Showing posts with label isl classes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label isl classes. Show all posts
Monday, September 7, 2009
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Introduction to Irish Sign Language
This class will begin on Tuesday 6th January 2009 from 7 – 8.30 pm in Room 4050A, Trinity College, Dublin.
The class will run for ten weeks and the cost is €180.
If you are interested in learning Irish Sign Language please send a cheque, Postal Order or Bank Draft made payable to TCD No. 1 account and post it to
The Secretary
Centre for Deaf Studies
40 Lwr. Drumcondra Rd
Drumcondra
Dublin 9
The class will run for ten weeks and the cost is €180.
If you are interested in learning Irish Sign Language please send a cheque, Postal Order or Bank Draft made payable to TCD No. 1 account and post it to
The Secretary
Centre for Deaf Studies
40 Lwr. Drumcondra Rd
Drumcondra
Dublin 9
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Deputy Joe Costello: This matter aims to ensure the important Centre for Deaf Studies at Trinity College does not lose the minimal education grant it has at present. We are concerned that yet another institution dealing with a vulnerable minority is targeted by cuts in education. The Centre for Deaf Studies is based in Trinity College and funded by the HEA. It is concerned that its funding for 2009 will be cut. It already operates on a shoestring budget of €440,000 and it cannot afford any cutbacks. It had to locate most of its activities in Drumcondra because it must pay rent in Trinity College and most of its staff now works in Drumcondra. This is a difficult situation.
For more on this go to http://debates.oireachtas.ie/DDebate.aspx?F=DAL20081127.xml&Node=H17-2#H17-2
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
ISL Conversation Exchange!
Want to practise your Irish Sign Language skills?
Have you been learning ISL and never had the chance to use it, or meet other ISL users outside class?
Cabra Library (in conjunction with the Irish Sign Language Academy) are now hosting an ISL Conversation Exchange for ISL users.
All levels (beginners to advanced) are included.
The Exchange takes place in Cabra Library, Wednesdays 6-7pm starting November 19th.
Come along and have a casual chat in ISL with Deaf and hearing ISL users!
For more information, text / call: 087 6375224
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Some links for learners of ISL...
I found this webpage showing some of the gendered signs in older ISL - and some pointers to Barbara LeMaster's invaluable work on male and female signs in the Dublin Deaf community. For those not in the know, years ago when there was stricter segregation of male and female schools in the Dublin deaf schools, different sign vocabularies developed between Deaf boys and girls - and then Deaf men and women.
Here's a slightly out of date biography of ISL.
Here's a blog from Lette where she puts her notes from her ISL classes on how to make some basic signs - great idea - spreading the knowledge! Hint: Try to put up some movie clips too so we can see it in motion,
An excellent article by Patrick A Matthews on the extended lexicon of Irish Sign Language, showing that it is definitely not about one-sign-for-each-word. A must read for students who REALLY want to learn the language that Deaf people use. (Click on 'ERIC Full Text', PDF format)
A similar article by Patrick McDonnell on ISL called 'How Snowmen Move: Some Aspects of Lexical Choice in Irish Sign Language.' (Click on 'ERIC Full Text', PDF format)
Here's a more recent article on ISL and more specifically how it's recognised in the third level education sector. Written by John Bosco Conama and Patrick McDonnell, two of the leading experts in the area.
Here's an article by Lorraine Leeson and others about the 'Signs of Ireland' project that CDS were working on - gives some great information about sign variation.
Here's an article from Deaf Worlds on gendered sign called 'Signs of Diversity' that I wrote - may give you another link into the variations in ISL - old/young, male/female etc.
Cormac
Here's a slightly out of date biography of ISL.
Here's a blog from Lette where she puts her notes from her ISL classes on how to make some basic signs - great idea - spreading the knowledge! Hint: Try to put up some movie clips too so we can see it in motion,
An excellent article by Patrick A Matthews on the extended lexicon of Irish Sign Language, showing that it is definitely not about one-sign-for-each-word. A must read for students who REALLY want to learn the language that Deaf people use. (Click on 'ERIC Full Text', PDF format)
A similar article by Patrick McDonnell on ISL called 'How Snowmen Move: Some Aspects of Lexical Choice in Irish Sign Language.' (Click on 'ERIC Full Text', PDF format)
Here's a more recent article on ISL and more specifically how it's recognised in the third level education sector. Written by John Bosco Conama and Patrick McDonnell, two of the leading experts in the area.
Here's an article by Lorraine Leeson and others about the 'Signs of Ireland' project that CDS were working on - gives some great information about sign variation.
Here's an article from Deaf Worlds on gendered sign called 'Signs of Diversity' that I wrote - may give you another link into the variations in ISL - old/young, male/female etc.
Cormac
Civil Service ISL Courses
Found this link about civil service ISL classes - if you're in the civil service and wondering about learning (or know someone who does) then this seems like a good link.
Cormac
Cormac
Thursday, August 14, 2008
How do I become an interpreter?
[Updated version October 2016]
Hi all,
There is generally a lot of confusion about becoming a sign language interpreter and very few sources to help people out. So this is my guide to becoming an ISL / English interpreter!
