student learning tools, and a revised curriculum, all aimed at ensuring a sufficient number of qualified interpreters are prepared to meet the increasing demand of the Deaf Community.
This proposed research project aligns with my strong belief in promoting cultural exchange and mutual understanding. In the interpreting field, the term “multiplier effect” is used to describe the inherent purpose of Interpreter Education. That is, for every interpreter trained, several hundred deaf and hearing people are equipped to participate in the everyday workings of our global society. While in the UK, I will serve as an Ambassador in sharing American Sign Language and American Deaf Culture while at the same time learning British Sign Language and immersing myself into the British Deaf Culture. Additionally, I will become an active member of the British Deaf Association and the Association of Sign Language Interpreters. These associations serve as the professional networks for British Sign Language Interpreters across the United Kingdom.
The interpreting profession is relatively young; it was not until 1964 that sign language interpreting was first recognized as a career opportunity in the United States. As the interpreting field has gained recognition, more Interpreter Education Programs have been established. Likewise, as the demand for qualified interpreters has increased, so has the establishment of Interpreter Education Programs. Unfortunately, students are graduating from these programs without the adequate skills necessary to serve effectively as interpreters. This has resulted in a plethora of under-credentialed interpreters attempting to provide interpreting services, which essentially can be detrimental to the Deaf Community.
Based on the need to ensure the availability of qualified interpreters, I will be conducting a detailed analysis on current barriers to student success within Interpreter Education Programs. This research will be global in scope, as it will involve participants in Australia, Canada the United Kingdom, and the United States. These countries share similar advances in research and training. They also share the same spoken and written language. Increasing the sample size beyond the United States broadens the range of possible data inclusion and forms a better picture for analysis.
The results of my research will initiate opportunities for the exchange of ideas among the interpreters in these three countries. Further, as the shortage of qualified sign language interpreters is becoming a global problem, my research will be applicable across many institutions who share a common desire to strengthen their Interpreter Education Programs. My research is vital to the future development of capable sign language interpreters. Without qualified interpreters, the Deaf Community is denied communication access to many of life’s day-to-day activities. Moreover, our global society is weakened when a major portion of the population is not able, or allowed, to participate because the available communication systems fail them.
As I continue to work within the Deaf Community, I am becoming increasingly concerned that some interpreters are not linguistically meeting the needs of their clients. This occurs when interpreters do not translate messages equivalently, which includes conveying the correct meaning, as well as taking into account culture, affect and intent. My research will address the lack of qualified interpreters and seek to create opportunities for the deaf and hard of hearing to engage fully in the communities in which they live and work. Through my extensive experience in American Sign Language Studies and Interpreter Education, I have noticed many students struggle with mastering skills needed to become effective interpreters. Therefore, the goal of this study is to determine if there are systematic and/or consistent barriers affecting student success rates within Interpreter Education Programs. This research proposal directly aligns with my passion to ensure students develop the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to enter the workforce successfully.
I will be conducting this research under the direction of Dr. Napier, Professor in Department of Languages and Intercultural Studies at the Heriot-Watt University.
In conducting my research, I plan to utilize survey data and personal interviews as part of a mixed-method design. The primary sources of data accumulation will be through (1) an analysis of previously published research results, followed by (2) qualitative investigation using semi-structured interviews and (3) quantitative surveys and testing. Participants for this research will include faculty, staff, and students of participating Interpreter Education Programs. The correlation between identified barriers and student success (or failure) rates can be further assessed with the participation of credentialed interpreters who have graduated from Interpreter Education Programs.
The foundation of the study will include the development of testing instruments and the creation of data collection tools. Initially, I will begin with piloting testing instruments with subject matter experts. Additionally, research participants will be surveyed. Research findings will then be published and circulated through professional publications, Interpreter Education Programs, and onsite conference training or through pod/web casts. Once barriers are identified, the possibility exists to more effectively delineate specific characteristics needed to become a qualified sign language interpreter. With these findings, Interpreter Education Programs will be better equipped to develop new instructional methodologies, enhanced student learning tools, and a revised curriculum, all aimed at ensuring a sufficient number of qualified interpreters are prepared to meet the increasing demand of the Deaf Community.
This proposed research project aligns with my strong belief in promoting cultural exchange and mutual understanding. In the interpreting field, the term “multiplier effect” is used to describe the inherent purpose of Interpreter Education. That is, for every interpreter trained, several hundred deaf and hearing people are equipped to participate in the everyday workings of our global society. While in the UK, I will serve as an Ambassador in sharing American Sign Language and American Deaf Culture while at the same time learning British Sign Language and immersing myself into the British Deaf Culture. Additionally, I will become an active member of the British Deaf Association and the Association of Sign Language Interpreters. These associations serve as the professional networks for British Sign Language Interpreters across the United Kingdom.
To your right you can download the official proposal that was sent to the Heriot-Watt University.
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