Seattle Central Community College____________________________________

        Health and Human Services

Course Syllabus

Course: ITP 163: English to ASL Interpreting II

Credits: 4

Prerequisites: ITP 161 passed with a 2.5 GPA or better, or equivalent skills with

    permission of instructor and concurrent enrollment in ITP 162.

Instructor: Brenda Aron

Office: BE 1123       Phone: 800-729-9074 VP     Email: Baron@sccd.ctc.edu

Office Hours: Monday and Wednesdays, 9-11; 2-4 PM

Course Description: This course is a continuation of ITP 161. The focus of this course is to increase fluency, facility and stamina, with increased difficulty of text, discourse and vocabulary from English to American Sign Language in consecutive interpreting. There will also be more focus on developing listening skills in consecutive interpreting. We will work on improving facility in receptive and expressive finger spelling. Theoretical applications related to models of interpreting will be discussed.

My Educational Philosophy:

I believe every person learns at their own pace therefore one may pick up on the techniques adeptly while others struggle with much practice however, each will arrive at their goal eventually.

Students who:

• show willingness to learn;
• is aware of his/her strengths and weaknesses and
• works hard to improve through practice;
• accepts constructive feedback;
• assumes responsibility in course work such as turning in his/her work on time, completing course requirements as assigned;
• shows respect for others as well as self and
• has a good attitude

Will succeed.

Student Outcomes:

By the end of the course, you will be able to:

1. Discuss and apply effective information processing

2. Discuss and understand models of  sign language interpreting

3 Discuss your own interpreting work from a process model perspective

4. Analyze your own interpreting work from a process model perspective

5. Apply an enhanced vocabulary of signs and ASL expressions

6. Interpret in the consecutive mode

Methods of Instruction:

In this course, the emphasis will be on practicing listening skills; information processing; and expressive ASL skills. We will listen and interpret from tape recordings, continue to improve visualization and mind mapping, chunking information and categorizing data and details through classroom activities and exercises.  There will be focus on improving ASL classifiers and applying conceptual ASL.  We will discuss and understand different models of interpreting. We will also learn how to give and receive constructive critiques and feedback of our and others’ work.

Required Materials:

1. Workbook: “Consecutive Interpreting from English”, Carol J. Patrie, Dawn Sign Press
2. Workbook: “Translating from English”, Carol J. Patrie, Dawn Sign Press
3. 2 VHS or DVDs. Recommended brands are: TDK, Maxwell, Sony, BASF, Fuji or Memorex to prolong the life of our equipment.
4. One three ring binder to hold your notes, log journal, handouts etc.

Student Assignments:

1. Interpreting Exercises:

We will do many interpreting exercises in class and outside of class as assigned homework. You are expected to complete the assignments as scheduled. There will be a total of 3 videotape  assignments  to be submitted for grade.

2. Practice Log:

A typed log of your on-going practice including class assignments, as additional work for the class, i.e., work with study group, work with tutor/mentor, practice with Deaf people, etc. A detailed description of the work you performed in those settings should be entered on, at least, on a weekly basis; a weekly entry is highly recommended. See webpage for a sample practice log.

3. ASL and English Improvement Plan:

Review your plan from last quarter as well as feedback you received from the instructor, list areas you plan to focus on for improvement this quarter. Due Thursday, January 10, 2008.

4. Outside Activity:

1. You are expected to accumulate 4 hours of experiences at interpreted events, for example: lecture, workshops, church, theatre, etc. No single event may count for more than an hour. If there is an interpreter in one of the classes you take, you may use this experience only once. Never attend a class here just to observe an interpreter. Using the form attached, type up each event and turn it in. The four hours must be completed before the end of winter quarter.

2. You are expected to accumulate 4 hours of gratis SSP work. You must

work with at least two different clients and communication modality  or preference, for example: tactile or tunnel vision; Sign English or ASL. Using the format on the ITP 163 webpage, type up your SSP experience and turn it in before the end of winter quarter.

3. You are expected to attend at least 3 of the 5 Deaf-Blind Community classes with the Lighthouse. Be sure to observe a variety of interpreters and modalities. Write up a summary of each lecture and what you have learned from observing interpreters in the classes, turn it in before the end of winter quarter.

E. Culturally Respectful Behavior:

1.      Attend and participate in class

2.      Use appropriate attire for videotaping

3.      Work cooperatively with your peers and the instructor

4.      Adjust turn-taking as appropriate

5.      Sign at all times in class

Assessment and Grades:

You will receive feedback from your peers and your instructor in class; in the lab and from your videotape submissions (Three Videos). During the last week of class, I will meet with you individually to provide feedback, discuss your progress and work.  Throughout the quarter, you are more than welcome to make an appointment with me during my office hours for feedback on your interpreting process or anything else regarding the course.

There will be a midterm and final exam test on terminology and skills learned in class.

Absence Policy:

As ASL is a visual language taught with a visual method, class attendance is essential to learning. Any absences can impede a student’s progress. However, some absences are unavoidable. You may have up to 2 absences without it affecting your grade. Students missing over 2 classes will have 25 points deducted from their final grade. Students missing over 4 classes will have 50 points deducted from their final grade. Students who frequently miss parts of the class may have those hours totaled to count as absences from class.

Students shall be responsible for gathering all notes, materials and information missed during an absence. Any missed assignments or evaluations may not be able to be made up.

Grading:

200 points for three videos (50 points for first and 2^nd, 100 for 3^rd video)

40 points for your paper on Interpreter Observations

40 points for gratis SSP work

30 points for attendance to Deaf-Blind Classes

20 points for practice log

36 points for Culturally Respectful Behavior

30 points for the midterm

30 points for the final exam

426 points

Your final grade will be reported as a decimal grade e.g. 3.7. Below is a conversion table, which shows how the points and percentage grades relate to letter and decimal grades.

Points:         Percentage:            Letter Grade:             Decimal Points:

426 – 383  =        90% +             =         A            =            3.6-  4.0

387 – 341  =        80%+              =          B            =            3.2 – 3.5

340 – 298  =        70% +             =          C            =            2.3 – 3.1

297 -  256 =         60% +             =          D            =            1.2 – 2.2

255 -  213 =         50%                 =         F           =                0 – 1.1

Note: If you need reasonable accommodations based on a documented disability, have emergency information to share or require special arrangements in case of emergency evacuation, please make a confidential appointment with me within the first two weeks of class. For more information regarding support services or accommodations, call the Disability Support Services at 587-4183, room BE1147.