Workshops
¿Ah? ¿Qué dijo el Doctor? Huh? What did the doctor say? Medical Terminology: The Fourth Language!
Trilingual
So you can speak Spanish, English and interpret for the deaf. But when you find you have an interpreting assignment in the emergency room, do you get that deer in the headlight look? Do you feel like those doctors and nurses are speaking their own language? This Power-Point presentation will go over basic Medical Terminology and vocabulary commonly used in the medical arena. We will cover both Spanish and English translations. We will also go over common medical procedures and abbreviations. One section of this presentation will cover slang words and those embarrassing words! This course is designed to make the seasoned or the beginning interpreter more comfortable in the medical setting. We will not be teaching ASL. We will provide resources for more in-depth learning for anyone who asks. We will also include a skit or two and props. Be prepared to have fun!
All The World’s A Stage
This is your 5-minute call... 5 minutes to curtain. Whether on the stage or on assignment there are acting techniques and exercises that interpreters can use to enhance and better understand their interpretation. Actors use motivation, focus, space, and affect to wow their audiences. Interpreters can use these tools in a very similar way to keep their "audience" enthralled with their interpreted message. You can be assured of a great time, lots of hands-on activities and discussion while learning how these acting techniques can be incorporated into your everyday interpreting!
ASL Classifiers (Where’s the fire?) With Mouth Morphemes (Conflagration?)
ASL uses space and movement through classifiers to show visual space. Participants will explore various classifiers to express visual pictures. Participants will focus on developing accurate non-manual signals used with ASL classifiers. The sign space is an imagery space running from the signer to the observer. Participants will have hands-on practice with the materials presented in the workshop and demonstrate their ASL performance exercises.
Beyond Sign-to-Voice: Matching Register in ASL to Spanish Interpreting
Trilingual
Trilingual interpreting is complex and demanding and sometimes just giving an accurate voice rendition of the ASL we see is challenging. To provide the most accurate interpretation, however, trilingual interpreters must be able to change Spanish word choices for signs depending on our clients’ moods, affects, and registers. This interactive workshop will cover the importance of an expansive Spanish vocabulary in matching clients’ registers in our ASL-to-Spanish interpreting. It will also provide tools for building a synonym-rich Spanish vocabulary and allow for plenty of hands-on practice in small group settings. If you ever work in trilingual settings, this workshop will prove invaluable!
CDI Training
CDI
The workshop is designed to give Deaf ASL interpreters a better understanding of translation of text, mirror/monologue, contact signing to ASL, ASL to contact signing, and English to ASL. We will learn to identify, read and translate signs and gestures. We will work on our ability to notice details as well as non-manual signals. Also discussed will be characteristics of signs and the challenges they present for accurate interpretation.
Clearing the Ethical Minefield
Ethics
What is the difference between a moral decision and an ethical one? What is a cultural mediation problem versus an ethical dilemma? What are the guiding principles that allow an interpreter to professionally negotiate his or her way through difficult situations? These are the very questions that will be addressed in this workshop which is solidly based in the RID/NAD Code of Professional Conduct. By the end of the session, participants should expect to have a clear understanding of the process of ethical decision making rather than simply a list of rules to follow. Be ready for critical thinking exercises and working through real-to-life scenarios with newly honed decision making tools!
Conceptual Accuracy: revisited
Participants will define and analyze CONCEPTUAL ACCURACY as it pertains to various English utterances, and proceed to strip away the source language for an uncontaminated and unadulterated message – in order to “re-clothe” it into ASL, the target language for dynamic equivalence. Analysis strategies for denotative and connotative meanings will be employed for a thorough exegesis on sample texts.
Court Interpreter Ethics
Legal
This workshop will review the Texas Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility for Court Interpreters and the NAD – RID Code of Professional Conduct. Participants will be provided comprehensive information describing acceptable and unacceptable ethical behavior, and during breakout sessions will further explore the practical realities of ethical dilemmas that court interpreters face regularly.
