Practicum Experience
The practicum experience is designed to provide opportunities for the intern to develop and refine essential interpreting competencies, to link theory to practice, and to develop personal theories about the interpreting process that will guide professional practice. Professional growth and development is an ongoing process which begins with internship and continues throughout your professional career.
Per CCIE standards (8.1), students must acquire a minimum of 300 hours of observation, teaming, professional responsibilities, duties, and/or activities (e.g., scheduling, preparation, invoicing, meetings, and in-service training) in authentic settings where interpreters are employed during their program. The standards (8.2) require that “a minimum of 100 hours of authentic interpreting services must occur during the capstone experience and must be directly supervised by interpreters who are academically qualified, experientially prepared, and/or hold a valid certification for the interpreted interactions. These 100 hours may be reflected within the total 300 hours of field experience.”
For our program the capstone experience is the INT4947 Practicum. The practicum is one semester in length OR until the required number of hours is met. During the practicum, interns must spend a minimum of 200 hours engaged in interpreting work (teaming, observing, preparation, debriefing, interpreting). This minimum (200 hours) includes the minimum of 100 hours of authentic interpreting services. This means that at least 100 hours must be actual interpreting hours while the remaining hours can be interpreting hours or can be hours of observation, professional responsibilities, duties, etc. The 200 hours is in addition to the 100 hours already accumulated through the Field Experience class.
The accumulation of 200 hours is one aspect of the course and there are other assignments, journals and discussions that must be completed. If a student does not have the required 200 hours by the end of the semester, he or she may need to retake the course the next time it is offered. A successful internship depends upon obtaining all the required hours--nothing short of the 200 hours required by CCIE will result in course completion.
Failing to acquire the necessary hours in an internship placement within the semester constitutes course failure. There is no automatic extension for the semester’s 200-hour requirement. An ‘Incomplete’ for the course is only a possibility if (1) the intern has been steadily acquiring hours throughout the semester and making progress toward goal completion (as noted in the Practicum Development Plan), AND (2) through no fault of the intern, the placement becomes unable to provide interpreting work and mentorship. The Practicum Instructor makes the decision about allowing an extension (see Grade Determination for more information).
Attendance
Interns are expected to arrive 15-20 minutes before an interpreting assignment is scheduled to begin unless otherwise instructed by the Supervising Interpreter. Internship is a full-time responsibility and regular attendance is critical to the development of the intern’s interpreting competence. Students are expected to be available during normal work hours throughout the entire internship semester (Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm). If you are unable to commit to full-time availability (Monday-Friday, 8 am - 5 pm), you will not be successful in completing the practicum and should delay enrollment in INT 4947 Practicum and Portfolio Presentation until you can commit to a full-time placement.
Absence
Only absences due to illness or emergency are acceptable. Absences will not be excused for personal business barring extraordinary circumstances. The intern is responsible for notifying the Practicum Instructor, the Institutional Representative, and the Supervising Interpreter in the event that illness prevents fulfillment of responsibilities. Extended absences due to illness should be communicated to the Interpreting Program Director. The Practicum Instructor in consultation with the Interpreter Education Program Director and Institutional Representative will determine if the internship should be discontinued or extended.
Conduct
Interns are considered professional members of the interpreting team and should adhere to the customs, policies, and regulations governing professionals at the placement site to which they are assigned. Information concerning consumers and the placement site should be held in confidence. Interns are expected to abide by the NAD-RID Code of Professional Conduct throughout their internship experience. This includes being respectful of consumers, interpreting mentors, and all those persons with whom the intern might interact.
Confidentiality
All placement-related information is strictly confidential. Interns may discuss appropriate information with the Institutional Representative, Supervising Interpreter, or the Practicum Instructor. Conversations about placement should not be shared with classmates. Practicum journals are kept for the strict purpose of skill development and professional growth and are confidential between the intern and Practicum Instructor. No confidential information about consumers, supervisors, sponsoring institutions, or colleagues should be included in journals. Absolutely NO social media postings regarding any activities of Practicum are permitted (text, photo, or video). Social media postings that are a breach of confidentiality under the RID Code of Professional Conduct will result in dismissal from the practicum site and failure of the course.
