I think I'll fail

The mandatory test for high school graduation are quickly approaching. While waiting with a student you ask, to make small talk, which tests he'll be taking. He signs, "I'm taking test X and I think I'll pass. I'm also taking test Y but I think I'll fail. The teacher is lazy and we never do anything!"

That teacher happens to be Deaf and works in the Deaf Ed office with you. There have been other complaints about this teacher.

Do you report back to your office supervisor that the students don't think they are well prepared for their mandatory tests?

Do you advise the student to tell the office supervisor?

Do you do nothing? After all, you are the interpreter, not a teacher or advisor.

Do you approach the teacher and tell them some of their students feel unprepared?

Too many hands in the pot

You have two students in the same history class. The students have different learning and speaking styles. She throws her hand In the air at any half-baked idea, (dont even go there. You judge too.) often giving valid input. He prefers to call the teacher over to have something explained privately. You are trying to interpret a conversation between him and the teacher while she is trying to give her input at the same time. You can't interpret it all. What do you do?

Don't laugh

You are interpreting a mandatory statewide test students must pass to graduate. Two girls taking the test keep giggling and engaging the you in conversation. They aren't cheating. They are just bored after sitting in a windowless room for 5 hours.

--what do you do?

What should I write?

It's the end of the semester and your client is thrilled to be close to done with this required art class. The professor required a two page, single spaced paper. Your client handed in a one page paper and the teacher said there is still time to add another page.

Your client signs to you, "what do you think I should write? I have no more ideas."

You sign back, "a few days ago your teacher said... . Maybe write something on that?"

-ok?
-no?
-should you have gone back to the professor with that question?

No captions? We got an app for you

This isn't a dilemma, but how to solve one.  An English teacher whose class I interpret in was showing a movie.  She first did her homework and figured out captions wouldn't play either because of the movie or because of the TV.  (Both were post ADA and out of compliance.)  She searched for an app on her iPad and *viola* there is a subtitles app.  Just press 'go' when the speaking starts and your all set.

If the below link doesn't work, search "Subtitles" in the app store.  The app the English teacher used was called "Subtitles" and created by Structure 6.

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/subtitles/id358913522?mt=8&ls=1

Good luck!

Movie again?!?!!

At the end of the semester many teachers and professors show movies. Of course they have to relate the movie back to the coursework. Some teachers take this more seriously than others.

This teacher, whose classroom has no ambient light, comments multiple times during every scene. Comments are suggestions regarding information students can use in an essay. Or they are about test questions.

How are you to interpret, in the dark, the teacher's remarks?

(you are thanking your lucky stars the movie is captioned!)

Watch or read?

This is the first year the English teacher has had a Deaf student in class. She does a lot of read out louds which is difficult for you to interpret but not impossible. Teacher asks you one say which your students would prefer, you to interpreting the text or silent reading.

You ask the students what they prefer.

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