CPC – U & NIC Interview
This six hour workshop is designed for all levels of interpreters and will focus on preparing them for the Interview portion of the NIC exam. The presenter will begin with a basic overview of NAD RID CPC its history and application today. Participants will review the CPC guidelines represented as “tools” in an Interpreters “tool box”. The presenter will then review the concept of “Powerful Language” and how its utilization will enhance their responses in the interview. Lastly the participants will participate in a mock interview activity utilizing th understanding and knowledge of the CPC and skills in powerful language to best represent themselves in the NIC exam. The goal of this presentation is to reduce fear and build confidence through “PREPARATION PREPARATION PREPARATION”. To this end participants will be empowered with a clear understanding of the CPC and its application in real life and how to best communicate that in the NIC exam. Participants will have developed tools to support their analysis of problems and defend decisions made in their professional capacity. The presentation will utilize Power Point, handouts, and a mock interview activity.
Cultural and Professional Misunderstandings about Hispanics and Non-Hispanics
There are multi disciplinary areas that sign language interpreters must interact. From recruitment, Interpreting Training Programs, mentoring, agencies, clients, colleagues, agencies that are all potential sources of misunderstood about the cultural and general value differences. How do we deal with our way vs. “their way” what ever that may be? Do we recognize the potential conflicts? Do we recognize the sources? This presentation will answer those questions and present strategies based on collaborative review based on the NMIP team, as well as other sources of information addressing these concerns.
Deaf Interpreting Processes
CDI
This workshop will provide in-depth applications of Deaf Interpreting processes for Deaf persons who wish to develop advanced skills in processing skills, use of Visual Gestural communication and techniques, discourse analysis and discourse mapping of 1-2 case studies to develop processing skills, critical thinking skills and a better understanding of applications of ethical decision-making processes. Expansion techniques, use of ASL Discourse structure and cultural mediation are emphasized in this training. Participants must have ASL competency and have completed at least 16 hours on Deaf Interpreting.
Dealing With Hispanic Cultural Nuances While Interpreting and How to Apply it to Minimum-lingual, Semi-lingual, and Non-lingual Hispanic Deaf
Trilingual
Sergio Peña will introduce techniques on the cultural language nuances of Hispanics/Latinos. This will include the communication linguistic and non linguistic codes. We will discuss the onomatopoeia and exhaling theory of communication and how this is applied to sign languages. This subtopic will be the base for interpreting techniques with semi-lingual and non-lingual Hispanic deaf people.
Educational Interpreter Ethics: Don’t Get Stuck in the DO++ DO++
Educational
Have you ever been faced with a sticky ethical situation on the job and weren’t sure how to handle it? When do you follow the laws? When do you follow school policies? When do you follow RID Code of Professional Conduct? How do you make good ethical decisions within a school setting? Learn how to ask good thought provoking questions as you figure out how to keep the splash factor to a minimum and create a win/win solution for ethical dilemmas in the school system and avoid being stuck in the DO++ DO++.
Educational Interpreting K-12, Making a Difference
This panel discussion will focus on strategies used to effect change within the K-12 education system. This networking opportunity will allow individuals from a number of school districts, the Educational Service Centers, and others to share with participants the details and strategies on how they were able to positively effect change within the education system they work.
Entertainment
First Deaf Woman Professional Juggler & "Pinky Tells the Real Story" a VP/VRS Comedy
"Estoy having Problems" – Trilingual _ Improving Your Spanish Proficiency
Trilingual
The increasing need for trilingual interpreting services have provided the arena for many interpreters with minimal or inadequate skills in Spanish into trying to meet this pressing need without the proper foundation, training and understanding of their work. A significant factor to be considered is that these professionals "get by" in their spoken Spanish skills in everyday interactions with family, friends and peers with similar backgrounds, readily code-switching and conversing using parts of English and Spanish lexicon with ease. This seems to pose no problems until they are confronted in the professional arena with native users of Spanish with little or no knowledge of English or Americanism.This presentation proposes to offer strategies for trilingual interpreters to develop and increase their Spanish language proficiency by raising awareness of language features and their implications for interpretation. Hands on exercises and will cover verb conjugation, idioms and cognate.
Ethics for Interpreters: Special Considerations and Challenges
CDI
This course will provide a brief review of the field of interpretation and service models of interpreting and Deaf interpreting; identification of responsibilities; current and evolving roles which affect ethical making decisions. This workshop will focus primarily on Ethics and ethical making-decision processes for Deaf Interpreters related to ethics and RID's Code of Ethics as well as ethical issues that Deaf Interpreters may encounter during their work. This course will be taught in lectures, demonstrations, group activities, ethical vignettes for group processes and discussions.
