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Is it possible for me to go to college to be a ASL translator if before college I only have very, very basic ASL knowledge ?
I have always been very interested in being an ASL translator. However, my family has been unable to afford programs to teach me. I have learned a little through online courses, but my knowledge is limited. And I am not even sure if what I do know is correct. I really want to enhance my signing abilities, but I will not be able to take a sign language course before college.
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Laurie Halpin
Retired speech pathologist and evaluation team chairperson
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Laurie’s Answer
You do not need to have a college degree to become an ASL interpreter. But you do need to take classes, get intensive training, and immerse yourself in the deaf community. It takes time and patience to become a certified interpreter.
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Don’s Answer
Hello Myles,
It is possible to go to college for ASL Translating but you would need to make sure they have a Interpreting Training Program offered. It does not matter what level you are at before you attend these programs because they will teach you. Most ASL interpreting jobs will require an associates or bachelors degree. Hope things go well for you and keep on improving your ASL!
It is possible to go to college for ASL Translating but you would need to make sure they have a Interpreting Training Program offered. It does not matter what level you are at before you attend these programs because they will teach you. Most ASL interpreting jobs will require an associates or bachelors degree. Hope things go well for you and keep on improving your ASL!
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello again, Myles !
Thanks for the bit more information. Yes, you can become an ASL Interpreter with limited ASL right now and then go to college for your degree and more ASL instruction. Like I said, it's all going to be dependent on how fluent you get to be. Even seasoned interpreters find they need to learn specific jargon if they go to specific situations like medical or political venues. You will find that in a pinch, you can just spell the word. You will also choose a sign for your own name - I have one for my name that someone gave me which is really cool.
Remember: a huge part of being an ASL Interpreter and working with the Deaf Community is having the education and knowledge of Deaf Culture. This is why College is crucial. Not only for that, but you will start to get known by the field and opportunities may be better as you meet the people in this field. It will boil down to how fluent you are when it comes to being hired, but having that Degree will put you in the forefront and show employers that you are educated on deaf culture and can interact on a higher level with the deaf community. I also remember that you wanted to teach as well, so I mention college for a Bachelors Degree in Deaf Culture again.
The Learning Center for the Deaf in Framingham, Massachusetts offers community ASL classes for adults aged 16 and older, which are not free but are taught by Deaf instructors and focus on both language and Deaf culture. I left a link to their website below and you can ask them how much an ASL class costs. It most likely wouldn't be too much. It's important to find an in person experience learning ASL because of the nuances, but I have had to learn some signs through online before meeting with a deaf individual. I am not fluent or even close, I can't receive/understand ASL but can do it at a pre-beginning level and I always was able to work with deaf individuals even at that pedestrian level.
Go to your local public Library and see if they ever have ASL classes as some libraries sometimes do. If you haven't done so already, reach out to The Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf, Viability’s Deaf and Hard of Hearing Independent Living Services, both are in Pittsfield where you live. AdLib, Inc. Center for Independent Living in Pittsfield is another connection to make as they offer a Deaf Services Program. I learned ASL through an Independent Living Center (which was my employer at the time) and through a deaf services social worker from a hospital who gave seminars in the town I worked in. The classes for ASL from the Independent Living Centers were free and so should be any community connected classes.
It's good to learn this skill in person, but it's not so bad learning it through online instruction - HOWEVER, you are going to need to use ASL every single day to form familiarity with it. If you perhaps volunteer at one of the programs mentioned, that will bring you in contact with the experience. Many deaf individuals use ASL, however, many write, read or read lips. I only knew one deaf person who didn't know ASL and preferred to write everything on a piece of paper.
Spelling will get you everywhere. Sign the alphabet several times a day until you can do it in your sleep, LOL. I still do this even though I am no longer a case manager or working with the Deaf.
Familiarize yourself with Federal Student Financial Aid, scholarships and grants that will help you meet expenses once you're at college.
