Ranty post

[redfelix]

Had my first class today: The Chicano Child. The professor was awesome. The class assignments and stuff sounded really interesting. We get to watch movies and discuss about how society put the Chicano children at a disadvantage. I grew up in a large Chicano community and I still feel in the dark when it comes to things like that so I am pretty excited to see how the class pans out. But there's one teeny tiny problem:

I CANNOT UNDERSTAND THE INTERPRETER.

You see, I had her 3 years ago when I was a college freshman and I didn't understand a thing she said. I did not say anything though. I had just graduated from an all-deaf school (where interpreters were hard to come by) and I didn't know too much about what to do in situations like that. She had to stop interpreting for me because her mother was really sick. I assumed she quit or something. Until today when I saw her walking in the classroom. I was like, "Holy shit" but I decided to give her a chance because who knows? Maybe she wasn't too bad.

I was wrong. Big time. Conservation went like this:

Interpreter: Hello?
Me: Oh hi! Here I am. -waves over-
-she sits down and we smile at each other awkwardly-
Me: So..I remember you interpreting for me in 2008 for my astronomy class.
Interpreter: What?
Me: -repeats self-
Interpreter: Oh I don't remember. I never remember....(I didn't understand her after that)
A couple of minutes later...
Interpreter: So is this your first year here?

...

Really? But okay. I let it go because she's just human after all. But then she started signing some words I have never ever seen before. Turned out she's been interpreting for more than twenty years. Most signs she use were from the eighties. For those who don't know sign language, it is a continually evolving language. It keeps on changing and changing and changing. Personally, I hate it...but it's inevitable. We have to keep up. And apparently, this interpreter doesn't keep up. At all.

Look, it's not like I am some ASL Nazi or something. I really don't care if you sign SEE, ASL, PSE, do Cued Speech, or fingerspell. But if you are interpreting for me, I would like you to be able to understand me and I would love to be able to understand you too. Because you are my VESSEL. I depend on you. My grades depend on you. Without you, I am lost. Without you, I am virtually nobody: a mute deaf person who can't read lips for shit.

I really don't know the protocol but I e-mailed NCOD (National Center on Deafness) and told them about my situation and how I want to do well this semester. I HOPE they will understand and replace the interpreter. (No worries, it's not like the interpreter is gonna be fired or anything, if she's replaced..that means she will be interpreting for somebody else)

If they say no, then well fuck. I am fucked.

Comments

[anothersadsong.livejournal.com]

oh, no. i really hope you're able to get a new interpreter.

[redfelix.livejournal.com]

I really really really hope so too!

[redfelix.livejournal.com]

Definitely. Unfortunately, things don't often work that way here. I just really hope they decide to be nice this time. -crosses fingers-

[dancingintro.livejournal.com]

If the woman isn't up on the current trends in the language she is interpreting, she might need to be fired or at least sent to updated classes. I sure as shit wouldn't go to a doctor if he prescribed bloodletting for my cold.

[redfelix.livejournal.com]

Yeah. I agree. But I suppose they're keeping her because there are some oral students who prefer interpreters like her. IDK how it works. Ugh.

[serrated-star.livejournal.com]

She needs to go update her skills and that should be a requirement for all of them. I had no idea that the sign language changes like that but it would make sense because the oral language changes all the time. I'm glad you took the step to try and get her replaced.

[redfelix.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I completely agree. Some of my other interpreters told me that interpreting services often keep low-quality interpreters because it's cheaper. They don't realize that we're the ones who's getting screwed over. :-/ Oh well.

[enpantoufles.livejournal.com]

I really hope they agree to get you a new interpreter :/ They can't expect you to sit through class not understanding.

They should also really send her to new classes so she can be updated on the language and be a better interpreter.

[redfelix.livejournal.com]

I really hope so too! I am keeping my fingers crossed. I agree, but unfortunately that doesn't really happen often here. :-/

[nuiigurumii.livejournal.com]

I think you're totally justified in trying to get a replacement! In addition to contacting the NCOD, is it possible to go through the school to request another interpreter? That may be a more direct route, and hopefully the situation would get resolved sooner. IDK. Either way, I agree with everyone else that she should probably go to a class to learn the more recent trends so she's able to effectively perform her job.

[redfelix.livejournal.com]

NCOD is actually a part of the school. IDK why they are called "National Center on Deafness" because it's not a national center. But whatever. NCOD is a part of my school who is responsible for all the deaf students and the services etc etc. I hope for the same thing though. Thanks :)