The Forbidden Fruit: Breaking the Stigma of Sex Talk
This workshop is designed to educate interpreters who have not been exposed to certain areas of language that are sometimes thought of as taboo. Ways to use appropriate sex vocabulary is not something that is taught or often seen unless you are apart of this tight net community and culture. There are signs and English phrasing that are specific to this content. The participants will get acquainted with the signs being used in the Deaf community and then will be matching these with appropriate use of English in a professional register. Once these tools have been taught the participants will be more able to adapt to these different interpreting settings. Our workshop is designed to be as open as possible. We will bring with us a wealth of knowledge from the Deaf and interpreting perspectives. This will strengthen our interpreters by easing them into the use of this type of language. This will be a fun and enlightening experience with those who attend.
The Foreign Sign Language
The Foreign Sign Language workshop not only distinguishes International Sign from the language the foreign Deaf people use as they interact, but also highlights the major influences of two sign languages that have become central to sign languages across the European continent and the Americas: French Sign Language and Spanish Sign Language. Key comparisons will exemplify the prevalence of the two central languages in many sign languages in the New World from Argentina to French Canada as well as across the Old World. Many regional signs in ASL as well as common signs in other sign languages will be revealed through comparison and contract. Evolution of sign languages and etymology will also be studied. Light shed on universal linguistics and culture will foster a better understanding of the norm of sign languages in around the world.
Giving Voice: Sign to Voice Interpreting for Hearing Audiences in Public School Settings
Educational
You are assigned to interpret in a classroom. The Deaf student is about to give a report. Do you get as nervous or stressed about voicing as the student does about the presentation? If so, this workshop is for you! In this workshop, we will focus on voicing for hearing audiences in public school settings. You will learn about the theories behind the assignment, the stakeholders for a scenario and aspects unique to voicing for deaf K-12 students. Then, you’ll get to practice applying this knowledge to video clips provided by the presenter. This will be done in a team setting which will allow you to brainstorm and give feedback to your peers’ voicing. By the time you’re done, you’ll feel more confident to give the “voice” your audience has been waiting to hear!
How to Chunk the Message Without Chunking the Meaning
This is a very "hands up" workshop. Focus will be on identifying the core meaning of a message and organizing it into manageable "chunks" so that the message can be interpreted into ASL more fluently and accurately. We will define "chunking the message" and explain how to accomplish this goal through the use of a variety of ASL techniques. The majority of the workshop will be spent interpreting and receiving feedback in a positive and safe environment, focusing on spoken text material that approximates the content and rate of the BEI Basic exam. Participants will work in small groups to practice new concepts, and will receive feedback from peers as well as individual feedback from the presenters. Opportunity will be given to network with peers and begin to establish future study groups.
Influences on the Interpreter Pursuant: Why does one become an interpreters?
Currently, there is a dramatic gap that exists between the numbers of interpreters and deaf and hard of hearing individuals. As professionals, and educators we must seek out ways to recruit future interpreters to help alleviate this disparity and at the same time further our profession by finding our successors. To be able to do this we must understand what influences one to enter the interpreting profession and what causes them to seek out training for it? During this professional discussion, qualitative research conducted by the presenters will be shared along with ideas of how to recruit interpreters.
Interpreting in a Substance Abuse Situation
Medical
This six hour workshop is designed for all levels of interpreters and will focus on preparing them to work more effectively in a substance abuse (SA) setting. The presenter will begin with a basic overview of SA within the Deaf / Hard of Hearing community. Material will include etiology, instance, denial, and the taboo nature of this topic in our community. Participants will view deaf/hard of hearing sign models in a basic introduction to SA and use related vocabulary used today. The presentation will include a brief description of the 12 step philosophy, and a cheat sheet of “Idioms / Slogans” used in AA meetings The goal of this presentation is to reduce the fear and build confidence through “PREPARATION PREPARATION PREPARATION”. To this end participants will be able to supplement their libraries with copies of standard readings and translations from AA’s General Service Organization (GSO). These reading hold the foundation of the AA principle and are also read “at lightning speed” at every AA meeting – an interpreter’s worst nightmare. Lastly a candid discussion about self care and the potentials of transference and stress that these assignment often entail. Some quick and fun de-stressing techniques will be modeled and practiced. The presentation will utilize Power Point, ASL signing models, lots of handouts, and candid discussion from a seasoned professional in the field.
