What responsibilities are appropriate for an educational interpreter?
Interpreting is the primary responsibility of the interpreter. The interpreter may perform this
responsibility in a variety of settings, in and outside of the classroom including:
- field trips
- club meetings
- assemblies
- counseling sessions
- athletic competitions
- instructional activities
Interpreting is the educational interpreter's primary role, and must take priority over any other
demands. In some schools, interpreters may also interpret for deaf parents, deaf teachers, and
other deaf employees.
n Interpreters may have additional responsibilities when not interpreting.1 In determining
appropriate responsibilities, it is important to utilize specialized competencies and skills
of the interpreter and assign only those responsibilities for which the interpreter is
qualified.
Responsibilities that maximize the interpreter's effectiveness during non-interpreting periods of
time might include:
- planning and preparing for the interpreting task
- presenting in-service training about educational interpreting
-
working with teachers to develop ways of increasing interaction between deaf students
and their peers
-
if qualified, tutoring the student who is deaf or hard of hearing
-
if qualified, teaching sign language to other school staff and to pupils who are not deaf
Responsibilities that tend to reduce the interpreter’s effectiveness may include:
- copying and filing
- playground supervision
-
bus attendant duty
-
lunchroom duty
-
monitoring study hall
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