I left some ASL website links for you below. I used to use one and it was a real help. You're going to find that part of learning ASL is using it and don't feel funny, deaf people love that you show the interest in learning ASL. They will even be a big help in your learning. So maybe volunteer work at one of the programs would be good, to use it everyday and discover your progress. Do not give up !
Again, I hope this helps and I encourage you to not let anything stop you from planning and pursuing an outstanding career as an American Sign Language Interpreter and Teacher for deaf students as you've previously mentioned !
THE LEARNING CENTER FOR THE DEAF - https://www.tlcdeaf.org/
WEBSITES WITH SIGN TO LEARN https://www.signitasl.net/ LIFE PRINT https://www.lifeprint.com/ AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE DICTIONARY https://www.signasl.org/
Thanks for the bit more information. Yes, you can become an ASL Interpreter with limited ASL right now and then go to college for your degree and more ASL instruction. Like I said, it's all going to be dependent on how fluent you get to be. Even seasoned interpreters find they need to learn specific jargon if they go to specific situations like medical or political venues. You will find that in a pinch, you can just spell the word. You will also choose a sign for your own name - I have one for my name that someone gave me which is really cool.
Remember: a huge part of being an ASL Interpreter and working with the Deaf Community is having the education and knowledge of Deaf Culture. This is why College is crucial. Not only for that, but you will start to get known by the field and opportunities may be better as you meet the people in this field. It will boil down to how fluent you are when it comes to being hired, but having that Degree will put you in the forefront and show employers that you are educated on deaf culture and can interact on a higher level with the deaf community. I also remember that you wanted to teach as well, so I mention college for a Bachelors Degree in Deaf Culture again.
The Learning Center for the Deaf in Framingham, Massachusetts offers community ASL classes for adults aged 16 and older, which are not free but are taught by Deaf instructors and focus on both language and Deaf culture. I left a link to their website below and you can ask them how much an ASL class costs. It most likely wouldn't be too much. It's important to find an in person experience learning ASL because of the nuances, but I have had to learn some signs through online before meeting with a deaf individual. I am not fluent or even close, I can't receive/understand ASL but can do it at a pre-beginning level and I always was able to work with deaf individuals even at that pedestrian level.
Go to your local public Library and see if they ever have ASL classes as some libraries sometimes do. If you haven't done so already, reach out to The Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf, Viability’s Deaf and Hard of Hearing Independent Living Services, both are in Pittsfield where you live. AdLib, Inc. Center for Independent Living in Pittsfield is another connection to make as they offer a Deaf Services Program. I learned ASL through an Independent Living Center (which was my employer at the time) and through a deaf services social worker from a hospital who gave seminars in the town I worked in. The classes for ASL from the Independent Living Centers were free and so should be any community connected classes.
It's good to learn this skill in person, but it's not so bad learning it through online instruction - HOWEVER, you are going to need to use ASL every single day to form familiarity with it. If you perhaps volunteer at one of the programs mentioned, that will bring you in contact with the experience. Many deaf individuals use ASL, however, many write, read or read lips. I only knew one deaf person who didn't know ASL and preferred to write everything on a piece of paper.
Spelling will get you everywhere. Sign the alphabet several times a day until you can do it in your sleep, LOL. I still do this even though I am no longer a case manager or working with the Deaf.
Familiarize yourself with Federal Student Financial Aid, scholarships and grants that will help you meet expenses once you're at college.
I left some ASL website links for you below. I used to use one and it was a real help. You're going to find that part of learning ASL is using it and don't feel funny, deaf people love that you show the interest in learning ASL. They will even be a big help in your learning. So maybe volunteer work at one of the programs would be good, to use it everyday and discover your progress. Do not give up !
Again, I hope this helps and I encourage you to not let anything stop you from planning and pursuing an outstanding career as an American Sign Language Interpreter and Teacher for deaf students as you've previously mentioned !
Michelle recommends the following next steps: