In the field of "Interpreting", just as in any profession there will always be controversies, difference of opinions and a vast effort to broaden and improve the quality of the profession individually and through group effort. For Interpreters, there is great network between us. We have conferences all across the U.S., National and State Affiliate chapters, organizations, Web site's and Interpreter Mailing Lists.The wealth of knowledge available to Interpreters globally is quite amazing and a monumental step in our profession. One such area in interpreting that seems to hold much passion is the debate of Interpreter Training Programs vs. Personal experience.
"Interpreter educators have determined that a broad, liberal education is critical if one is to succeed as an interpreter. In addition, it is imperative that the interpreters be trained in the task of interpretation. A majority of certified Sign Language Interpreters are college graduates with a 33% holding a Bachelor's degree, 25% holding a Master's degree and 2% holding a Doctorate. Additionally, advanced education opens new opportunities for employment to interpreters, resulting in a more extensive career ladder".So You Want to be an Interpreter
Alcorn and Humhprey
In the last 3 years I have heard the debate "Are Interpreter Training Programs alone enough for Interpreters to join the work force? How beneficial are these programs, How much can they actually learn?"
From my own personal encounters with Interpreters personally and through the internet... many do feel that these programs are beneficial yet at the same time feel experience and socialization is just as important. There are a few who believe that experience is more valuable than education and that world experience is its own teacher.
As one interpreter stated...
" Although ITP's give you a healthy focus on deaf culture and sign language, I don't think they adequately prepare you for INTEPRETING. Of course like any profession you have to learn by OJT (on the job training) but some of the better information I have gained was not through 16 weeks in a class, but smaller, local workshops where a peer educated me on how to handle unexpected situations that can and do pop up."
Another Interpreter who has been interpreting for 15 years stated:
"At times I have wished that there were an ITP program in my area. But when I have researched the idea of traveling to distant programs, I have always concluded that they don't appear to be worth my effort. I feel that most of the coursework would not even begin to cover what I have learned through the years from other interpreters and from the Deaf themselves."
and another
"The only reason some students do well and / or are successful upon completion of an ITP is that the individual themselves interacted in the Deaf community, and watched public interpretations happening. It is not the college that provides these types of experiences. An indicator of this is many students out of school after 3 and 4 years are achieving level 1 and 2 on the state QA's. That alone says that it is the 3 or 4 years of experience that has given them their education."
As you can clearly see, the above mentioned feel socialization and personal experience is very essential in an Interpreter's growth.