Intralingual Skills Development for Trilingual Interpreters
Trilingual
Many sign language interpreters are non-native users of American Sign Language and often spend much of their education and training on improving their ASL skills. Less attention is often given to improving hteir English skills or, in the case of trilingual interpreters, their Spanish skills. Having well-developed and well-controlled intralingual (knowledge and skills within a language) skills is pre-curser to developing interlingual (knowledge and skills across languages) skills. This session will provide participants with an opportunity to develop their intralingual skills in English, Spanish and American Sign Language through individual and small-group activities with focus on memory skills development and comprehension, and explore ways to improve their fluency in each of these languages. In addition, this session will provide an overview of language acquisition and learning theories and allow participants to explore their own language acquisition processes.
The Lexicon of Legalese
Legal
“Res ispa loquitur” meaning “the thing speaks for itself,” is an example of the irony and complexity many people encounter when introduced to a system where often things don’t seem to say what they mean at all. This wonderland is a place commonly referred to as the legal system. While actual procedures can vary dramatically from courtroom to courtroom and county to county, a fundamental grasp of the meanings and consequences for the participants in this system can help interpreters who are interested in moving into the field of legal interpreting. Designed to give interpreters with little experience in the legal arena an understanding of meaning and vocabulary as an applied understanding, this workshop will offer basic definitions and context for terms and phrases commonly used in the legal environment.
Nouns to Nonce: Fingerspelling in the Educational Setting
Educational
Fingerspelling is used primarily in ASL to represent proper nouns, which could include, but is not limited to, specific terms, English words that do not have ASL lexical equivalents and technical terms. During this workshop educational and community interpreters will look at how fingerspelling is naturally used by Deaf consumers and what choices interpreters have in handling fingerspelled word into our interpretation. Areas to be addressed are when a sign or classifier replaces the fingerspelled noun, when nouns remain fingerspelled (lexicalized, abbreviated or as a nonce) and what to do about name signs.
On the other side of the curtain: Interpreting for a Deaf medical professional
Medical
Did you ever dream of becoming a doctor? Do you develop your own differential diagnoses while interpreting for doctors and patients? Can you imagine interpreting for 30+ hours a week while someone is learning more about medicine or practicing as a doctor? With the advent of the ADA, assistive technology, better educated parents and a wider variety of education options for Deaf students, many Deaf young people are not content to simply become laborers, engineers or software developers. This new "freedom" is leading more Deaf people into medicine, psychology, nursing, veterinary, massage, and other allied health professions. With their advancement comes a completely new challenge to the profession of sign language interpreting; a foreign world of terminology, fast pace, high expectations, and situations and interactions unique to the medical professions. Interpreting in this world brings a steep learning curve and challenges to your typical professional approach to "the work", as well as physical, mental and ethical concerns unique to this arena. Through sharing our experiences, we hope to benefit the profession, with an eye toward making the future of this kind of interpreting easier for all concerned.
Perspectives
This workshop addresses the origins of some of the perceptions, or perspectives, which seem to dominate the field of interpreting. Building on the perceptions presented in “RID – The Musical” this workshop seeks to further examine the roots of these perceptions as well as how they have played out over the years and developed into myths such as “RID is for certified interpreters only.” Workshop attendees will participate in a series of individual and small group activities designed to help them identify their own current perceptions, explore the effects of those perceptions, and adapt their perceptions as they see fit. The overall goal is that participants walk away from this workshop with the understanding, based on newly acquired experiential knowledge, that we can interact and move forward more productively by being consciously aware of our perceptions rather than be unconsciously controlled by perceptions based in our collective history.
RID: The Musical
We are all aware that the field of interpreting has a short, but very rich history. What many of us don’t know, however, is that buried deep in this brief history are the roots of perceptions that control our interactions with one another and that left unchecked, have the power to adversely affect our future. This performance brings some of these perceptions to light by examining our history.
