FULL DESCRIPTION

George Brown College’s Honours Bachelor of Interpretation (American Sign Language – English) program is the first degree of its kind in Canada. Developed to address the growing demand for qualified Sign Language Interpreters, this degree helps prepare graduates for work in this dynamic field.

An interpreter is a fluent bilingual-bicultural professional, facilitating communication between those who do not share the same language or culture.

To be a sign language interpreter requires manual dexterity, critical thinking skills, visual-spatial recognition, short-term and long-term memory and cognitive processing abilities in order to process information instantaneously at a level of bilingual and bicultural expertise beyond conversational fluency. For non-Deaf interpreters this will also include auditory-processing capabilities.

Over the course of four years, students will continue to improve and hone both their English and American Sign Language proficiencies while studying to become interpreters. This program focuses on seven areas of learning:

• Language and Culture
• Field Fundamentals
• Interpreting Skills
• Research Methods/Trends
• Ethics and Professionalism
• Breadth Electives
• Field and Community Experience

Program Learning Outcomes

The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:

• Analyze and critically apply current interpreting research trends as they inform meaning-based interpreting practices.
• Analyze the power dynamics that affect human communication, including the impact of the interpreter’s decisions and influence.
• Respect cross-cultural needs of participants in an interpreted interaction in a professional and ethical manner.
• Articulate societal views of Deaf culture, the Deaf community, multiculturalism, oppression, audism, global history of Deaf people, sign language linguistics and language variations.
• Use current research literature to analyze key issues relating to the practice and profession of interpreting.
• Determine appropriate modes of interpreting using evidence-based practice, effective interpersonal and professional skills.
• Perform effectively as an interpreter by incorporating current research and recognizing contextual factors including language and culture.
• Perform accurate and effective translations, consecutive and simultaneous interpretations.
• Use communicative language abilities in first and second language as required to accommodate specific dialogic interactions.
• Use professional and ethical judgment in decision-making while respecting diversity, equity, equality and rights of all participants.
• Engage in life-long learning and reflective professional development.
• Assess personal competencies and limitations in the use of multicultural and multi-contextual approaches to communication.

Career Options

If you are interested in a dynamic career that provides meaningful and varied work, then becoming an American Sign Language-English Interpreter is the career for you. Graduates of this program will find interpreting opportunities in a variety of sectors and venues as demand for interpreters is increasing in response to national and provincial legislation, including mandated implementation of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), and the Government of Canada's Bill C-81, the Accessible Canada Act.

Graduates will be prepared to work as ASL-English interpreters in a number of private and public environments such as:

• educational settings
• medical settings
• legal contexts
• business interactions
• social service agencies