Q: When are student interpreters and translators available?
Student interpreters and translators are only available during the Fall and Spring semesters. They are not available during the Summer or Winter Break.
Q: Why are some interpreting and translation requests not accepted by the students?
Students are interpreters and/or translators in training. Many requests require skill levels that are more appropriate for professional interpreters and translators. These more difficult requests include conference or workshop interpreting, assignments related to commercial services, medical services, legal situations, and/or requests from a government agency or other entity that should be providing professional interpreters and translators. We do not accept televised, live-streamed, and/or recorded interpreting requests. Also, we do not allow students to interpret for other Gallaudet University students when the assignment is related to a course requirement. We will often allow students to work with certified interpreters for many of these requests. We accept translation requests only when we have Deaf interpreting students.
Q: What is the difference between a student interpreter/translator and a professional interpreter/translator?
Student interpreters/translators are continuously developing their skills in the classroom, gaining real-world experience, and are usually striving for a certification. A professional interpreter/translator has usually received formal training and is either qualified and/or certified. He/She/They should have the knowledge and ability to assess communication preferences while adapting their interpretation to meet the client's needs. Both student and professional interpreters/translators should be fluent in ASL/English and must abide by the Code of Professional Conduct (CPC).
Q: Why didn’t my interpreting or translation request get filled?
Unfortunately, we are not able to fill every request. Students have very busy schedules with classes, homework, jobs, and other responsibilities. We are only able to fill requests based on student availability.
Q: Do you accept requests from Gallaudet University departments?
In most cases events at Gallaudet University, including the Clerc Center, should be interpreted by professional interpreters booked through Gallaudet Interpreting Service (GIS). Students are never allowed to interpret for Gallaudet University courses or required course-related activities.
Q: Can I pay students?
Students work on a strictly pro bono basis. By providing students with volunteer interpreting opportunities you are contributing to their development as professional interpreters. Since students are usually not certified and the pro bono interpreting hours are a course and degree requirement, we do not allow them to receive compensation.
Q: Why do you usually send two interpreters?
Interpreters generally work in teams of two. Having additional support from another interpreter is beneficial not only for students but for professional interpreters as well.
Q: Do I need to submit multiple requests for a weekly event?
There is no need to submit a request for each week of a recurring job. Please mention in the first request all future dates.
Q: Can I request a student interpreter for on-call assignments?
We do not allow students to be booked on assignments “just in case” interpreting will be needed. Students’ schedules are fully booked and we try to avoid sending them to assignments without a guarantee that they will be actively interpreting.
Q: Are students allowed to eat and drink at an assignment? Are they allowed to drink alcohol?
If food and drink will be provided for all guests at the event, students are allowed to eat as well as long as it does not distract from their interpreting work. If the event is at a restaurant you do not need to purchase meals for the interpreters. Students are never allowed to consume alcohol or any other mind-altering substances while working.
Q: The hearing consumer asked one of the students how she learned to sign and she didn’t sign her answer. She just responded in English. Why didn’t she sign so I would know what she was saying?
Students are encouraged to only use one language at a time. Signing and speaking at the same time makes both languages difficult to understand. When consumers ask student interpreters questions we encourage them to be polite, answer the question as quickly as possible, and move on with interpreting. Students should be courteous but we also want to set the expectation that the interpreter is there to work. If the student interpreter had a team we hope that they quickly answered the question with no more than a sentence and perhaps an offer to explain more later. The student could have answered the question in ASL or English and then their team should have interpreted into the other language. If the student was alone then once they realized that the hearing consumer was asking them a question, told you what was happening in ASL, in English tell the hearing consumer that they can’t talk now but would be happy to explain later, interpreted to you what they said in ASL, and then continued with the meeting. Usually the offer to chat later will be forgotten but there is nothing wrong with a minute or two of conversation about how the student learned to sign or where they are from or whatever it was the hearing consumer asked.
Q: How do I provide feedback to a student interpreter?
Ideally you and the student interpreters would have 15 or 20 minutes after the assignment to talk about how it went for everyone. Additionally, we will follow up prior to the assignment via email with a feedback form. If you would like, please fill out the form and send it to anyone (Deaf/hard of hearing and hearing) that utilized the student interpreter(s), as we may not have everyone's contact information.
Q: How do I provide feedback to a student translator?
We will be following up with an email that will contain a feedback form after the event that you, and any other people that utilized the student interpreter, are welcome to fill out. If you do not receive this feedback request email, please send an email to the student translator or to the field experience coordinator at doit.practical.experience@gallaudet.edu.
You are always welcome to send additional comments to the scheduler at: studentscheduling@gallaudet.edu and those comments will be shared with the student interpreters and faculty as appropriate.