Seattle Central Community College
Interpreter Training Program
Internship Expectations
ITP 255
Students in the Interpreter Training Program who have completed the first year of the program
will participate in mentorship/internship experiences during the Spring quarter of their second
year of study. Students will be placed with a working interpreter/mentor who will enable the
student to gain experience and confidence while working in a safe environment.
Student expectations
Students will treat their internship with respect and professionalism, aware that they are
representatives of Seattle Central Community College and the interpreting profession to the
Deaf student in the classroom.
Students will demonstrate professionalism in terms of dress, telephone manners, reliability, and
punctuality, be responsible for prompt and regular attendance; notifying their mentor prior to
any rare absence. Students will diligently follow the RID Code of Professional Conduct during
their internship experience, maintaining confidentiality and professional standards. Students are
responsible to meet regularly with their mentor who will provide feedback verbally and in
written form. The mentor will assist the student in establishing and reviewing professional goals
and objectives for him/herself for the duration of the quarter. Students will take responsibility
for their own learning and skill development by asking the mentor for specific feedback while
maintaining an observation journal.
Students are assigned a determined number of hours of participation with their mentor for the
quarter. If their mentor is absent or a class/event is cancelled at any time, the student may
report to the Coordinator of Interpreting Services to see if it is possible to observe another
interpreter during that scheduled time.
Mentor expectations
Mentors will expect interns to fully participate in the internship experience, demonstrating a
professional manner appropriate to the setting. The mentor will supervise the intern at all times
when in the interpreting situation, giving the student opportunity to participate according to
his/her level of proficiency. Mentors will meet regularly with the student to provide constructive
feedback regarding skills and progress, and will formally evaluate the intern twice during the
quarter. Mentors have the final judgment as to the intern’s ability to perform the assigned task
and can request the Internship Coordinator to find the student another placement when
appropriate.
Conflict Resolution
1. If conflicts arise in the internship setting, the student and mentor will first meet to
discuss the situation.
55
2. If conflicts arise between the intern and Interpreting services department, the student
will meet jointly with the on-site Coordinator of Interpreting Services and the SCCC ITP
instructor.
3. If the issue is not resolved or requires further discussion, a meeting will be called
between the student intern, the mentor, the SCCC ITP instructor and the on-site
Coordinator of Interpreting Services.
4. If the complaint is not resolved at the joint meeting, the student may meet with the
Instructional Dean. Prior to meeting with the Dean, the complaint must be submitted in
writing with specific detailing of the issue.
GUIDELINES FOR INTERPRETER TRAINING STUDENTS AS INTERPRETERS AT
SEATTLE CENTRAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE
1.
Interpreter training students will participate in mocking during Fall quarter, only in
settings where there is no Deaf consumer present.
2.
Student interpreters will not interpret for any interpreter training faculty in formal
college settings.
3.
Students will interpret only under a mentor or instructor’s supervision in their
internship setting.
4.
Interpreter training students will not be hired or paid for interpreting prior to or
including graduation from the Interpreter Training Program at Seattle Central
Community College.
5.
Internships will be set up by the SCCC Internship Coordinator. If a student knows of
an interpreter or setting in which they would like to do their internship, please see
the ITP instructor.
56