"Sign Language Interpreter II"

Basic Function

Under the direction of an assigned supervisor, provide sign language interpreting services to students who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have other communication disorders; may tutor students who are deaf or hard of hearing. Services may involve highly technical or specialized subject matter that require higher levels of skill and more advanced and fluent interpreting techniques.

Distinguishing Characteristics

The Interpreter II and III levels are distinguished from the Interpreter I by performing more complex assignments requiring a combination of higher levels of training, skills, certification, and experience. Assignments at the higher levels in the Interpreter series often involve high levels of interactive discussions requiring the interpreter to rapidly switch between spoken English and sign language or manual sign system and vice versa. These assignments may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Advanced level or highly complex classes requiring significant and rapid interaction using highly technical or specialized subject matter and vocabulary;
• Discussion situations in classrooms, conferences, and workshops involving advanced and/or complex topics requiring significant sign-to-voice and voice-to-sign translations; and,
• More complex interpreting situations such as conferences, workshops, seminars, theatrical, and/or other platform settings where multiple consumers, including students, faculty and staff are served simultaneously.

Representative Duties

• Interpret and translate classroom lectures simultaneously and facilitate communication between deaf and hard-of-hearing students and hearing faculty, staff, and students as related to coursework.
• Accurately convey the meaning and spirit of the hearing speaker using grammatically correct American Sign Language and verbally convey the meaning and spirit of the deaf or hard of hearing signer using correct English grammar.
• Utilize resources to increase knowledge of American Sign Language, Professional interpreting techniques and procedures, Deaf Culture, specialized vocabulary, and the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf Code of Professional Conduct.
• Observe and team with other interpreters, and receive mentorship from the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services Coordinator and peers. Serve as a mentor for Sign Language Interpreter I's.
• Respond to student difficulties and concerns with understanding and sensitivity.
• Attend and participate in workshops and conferences to improve and maintain interpreting skill level, and keep abreast of interpreting trends by studying specialized ASL vocabulary and other materials.
• May read text, handouts, and dictionaries, and prepare translation of difficult-to-interpret course content.
• Work in collaboration with the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services Coordinator and other Sign Language Interpreters to collect existing technical signs, and to establish special signs and/or vocabulary for underrepresented scientific/technical terms or concepts.
• May proctor exams as necessary.
• May answer telephones; take and relay messages; provide information and assistance to students; refer students to appropriate personnel.
• May operate a variety of office, audio visual and instructional equipment.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Any combination equivalent to: Graduation from an Interpreter Training Program (ITP) or equivalent or Associate of Art's Degree in American Sign Language, Interpreting, or a related field and three (3) academic years of paid experience interpreting for the Deaf and hard of hearing utilizing both receptive and expressive interpreting.

CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: Incumbents must possess and maintain skills certification issued by the National Registry of Interpreters for the deaf (RID): Certification of Transliteration (CT) or Certificate of Interpretation (CI); and/or certification at Level 3 by the National Association for the Deaf (NAD) or American Consortium of Certified Interpreters (ACCI) certificate at Level 3 or higher, or National Interpreter Certification (NIC) certification. NAD certification at Level 4 is preferred. Successful completion of an interpreting skills evaluation is required.

Knowledge & Abilities

KNOWLEDGE OF: American Sign Language and interpreting Techniques. Appropriate roles and individual responsibilities relating to interpreting for deaf and hard-of-hearing persons. Deaf cultural values and general issues in the field of deafness. Interpersonal skills using tact, patience, and courtesy. Resources available to Sign Language Interpreters and Transliterators in order to improve knowledge and skills. Effective oral communication. Modern office practices and procedures.

ABILITY TO: Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work. Interpret messages spoken by hearing people into American Sign Language. Interpret messages signed by deaf and hard of hearing people into English. Interpret by translating higher-level technical academic material requiring specialized. Sign Language vocabulary for high level technical academic materials utilizing highly proficient English and/or American Sign Language (ASL), used in classes such as science, history, and psychology, on District's skills performance evaluation examination. Adhere to the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf Code of Professional Conduct. Assess individual situations to determine the needs of each deaf or hard-of-hearing student, such as language preferences or preferences in having comments voiced for him/her or voicing for himself/herself. Attend and participate in various workshops in order to improve interpreting/transliterating skill. Communicate effectively with faculty, staff, and students with disabilities. Learn a variety of routine reception and clerical procedures. Learn to use the variety of assistive devices/equipment used to assist students with disabilities. Work successfully in an interpreting team in the classroom or other campus setting.