This performance is a musical depiction of RID’s history as presented by Lou Fant in his manuscript “Silver Threads – A Personal Look at the First Twenty-fiveYears of the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf.” Conference participants will view RID’s history through a variety of visual messages, in a non-threatening environment, and in a way that allows for individual interpretation of historical lessons. This inspiring performance is one of a kind and will leave participants with a newfound sense of understanding and hope.
The Right to Silence Visual Interpretations of the Miranda Warning
Legal
This workshop analyzes and reviews various examples of conceptually accurate interpretations of the Miranda Warning. The session reviews the historic development of Miranda v. Arizona, ramifications of the Supreme Court decision and other subsequent relevant decisions. The session analyzes the two commercially available videos and discusses strengths and weaknesses. In addition, the session will review textual density of the Miranda Warning ways to incorporate the complex concepts into one’s work. The workshop format includes: video analysis, lecture, group discussions/activities, group/team work, and feedback processes. Participants will demonstrate an understanding of and be able to produce different interpretations of the Miranda Warning.
Sight Translation (English and Spanish)
This workshop will give participants a general concept of what is meant by sight translation. After a large group lecture and discussion, participants will have an opportunity to practice in pairs or small groups. Participants will work from documents written in English into ASL, and additionally from documents written in Spanish into English for those working toward Tri-Lingual certification.
Spanish-English Translation: Principles and Practice
Trilingual
This 6-hour workshop is designed for individuals who are fluent in written Spanish and English (college level) and wish to hone their translation skills. Participants will be assumed already to have some familiarity with the principles of ASL-English interpreting. Translating (written) or interpreting (oral) experience in the Spanish-English combination is desirable but not necessary. The workshop will begin with a review of the principles of meaning-based translation and basic translation methodology. Participants will then engage in practical exercises intended to illustrate the concepts presented. Following a discussion of recommended references for the Spanish-English combination and research techniques, participants will have another opportunity to practice translating on their own, and then the group as a whole will discuss their work. Authentic source texts will be provided for participants to translate, followed by extensive discussion and feedback. By the end of the workshop, participants will have a clear understanding of meaning-based translation and the range of options available to translators in different situations.
To take full advantage of the workshop, participants should bring laptop computers. They are welcome to bring as many monolingual and bilingual dictionaries as they like; the instructor will have a variety of subject-specific dictionaries on hand as well. Handouts will include an extensive bibliography and webography.
Start the Music
Some years back, a deaf woman said “Stop the Music” and I say we “Start the Music.” Sign songs. Many of us dream it, visualize it and feel it. Sign it? Gasp.. should I sign it English or ASL? For years, Dr. Byron Bridges has been signing songs in many different settings. Come and learn from Byron on techniques of signing songs. We will be doing different genres such as religion, rock and roll, & easy listening music. You will learn how to move to the next level in signing songs. You also will be watching a demonstration of what one may be wondering “Which way should I do it?” In-dept discussion of text analysis will be done on how one may approach the song and bring it toward the audience. We all will be singing, clapping, hand waiving together and having fun. Take a look at the group Honey on the Rock. Are they not fabulous with their interpreter? This workshop will be a learning experience for all of us who would like to perhaps interpret for a concert someday. Come and rock and roll while earning CEU’s. You can’t beat that.
Systems Advocacy: Making Policy and/or Legislative Change
Legal
Systems advocacy works to create change in organizations, service systems, or laws and is used to change policies of agencies, organizations or departments. Although it is more work, a systems advocacy effort is needed when policies or laws cause the same problem for many people and the problems are expected to keep reoccurring. Where the effort is directed will depend on the nature of the problem and which organization has authority over the problem area. This workshop will address the stages of systems advocacy and provide participants with the tools to impact public policy and legislative change. Systems advocacy efforts can be demanding, challenging, and a exciting undertaking. The process requires care, thought and commitment, but the payoffs are well worth the effort.
Take 2??? And Call me in the Morning; Interpreting in Medical Settings
Medical
Medical situations encompass a wide variety of settings; from routine office visits to emergency rooms to a myriad of situations that fall under mental health. Interpreters are dealing with issues not found in other genres. How do we negotiate this and keep ourselves sharp? How do we culturally educate without oppressing patients? How do we interpret effectively around machines, chemicals, communicable conditions and keep ourselves safe as well?
