SeattleCentralCommunity College

Interpreter Training Program

Internship Expectations

ITP 255

Students in the Interpreter Training Program who have completed the first year of the program will participate in mentorship/internship experiences during the Spring quarter of their second year of study. Students will be placed with a working interpreter/mentor who will enable the student to gain experience and confidence while working in a safe environment.

Student expectations

Students will treat their internship with respect and professionalism, aware that they are representatives of SeattleCentralCommunity College and the interpreting profession to the Deaf student in the classroom.

Students will demonstrate professionalism in terms of dress, telephone manners, reliability, and punctuality, be responsible for prompt and regular attendance; notifying their mentor prior to any rare absence. Students will diligently follow the RID Code of Professional Conduct during their internship experience, maintaining confidentiality and professional standards. Students are responsible to meet regularly with their mentor who will provide feedback verbally and in written form. The mentor will assist the student in establishing and reviewing professional goals and objectives for him/herself for the duration of the quarter. Students will take responsibility for their own learning and skill development by asking the mentor for specific feedback while maintaining an observation journal.

Students are assigned a determined number of hours of participation with their mentor for the quarter. If their mentor is absent or a class/event is cancelled at any time, the student may report to the Coordinator of Interpreting Services to see if it is possible to observe another interpreter during that scheduled time.

Mentor expectations

Mentors will expect interns to fully participate in the internship experience, demonstrating a professional manner appropriate to the setting. The mentor will supervise the intern at all times when in the interpreting situation, giving the student opportunity to participate according to his/her level of proficiency. Mentors will meet regularly with the student to provide constructive feedback regarding skills and progress, and will formally evaluate the intern twice during the quarter. Mentors have the final judgment as to the intern’s ability to perform the assigned task and can request the Internship Coordinator to find the student another placement when appropriate.

Conflict Resolution

  1. If conflicts arise in the internship setting, the student and mentor will first meet to discuss the situation.

2.If conflicts arise between the intern and Interpreting services department, the student will meet jointly with the on-site Coordinator of Interpreting Services and the SCCC ITP instructor.

3.If the issue is not resolved or requires further discussion, ameeting will be called between the student intern, the mentor, the SCCC ITP instructor and the on-site Coordinator of Interpreting Services.

  1. If the complaint is not resolved at the joint meeting, the student may meet with the Instructional Dean. Prior to meeting with the Dean, the complaint must be submitted in writing with specific detailing of the issue.

GUIDELINES FOR INTERPRETER TRAINING STUDENTS AS INTERPRETERS AT SEATTLECENTRALCOMMUNITY COLLEGE

  1. Interpreter training students will participate in mocking during Fall quarter, only in settings where there is no Deaf consumer present.
  1. Student interpreters will not interpret for any interpreter training faculty in formal college settings.
  1. Students will interpret only under a mentor or instructor’s supervision in their internship setting.
  1. Interpreter training students will not be hired or paid for interpreting prior to or including graduation from the Interpreter Training Program at SeattleCentralCommunity College.
  1. Internships will be set up by the SCCC Internship Coordinator.If a student knows of an interpreter or setting in which they would like to do their internship, please see the ITP instructor.

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