Visit www.RID.org and invest a few hours
reading everything there.
Do an internet search for the following phrases:
"Interpreter Preparation
Program near me"
https://www.google.com/search?q=interpreter+preparation+program+near+me&oq=interpreter+preparation+program+near+me
Or try it again and add the word "Deaf" or the acronym "ASL"
"Deaf events near me"
https://www.google.com/search?q=deaf+events+near+me&oq=Deaf+events+near+me
Start attending events and make friends with Deaf.
Find your state's National Association of the Deaf Chapter:
https://www.nad.org/members/state-association-affiliates/
Join and start attending events.
To help develop a solid signing foundation for further ASL development, go
through the lessons at https://Lifeprint.com
Watch the instructional videos at
https://youtube.com/billvicars
Start watching the "news" in American Sign Language. Do an
internet search for "Watch the news in sign language." Or go to the
"video" tab of your search engine and search for "the news in American Sign
Language."
How to Become an Interpreter and What is it Like?
By: Tanya Zaricor
Janet Cullen is an American Sign Language (ASL) Interpreter. Janet went to
Cabrillo College in Santa Cruz, California and Ohlone College in Freemont,
California where she studied to become an interpreter. Janet completed the
Interpreter Preparation Program (IPP) at Ohlone College. The reasons why she
wanted to become an interpreter were because she loved the Deaf community, and
they encouraged her to keep at it -- and in doing so she finally succeeded in
becoming an interpreter.
The Interpreter Interpretation Program (IPP) took two years. As part of the IPP
she was mentored by Deaf professionals. She also completed internships with
other interpreters that were certified professionals. After all her hard work,
she got her CI/CT (Certificate of Interpretation, Certificate of
Transliteration) certificates under RID (The Registry of Interpreters for the
Deaf). Janet was able to work at the California School for the Deaf, in Freemont
California after testing with the State of California years ago. On top of all
of her certificates she also has a Bachelor of Arts in humanities from the New
College of California.
Learning sign language was challenging, but now the only difficulty she has with
interpreting is when she is in a situation without adequate knowledge of the
subject matter.
Janet has had lots of interpreting jobs (called "assignments") that she has
enjoyed, but because of the Code of Professional Conduct (CPC) she is unable to
share the specifics of individual jobs. In general, out of all the interpreting
settings that works, her favorite categories are mental health-related such as
therapy, group counseling, rehab, one-on-one interactions, kids, psychology
classes, birthing, and dying.
Interpreting is one of Janet's favorite things to do, but because she works for
herself it is hard to manage her schedule, keeping up with contracts, keeping up
with invoices, and paying taxes. However, she does get to pick and choose her
assignments and schedule and is always treated with a lot of respect -- which is
important to her.
Now she is learning British Sign Language (BSL).
Source:
"ASL Interpreter Interview." Personal email correspondence, Tanya Zaricor and
Janet Cullen, 30 Oct. 2012.
Notes: