ASL Interpreters • CART • VRI | Expert American Sign Language Interpreters

Serving the Deaf and Hard of Hearing in Oregon and SW Washington Since 1999

Contact Us

Phone: 503-447-5000

Request Online

  • Home
  • Resources
    • Interpreter Resources
      • Client Maps
    • Deaf Resources
    • Requester Resources
      • When A Team is Required
      • Legal Considerations
      • RID Official Position Papers
  • Services Overview
    • Watch Our Video
    • Ethics & Standards
    • American Sign Language Interpreters (On Site)
    • Video Remote Interpreting (VRI)
    • CART (Communication Access Real Time)
  • Why Use a Referral Service?
  • Contact Us

Mentoring

About Mentoring

In the context of the interpreting profession, mentoring is a goal-oriented relationship between two interpreters: a mentor and a second individual, referred to, here, as an intern, who seeks to learn and grow through association with that mentor. Whether a novice or an experienced professional, within the mentorship the intern is the learner. The mentor has more experience, skill, or knowledge, either of interpreting in general, or of some specific aspect of interpreting. Mentoring is not a substitute for comprehensive interpreter education or for the internships and practicums associated with such formal training. Mentoring can augment the training received in academic settings.

Benefits of Mentoring

Mentoring can benefit the intern, mentor, consumers, and the interpreting profession.

The intern may experience:

  • a reduced sense of isolation
  • a smoother look at interpreting from another’s perspective
  • a challenge to continue developing professionally
  • strengthening of specific skills or knowledge areas
  • real-life interpreting experience with immediate feedback and guidance
  • expert modeling to observe and emulate

The mentor may feel a sense of satisfaction for having:

  • helped another interpreter grow professionally
  • strengthened the field of interpreting
  • had one’s experience and skills recognized

Some benefits to consumers are:

  • an increase in the number of interpreters skilled in a variety of settings
  • direct involvement in the professional growth of interpreters

The Association believes that mentoring is of benefit to the interpreting profession. Each mentoring situation is unique, depending on the individuals involved and the goals of the relationship. Some mentoring relationships are formal arrangements set up and overseen by an agency, RID Affiliate Chapter, or interpreter education program. Others are private commitments between two individuals. Common to all successful mentorships is mutual commitment to professional growth.

RID Official Papers

  • Professional Sign Language Interpreting
  • Team Interpreting
  • Multiple Roles
  • Mentoring
  • Interpreting in Medical Settings
  • Interpreters for Conferences
  • Use of a Certified Deaf Interpreter
  • Cumulative Motion Injury
  • General Information About RID and RID Code of Ethics
  • Billing Considerations
Your Privacy Matters • Terms of Use

Copyright © 2023 · Access Services Northwest, LLC · Portland · Beaverton · Vancouver · Salem · Hillsboro · Gresham · (503) 447-5000 · Log in