Seattle Central Community College
Interpreter Training Program
ITP STUDENT GUIDELINES FOR OBSERVING/ INTERNING WITH INTERPRETERS
ITP 250 and ITP 255
OBSERVATION BEHAVIOR:
a. Requesting Permission to Observe:

The instructor will provide a list of internship opportunities. Students must
arrange for their own internships based on their schedules and site preference.

On the date that you observe/intern, you should meet the interpreter at their
assigned site, arriving early to meet them before they enter the site. Never enter
the site without the interpreter - wait outside the door for the interpreter to
arrive.
b. Observing

Keep as much eye contact with the interpreter as possible. Be careful of obtrusive
behavior: signing to yourself, pencil tapping, leg swinging, etc. This is distracting
to the interpreter, the teacher, and all of the students (both deaf and hearing).

Be very mindful of your natural body language. “Thinking” behavior can also be
read as disapproval.
c. Note-taking for journal:

Be discreet. Be unobtrusive. It can be disconcerting to an interpreter when an
observer is writing notes. It may break their train of thought. Take brief notes. Just
a few key words can jog your memory later in the day when you write up your
entry for that day.
General Comments regarding observing a professional interpreter:
Attend to one issue at a time, i.e., sign vocabulary for English words/phrases, use of
fingerspelling, techniques for matching spirit of speaker, use of specialization, technical signs,
sign systems, location of the interpreter, interpreting procedure for films, etc.
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If you look at one issue for 10 minutes, you will be able to keep on track and attend to several
details during the course of your observation time. At the end of the 10 minutes, change to a
new issue.
The subject matter of the setting may be very fascinating. It is easy to get caught up in the
content and forget your objective of observing the interpreter. Do not become a participating
member of the session.
Before or after class, you may be given an opportunity to interact with the interpreter and/or
client. Please sign at all times when a deaf person is present. Be polite and friendly. Once the
session starts, discontinue your conversation.
Do not ask the student or the interpreter about the student’s background or progress in this
setting or for any other personal information, except as it may be relevant to the interpreting
process.
When given opportunities to ask questions of the interpreter, use non-judgmental language.
Be ready to ask questions, having already thought of how you want to phrase them. Decide
which questions are most important for you and ask them first.
Remember that the interpreter is on a tight schedule and may have only 10 minutes between
assignments during which they may have to go a long distance. Please be sensitive to their
needs. Before you ask a question, ask if they have time to spare – if they don’t, ask when
would be a better time for you to meet with them (“Can I buy you a cup of coffee and ask you
some questions?”). Be specific as to how much time you are asking for.
Be sensitive to the human factors involved in the interpreting process. Even the “best”
interpreters make mistakes, may not make the best sign selection, may delete information,
and may auditorily misunderstand. Do not bring these to the attention of the interpreter.
Above all, make this a positive learning experience for yourself. As a result of your
observation hours, you will develop important mentor contacts in the interpreting
community. Make the most of each opportunity!
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