Student Responsibilities

1. Determine protocol for the following situations:

• How should the mentor contact you if they will be absent?

• What should you do if the mentor is absent and a replacement interpreter is sent to the assignment?

• What should you do if the mentor is absent and no replacement interpreter arrives?

• If asked, how should you respond to a request to interpret the assignment?

• How should you contact your mentor if you will be absent?

(Note:  Contact must be made before you are expected to arrive on site.
You must contact your mentor directly (email and messages left in voice mail are not acceptable)

2.  Keep and maintain a daily calendar of events you will attend.

3.  Establish weekly Supervision meetings with your mentor.

• Take an active role in determining what is discussed during your weekly meetings.

• Ask the mentor to help introduce you to other interpreters, instructors, deaf students, etc.

• Explain to the mentor that you will be keeping a Practicum Goals Worksheet, Practicum Journal, and weekly Language Log.

• Explain to the mentor that you will bring your Practicum Time Sheets to the weekly supervision meetings for review and discussion.

4. With the help of your mentor, develop a list of interpreters that you will contact for observations and supervision.

5. Discuss with your mentor how best to complete an observation.

6. Review your Practicum Goals with your mentor. (See tips and samples in the Resources section)

7. Establish a plan for your mentor to observe your interpreting on a weekly basis.

• Clearly document practicum experiences in your Practicum Journal. A sample Practicum journal can be found on myCourses.

• Clearly document ASL and English vocabulary and language in your Language Log. A sample language log can be found on myCourses.

• Clearly document your efforts toward goals in the Mentee/Mentor Weekly Supervision Worksheet.

• Come prepared for all meetings with your mentor and with your Seminar instructor.

• Fill out your weekly Timesheet and verify that the spreadsheet is calculating correctly. Check that you are on track to complete hour requirements.

• Schedule a mid-semester meeting with your mentor to review your Practicum goals. Finalize any adjustments to your goals and give a final copy to your mentor and to the Seminar instructor no later than Week 3 of the semester.

• Attend Practicum placement meetings when appropriate (e.g., DAS core team meetings, BOCES staff meetings, Strong Memorial Hospital meetings). These hours could be counted toward fulfilling your required preparation hours.

• Be sure your mentor has seen enough of your interpreting work by Week 7 to complete the Mid-Semester Mentor Evaluation of Practicum Student.

• During Week 7, discuss the Mid-Semester Mentor Evaluation of Practicum Student with your mentor. 

For items that your mentor rated Fair or Unsatisfactory, discuss with your mentor strategies for improving the rating. Ask for ongoing feedback on your progress on these items.

Before Week 15:

    Be sure your mentor has seen enough of your work to complete the Final Mentor Evaluation of BSI Practicum Student google form.  The form will be sent out by the practicum coordinator 2 weeks prior to the evaluation due date.  A copy of the form can be found here.  

During Week 15:

• Discuss the Final Mentor Evaluation of BSI Practicum Student with your mentor. 

• Complete the BSI Student Evaluation of Mentor google form (sent from the Practicum Coordinator)

• Discuss with the mentor your overall performance during the practicum.

• Complete the BSI Student Practicum Experience Feedback form (sent from the Practicum Coordinator)