Developing the profession

This module has two parts:

Part A: Developing the Profession II

This module focuses on the development of the profession of sign language interpreting, exploring it in a larger social context. Essentially, the module explores principles and practices of being a sign language interpreter, giving consideration to linguistic, cultural, professional and ethical dynamics involved in the interpreting process and also in relation to interpersonal relationships in the Deaf community. The fact that interpreting is a professional service bringing together and mediating between different social groups is a particular focus. The profession of sign language interpreting and, increasingly, sign language translation is faced with divergent customer expectations that are often hard to reconcile. The module will provide a forum for review of development of the profession, future directions, and reflections on how to deal with such and other current expectations and developments in the field.

Part B: Developing Reflective Practice II

The aim of this strand, Developing Reflective Practice, is for students to improve and deepen their self-reflection skills. By increasing self-reflection, students will also improve their self-awareness and the ability to regulate their behaviour in interpreting practice. This strand is centred on the need for practitioners to maintain professional integrity in their work decisions that are in line with broader theories from the field of professional ethics. The particular aims of this course are for students to improve on their abilities to see theory as it frames their understanding of their and others’ professional practice. This course also critiques the approaches traditionally taken in community interpreting compared to those evident in other service-based professions. The students will use demand control schema as a work analysis tool.

• Europäischer Master in Gebärdendolmetschen