Ho Chi Minh City Sign Language Mentoring Project
Language proficiency is a critical skill-set for interpreters of all language. Because interpreters work in highly variable settings, it is essential that their L1 and L2 skills be commensurate to the setting as well as the language and cognitive needs of those engaged in an interpreted interaction.
Dong Nai University, with funding from the Nippon Foundation, has created a sign language (Ho Chi Minh City Sign Language - HCMCSL) learning opportunity for students studying to become Spoken Vietnamese and HCMCSL educational interpreters.
Mentoring Project/Process:
- Interpreting Students (IS) will select a Deaf Language Mentor (DLM).
- This is a working/teaching relationship. While it is meant to be friendly, it is meant to be a learning situation for the interpreting student.
- The IS and the DLM must be committed to this effort and to each other. Appointments must be kept.
- Payment for participation will only be made when both participants complete a learning interaction.
- This project will commence in January, 2014, and continue through May, 2014.
Monitoring of compliance/engagement:
- On the initial meeting with the SI and the DLM, the two will develop a meeting and activity schedule for a 4-week period OR for a projected period of time (decided by the pair) so that the interpreter may accomplish the targeted goal.
- This schedule will be submitted to the administrator's office prior to the commencement of mentoring.
- Using the proposed activity log, students will indicate the activity and learning that took place, sign and date the form. Submit the form to the director's office.
- The activity must be at least one-hour in length. Payment will be for one-hour per week only.
- Payment to participants will be made at the end of each month.