How to use your educational sign language interpreter

Preparation

• Talk about goals and expectations of your lesson: Interpreters are part of the educational team. Include them in meetings regarding the student. Their job and responsibility is to make sure your message and the conversations in the classroom is translated clearly and to voice for the signing student. During down time, interpreters can be prepping, reading ahead, and reflecting on the lesson.
• Provide information or presentation materials in advance to interpreters when possible, to help them prepare for your lessons (handouts, textbooks, lesson plans, syllabus, vocabulary, prior notice of a video, etc.)
• Provide a personal work space: for personal belonging and to prepare for lessons. The interpreter should not be permanently parked next to the student(s). Students need to learn independence and the interpreter needs some prep time.

Presentation

• Use proper lighting during movies and presentations so the interpreter can be clearly seen.
• Staying in the visual frame, the interpreter will try to stand near the teacher and visual information to foster a clear line of sight for the students.
• Show then Tell, provide a time for students to look at and process visuals, then to shift attention back to the interpreter before you continue with the lesson.
• Ask and Wait, when asking a question to the whole class, allow time for your message to be interpreted and for the student to process what you said. Watch out for fast moving games that require quick student responses based on an auditory signal and interpretation! Ask yourself, how can I create equal access?

Follow up

• Eye contact, When doing comprehension checks and meeting with students. Talk directly to the student when using an interpreter. The student might be looking at the interpreter and/or speech reading the to understand what is being said.
• Learn some basic or content sign! This will help build a relationship, promote inclusion and direct communication between student and teacher. Plus students LOVE THIS. Go to the sign language tab to find some great online dictionaries for the ABC's of ASL or dig deep into your content area and incorporate another language into your lesson.