Learning Narrative
Going into this ASL to English interpretation experience, I didn’t feel particularly confident.
Although I had prepared and practiced, the unexpected changes threw me off. Whether it was
my delivery or simply an off day, I found myself second-guessing my choices more than usual—
which, as you already know, is a lot. However, I did feel a strong connection to the source, as I
have a lot of experience backpacking, and that helped me create a more clear picture in my
head.
Skills and Resources Used
Despite my uncertainty, I relied on the skills I have been developing throughout this course. I
often found myself predicting the outcome, something I tend to do naturally. My group has made
use of this skill. Reflecting on last semester, I initially found the prediction step of the ten-step
process unhelpful and was unsure of its benefits. However, I’ve since noticed that considering
the possibilities of the narrative has often been helpful to my interpretation.
Practicing with classmates was another valuable resource. Receiving peer feedback helped me
identify areas where my phrasing needed clarification or improvement. Their insights allowed
me to refine my interpretation and become more aware of my word choices and delivery.
I also found that drawing a clear comic of the story and placing myself in it at times benefited my
interpretation. Additionally, I was able to effectively “chunk the chunks.” During the first
evaluation, both of these steps in my process were clear and supported my interpretation.
However, even with these tools, I felt somewhat disconnected from my interpretation—almost as
if I were going through the motions rather than fully engaging with the meaning behind the
message.
What New Skills Did I Learn During the Interpretation Drills?
One of the most significant skills I developed during the drills was managing processing time
more effectively. Initially, I struggled with feeling rushed to keep up with the ASL input, but I
learned to pause, fully process the message, and then produce a more accurate and fluent
English interpretation. This adjustment reduced unnecessary hesitation and improved the
overall flow of my delivery.
My goals for the first evaluation were to focus on maintaining eye contact and to avoid dancing
or rocking. I started out by "dancing"—my movements were exaggerated and could detract from
the interpretation. I noticed this happened when I was searching for information. I often found
myself rushing into the interpretation, feeling like I had to get the information out quickly. This led
to additions, omissions, and pauses that interrupted the flow of my interpretation. However, over
the past few weeks, I feel I have improved in this area. I’ve learned the benefit of pausing,
taking my time, and investing in a clear plan.
Additionally, I gained confidence in self-monitoring while interpreting. I became more aware of
my tone, pacing, and inflection, ensuring they aligned with the speaker's intent. I also
recognized the importance of maintaining audience engagement rather than focusing solely on
grammatical accuracy. By refining these elements, I was able to produce interpretations that felt
more natural and connected to the message.
How Will I Apply This Learning to Future Interpretations?
Moving forward, I plan to apply these new skills by incorporating more intentional pauses in my
interpretations. Allowing myself extra processing time will help ensure greater accuracy and
fluency. These strategies not only enhance comprehension but also create a more dynamic and
engaging interpretation. I want to approach each assignment with the goal of truly
understanding and internalizing the message rather than just converting words.
Additionally, I will work on refining my expressive clarity and reducing hesitation by practicing
under time constraints and simulating real-world interpreting scenarios. Seeking more feedback
from peers and mentors will also be a priority as I continue improving my skills.
This first interpretation test (and the sort-of-but-not-really second one) was both a challenge and
a learning opportunity. I look forward to applying these lessons to future practice and real-world
interpreting scenarios.
Overall, my preparation and personal connection to the topic gave me some confidence going
into the test. However, I also identified areas for growth, such as improving fluency in longer
passages and refining transitions between ideas. These insights will guide my future practice as
I continue developing my ASL-to-English interpretation skills.