Attire
Interns are expected to dress professionally and appropriately for the situation. Business attire is expected for agencies and businesses and a suit is expected for legal settings. Interns should verify with the Supervising Interpreter what attire is appropriate for the work setting. Dress with future employment in mind. Specific guidelines include:
- Jewelry should be kept to a minimum (no big earrings, bangles, etc.).
- Visible facial and industrial piercings should be removed.
- Make-up should be conservative and not distracting for consumers.
- Fingernails should be well-groomed (trimmed and clean). This is especially important when working with DeafBlind consumers. Ideally, nail polish should not be worn. If it is, it should be a neutral color that is not distracting for consumers.
- Facial hair should be trimmed so it is not covering the mouth or neck area.
- Tattoos on the upper body should be covered by clothing.
- Shirts should cover the cleavage and button-down shirts should have no more than the top two buttons open.
- Hair grooming styles should be out of the interns’ face and not distracting to consumers or other involved participants (this might include maintaining typical hair colors and adopting more typical hairstyles).
What not to wear: Sleeveless or strapless shirts, flip flops, stilettos, sandals, t-shirts, jeans, leggings, dresses and skirts above mid-thigh, shorts, athletic shoes, character ties, patterned shirts, long or brightly colored nails, excessive make up, excessive perfume/cologne, or hats. NOTE: There may be some settings where jeans, shorts, or sneakers will be appropriate. Ask the Sponsoring Institution Representative for guidance before wearing more casual attire.
Communication and Gossip
Keep the lines of communication open with your Supervising Interpreter and Practicum Instructor. Learn how to communicate positively with colleagues, consumers, fellow interns, and other professionals. Communication is an important first step in building a relationship with your colleagues. If you have a question, ask it! When you fail to keep the lines of communication open, problems and misunderstandings may develop.
Negativity has no place in the internship experience. As an intern, you should avoid talking negatively about the placement site, fellow interpreters/students, or other individuals related to the internship experience. Engaging in this negative behavior leads to a lack of trust in the intern and contributes to closing the lines of communication. Criticizing business practices or judging professional decisions made by the hosting entity is unprofessional. A professional does not listen to or contribute to the gossip cycle.
Teamwork
Learn to be a team player. This is a skill that will benefit you greatly in your career. You, your Supervising Interpreter, and other professionals at your placement site are a team because the interpreting profession requires a collaborative effort. You cannot be an effective interpreter without help. As a guest, take every opportunity to learn from your Supervising Interpreter and other professionals. Approach the internship with humility. Arrogance about your existing skills is unbecoming of a professional. You may not always agree with your Supervising Interpreter, but do not try to change the system or give unsolicited advice about problems you see within the placement site. You will have many opportunities to share your ideas. Good relationships with your Supervising Interpreter, Institutional Representative, Practicum Instructor, and consumers are important. Your reputation in the interpreting community and the Deaf community rests heavily on your conduct during internship placements. Future job references could rely on the support and recommendations from your internship team members, so it is in your best interest to work collaboratively and maintain an open mind to growth during this time.
Preparation
Preparation is crucial for an effective interpretation. This preparation includes preparing for the setting, topic, and consumer(s). Consider demands that may arise and appropriate controls that you could implement. Prepare for the unexpected - bring professional development materials to work on during down time, have an extra set of clothes in your car for emergencies, and create an Interpreter’s Kit (see these websites for ideas on what to include: https://rosesignlanguage.com/the-interpreters-kit-2/ https://www.signingsavvy.com/blog/184/What+to+Pack+in+Your+Interpreter+Bag ).
Full-Time Commitment
Internship is a full-time commitment and interns are expected to give their full attention to internship during this time. Interns are expected to attend all meetings and other assignments as directed by the Institutional Representative and/or Supervising Interpreter. Approval to take a course concurrently with internship is an exception to academic policy that must be given by the Interpreting Program Director PRIOR to registering for Practicum and Portfolio Presentation.
Full-Time Employment
If you are otherwise employed full time, arrangements will need to be made to clear your schedule sufficiently to acquire internship hours during the day and on a daily basis. Typical interpreting work happens from 8:00 am through 5:00 pm. There may be additional opportunities on the weekend or evenings, but this is not the norm and will not provide enough interpreting hours to complete the hours required.