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The following global ideas guide the design and delivery of this course:

• Interpreting is a complex task requiring sophisticated language skills and rapid mental processing which allows an individual to comprehend and analyze an incoming message in order to produce an equivalent message in another language.
• Technical proficiency must be balanced with a professional demeanour, ethical decision making, and a caring attitude, tolerance for a wide range of behaviour and cultures, and respect for the rights of others including their right to self-determination.
• Classroom practice can enhance the development of these complex skills to some extent, but actual field practice is mandatory for total integration.  Practice interpreting in real settings provides opportunities for students to integrate theory, interpretation, cultural and linguistic mediation, ethical decision making, and interpersonal skills.
• Learning to integrate all of these tasks is enhanced when the student works in the field under the supervision of an instructor and field supervisor.
• Reflection, evaluation, and integration of self critique and collegial feedback form the basic on-going professional development regarding skills, interpersonal expertise, attitude and other observable behaviours.
• Maintenance of personal wellness is an essential component of the Sign Language Interpreter.
• Interpreters require preparation material for assignments to interpret successfully.