This solution-based workshop addresses this issue. Participants will leave with some solid techniques to try, a learning plan for continuing education in medical situations, and hopefully new energy.
Teaming and Talking – Creating our Ideal Work Place
During the course of our work, interpreters produce a product that cannot be touched with the hands; rather the product is measured by what our deaf and hearing consumers receive. For this reason, it is sometimes hard to separate the interpreter as a person from the product that they create during any given job; this distinction is absolutely necessary in order to be able to discuss our work. Often times, interpreters work in a team in order to ensure a better product. Communication between team members is crucial before, during, and after the assignment. This workshop will integrate discussions about the ways we work in teams with the way we talk about this work, within the framework of RID’s Code of Professional Conduct. We will review the process of working an assignment with a co-interpreter, and identify appropriate ways that we as interpreters can talk about the work during each stage of that process. We will explore the ways in which our words shape the interpreting community in which we work.
"They’ve got guns… What am I supposed to say?" Scripts and Best Practices for working in Law Enforcement
Legal
Have you ever walked into a law enforcement interpreting situation and wished you could just turn around? Have you felt intimidated by the environment, the officers, or the enormity of potential consequences to your work? Are you searching for strategies and tools to improve the services you can provide? Or do you just need a better understanding of the dynamics involved in this highly charged setting?
If you answered ‘yes’ to any of the questions above, this workshop is for you. Adam Bartley and Patricia Moers-Patterson bring a wealth of experience and a reasoned approach to law enforcement interpreting to bear on this informative and practical seminar. Join us for this look into an often feared but vital component of our field.
Tools for Self-Analysis
This presentation will focus on the tools for mentors, educators, and interpreters to address skill development including identifying performance gaps and the best interventions to close these gaps. Tools provided will be the ABC Framework, 3+3 Skill Identification & Prioritization, Diagnostic Skills Rubric, Stages of Cognitive Processing, Discourse Mapping, and a Skill Development Activity Template. At the conclusion of this workshop, interpreters, mentors, and educators will have all of the tools needed to approach skill development in a systematic and successful way.
Trilingual Interpreting: One Little, Two Little, Three Little Languages, Whoa!
Trilingual
Do you ever feel like your ASL production didn’t live up to the spoken source language and vice versa? Would you like to have more choices to choose from in both your ASL and voiced production? This workshop will help expand both your ASL and voicing lexical arsenal for comfort and ease in trilingual settings.
Understanding the Deaf Student’s Brain: Challenges in the Mainstream Classroom with Interpreters
Educational
This presentation focuses on understanding frontal lobe functioning and visual encoding process in the deaf person’s brain, appreciation of challenges in attending to interpreters in the classroom, and then addresses strategies to facilitate learning experiences in deaf students who use interpreters in mainstream classrooms
Warning! Explicit Content! Managing Profanity in English Discourse
It is amazing how much damage four little letters can do. Profanity as a function of language has often been overlooked and not considered “real” language, (Jay, 2000) however interpreters do not have the luxury of dismissing this emotional component. Due to its potential for miscommunication and emotional harm, professionals should have educated and informed strategies for managing these utterances and be able to articulate the decision rationale. Professionals will benefit from education about profanity, its linguistic function, history and current use in English. From our collective experiences, we can re-examine situations we have faced in the past and use those to plan for the future. Interpreters will significantly benefit from further education, collaborative discussion, and practice in a safe environment - to ready themselves the next time they face those four little letters.
What Are You Worth?
Helen Keller once said, “Never bend your head. Always hold it high. Look the world straight in the face”. How you carry yourself and present yourself to the world shows how you feel about yourself. Exactly where do those feelings come from? Do you feel positive or negative about yourself and/or your abilities? How much does all this impact your relationships and your career? If you could change the value you’ve placed on yourself, would you do it? Have you ever thought about how you make other people feel about themselves? Come and explore this and many more aspects of self esteem, a very complex issue that has much to do with our ability to function and succeed in our demanding, often unjust world. In the grand scheme of things, are you worth three hours of learning and growing? Give yourself this time to discover how valuable your really are!