Sunday, February 7, 2010
Using Technology to Improve Interpreting Skills
American Sign Language and interpreting websites can be a hugely beneficial tool for interpreters in both an educational setting and a community setting. To simply learn vocabulary, there are sites such as ASLPro. However, some sites that have been invaluable to me are those that dialogue about interpreting experiences and situations. The interpreter's friend has been one place that I go to research signing in both professional and religious settings. The Registry of Interpreter's for the Deaf(RID) also has a website that offers a wide variety of knowledge about national and local interpreting. Seeking out the blogs and websites of other interpreters is also a good way to network. In order to be the most knowledgeable interpreter possible, networking is a must. It offers opportunities not only to meet and dialogue with other interpreters, but also to acquire more knowledge about their experiences and know what is going on in other parts of the country. Following others on twitter is beneficial too. The technology that is now readily available to interpreters has enabled us to make large improvements in our field.
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This is really interesting. For me as a mainstream, elementary teacher, it is great to know that there are resources out there to learn some sign language without having to take a formal class. It is just another way to be a life-long learner which is one of our dispositions!
ReplyDeleteYour comment regarding networking is very interesting on many different levels. Most importantly however, networking is a vital tool not only for educators alone, but for any person in any work or personal environment. Networking is the key for collecting information, making lasting business and personal contacts, and learning about new and interesting concepts. For me, as a future high school English teacher, I view networking as a much awaited advantage. Let me explain. As a beginning teacher, my role is going to be to basically aquire as much knowledge as I can from experienced teachers as well as other sources...and thank goodness we have a bigger range of options called, "other sources". In years past, new teachers had to rely heavily on the experience of their one mentor teacher. Now, aspiring teachers can google information, blog their questions, twitter their newly found websites, or chatt it up about new material in advantageous chatt rooms, for example. There is this new world of technology resting at our fingertips, and I intend of relying heavily on these great "sources"....I want my future classroom to have all the benefits of this new type of technology, and networking is only one key positive effect. Instantaneous information, new ideas, collaboration, and more are all present applications. These things are not the future any longer but rather the immediate, and we as teachers need to step up and learn more about these things.
ReplyDeleteIt's great that you've found so many useful blogs to incorporate into your learning experience. I can imagine how reading the dialogue of other interpreters can be very beneficial. Blogs allow educators to learn from each other. By posting their personal stories, we as the reader can experience the situation through other's perspectives. Those that post these may have encountered a difficult classroom situation and ask for advise which can be provided by others in the PLN. Through the use of blogs and other tools in the PLN we can make the most of our experiences and learn from others in our field.
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