Interpreter’s Resource Shelf (appeared in RID VIEWS November, 2007, reprinted with permission)
Kathy MacMillan, NIC, M.L.S.
The Mentor’s Companion: A Practical Guide to Mentoring by Patty Gordon and Mari Magler. Alexandria, VA: RID Press, 2007. Available at www.rid.org. Member price: $23.95; Non-member price: $29.95.
Finally, a comprehensive mentoring resource squarely aimed at the interpreting field! Gordon and Magler’s information-packed book, based on a plan the two originally developed for an educational interpreter mentoring program in Minnesota, will be welcomed with open arms by mentors and mentees everywhere. Though some of the language of educational interpreting remains, the information has been expanded and repackaged for a wider audience, and so will be useful to interpreters in a variety of settings. This practical guide explains the characteristics of effective mentors and mentees, breaks down the steps in the mentoring process, and gives clear information on how to conduct effective discussions about interpreting work. Gordon and Magler also demystify the processes of goal-setting and writing action plans, and, best of all, include a plethora of hands-on activities geared to developing specific interpreting skills. The appendix offers sample mentorship agreements, feedback forms, rubrics, and planning and evaluation forms. Though there are many mentoring books on the market, until now there have been none generally available that focus on the interpreting profession with the combination of theoretical understanding and practical guidance that this book displays. A top-notch resource for interpreters in any setting.
This column appears monthly in VIEWS. Please direct questions, comments, or suggestions for resources to highlight in future issues to Kathy MacMillan, NIC at info@kathymacmillan.com.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Signs for Intelligence, Fingerspelling 1 & 2: A Review
Interpreter’s Resource Shelf (appeared in RID VIEWS December, 2007, reprinted with permission)
Kathy MacMillan, NIC, M.L.S.
Created and hosted by Deaf teacher Missy Keast, these excellent DVDs offer far more than the standard fingerspelling video. Instead of just lists of fingerspelled words (though these are included too), Keast arranges her material by subject (medical terms, academic terms, outer space, acronyms, etc.) and gives important background information and concepts in each area. Most useful to interpreters is the short story or trivia segment in each themed section, which presents fingerspelled words in context. This kind of practice material is rare, and provides much better practice for the real world of interpreting than words out of context. The information included here is useful to interpreters on many levels; not only is it great receptive skills development, but the background information will help interpreters develop a better understanding of the topics they are interpreting. For example, the segment on SSI explains who is qualified for SSI and what is required to apply. Designed as part of a curriculum, the DVDs can be used progressively, with periodic test segments reinforcing learning along the way, or “a la carte”, by selecting the thematic segments that meet one’s needs. Keast’s tips and targeted materials make these DVDs a great resource for any interpreter who wants to improve receptive and expressive fingerspelling skills.
This column appears monthly in VIEWS. Please direct questions, comments, or suggestions for resources to highlight in future issues to Kathy MacMillan at info@kathymacmillan.com.
Kathy MacMillan, NIC, M.L.S.
- Fingerspelling 1 Student Video. DVD. Signs for Intelligence, 2005. ISBN 0-9770974-0-4.
- Fingerspelling 2 Student Video. DVD. Signs for Intelligence, 2005. ISBN 0-9770974-2-0. $27.03 each. www.signsforintelligence.com
Created and hosted by Deaf teacher Missy Keast, these excellent DVDs offer far more than the standard fingerspelling video. Instead of just lists of fingerspelled words (though these are included too), Keast arranges her material by subject (medical terms, academic terms, outer space, acronyms, etc.) and gives important background information and concepts in each area. Most useful to interpreters is the short story or trivia segment in each themed section, which presents fingerspelled words in context. This kind of practice material is rare, and provides much better practice for the real world of interpreting than words out of context. The information included here is useful to interpreters on many levels; not only is it great receptive skills development, but the background information will help interpreters develop a better understanding of the topics they are interpreting. For example, the segment on SSI explains who is qualified for SSI and what is required to apply. Designed as part of a curriculum, the DVDs can be used progressively, with periodic test segments reinforcing learning along the way, or “a la carte”, by selecting the thematic segments that meet one’s needs. Keast’s tips and targeted materials make these DVDs a great resource for any interpreter who wants to improve receptive and expressive fingerspelling skills.
This column appears monthly in VIEWS. Please direct questions, comments, or suggestions for resources to highlight in future issues to Kathy MacMillan at info@kathymacmillan.com.
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