Bear in mind that these are my own personal recommendations and you are best to make inquiries from other sources also.
First thing to remember is that it is NOT ENOUGH to just 'be good at signing' to become an interpreter. Interpreters need to be more than just good signers. They need to be fluent, and in some ways more than fluent. You need to be familiar with different varieties of ISL - older signs, male / female signs, etc. You also need to have a very good level of English, to be able to understand speakers when signing and to be able to represent the deaf person when voicing.
You also need to be aware of ethics. When you're interpreting, you can't tell people afterwards what the Deaf person said or who was there. You need to keep these things confidential. You also need to be neutral and you CANNOT offer your own opinions or skew what people say when you're interpreting. To be fully aware of these issues you need specific interpreter training.
So firstly you're going to need to develop your sign language skills, and that starts off with sign language classes. Where to go for classes? I'm going to recommend the ISL Academy's network of FETAC-accredited classes (most in Dublin I believe but some outside too) as your first port of call. They offer classes given by CDS-qualified teachers that will give you a well-rounded view of how different ISL is to English. I personally trained with and under a lot of Academy teachers and can highly recommend them. The Centre for Deaf Studies also offer classes based in TCD using ISL Academy teachers.
You could also contact the Sign Language Association of Ireland. SLAI can be occasionally more 'Signed English' in their approach, but they are nonetheless a hugely experienced network of Deaf teachers. If possible (and affordable), sign up for a class with each one. IrishDeaf.com also offer classes in the Dublin area.
There is also a network called the Munster Deaf Tutors Network who are based in the Kerry Deaf Resource Centre - perfect if you're based in the South. If you are in Cork you can also try Cork Deaf Association. And you also have the Centre for Sign Language Studies in the West of Ireland. If you are based in northwest Ireland you could try Foyle Sign Language Centre in Derry.
I'm hesitant to recommend any old sign language tutor. Trained tutors (preferably CDS-Trained) are hugely important - not only are they fluent signers but also have been trained to teach. Just as not everyone off the street can be a skilled teacher of English, the same goes for Deaf people. So make sure your teacher is trained.
I'll also add that in my own personal view (don't shoot me) the best teachers of ISL are Deaf people. There is far more to learning a language than the vocabulary, and with a Deaf teacher you are getting information about Deaf culture and society from an insider's perspective. Deaf teachers also tend to make better teachers simply because they are better signers than hearing people; for me it's that simple. I have been learning ISL since 1995 and consider myself quite a skilled signer, but I wouldn't dream of becoming a teacher, as I would know that the language model I would offer would be far from representative or ideal. Again - it's just my opinion, and I know that when CODAs come into the picture it can be slightly more complex.
Let me just add that so, so many people ask me if there is a book that they can buy to learn sign language from. Well, there ARE books and other materials that can help you when learning sign language - but they should always be a backup to going to classes taught by a qualified Deaf teacher. Sign up for weekly classes and practice, then the books and DVDs and videos will be a huge boost. The problem with books is that they are 'frozen', still photos or drawings - and ISL is a moving, 3-D language that needs to be taught in a moving and 3D way.
DVDs and videos can help too, again as a backup to classes. I find that DVDs are sometimes a little 'artificial' - signers face the camera and have read a script, or pieces of dialogue are signed for the camera - it's not the real, natural way that Deaf people sign, even though it's great for building vocabulary. And of course a DVD can't tell you where you're going right and wrong with YOUR signing.
Website resources are more limited for ISL though there are plenty there for BSL and ASL. Alvean Jones has a great series of vlogs where the vocabulary you are taught is correct and variants (such as women's signs) are covered. Again however you can't get any feedback as to how you're doing. Please steer clear of vlogs purporting to teach ISL done by people who are still learning it in evening class. I'll bet you €100 that every single vlog they do will contain at least one sign done incorrectly.
Over and above any of these supports to classes, you NEED to mix with deaf people. It's not an optional extra or something that you can do later. You need to practise with real life Deaf people who aren't your teacher and who you can practice communicating with. There are tons of events and organisations that can help with this. The links on this page should give you a clue as to where to go to meet Deaf people. (HINT: ISL AWARENESS WEEK EVERY SEPTEMBER!)
I realise it's sometimes difficult to find Deaf people to practice with, in this era of Deaf club decline. You can't obviously go up to a signing stranger on the street and ask them to go for a drink (not unless you're looking for Garda attention!) But there are ways and means. If possible, arrange to get together with classmates and form a signing group that meets in the pub, signs but DOESN'T SPEAK (this is crucial) and then invite Deaf people along as you meet them. Getting a job working with Deaf people is ideal, but obviously not easy to come by - keep an eye out for opportunities.
I'd recommend that you study ISL for at least 3-4 years before you can consider interpreter training. This will give you a good solid basis to build on in training and means you won't be shocked at the raised bar on Week 1. The only ongoing course in the Republic of Ireland to become an ISL interpreter is the Centre for Deaf Studies' ISL / English Interpreting Degree. It's a 4-year undergraduate course within Trinity College's School of Language, Speech and Communication Sciences. It's a fantastic course, very intense and maybe will feel like entering a different world... but the staff are amazingly supportive, you will build long lasting links with your classmates and you will have a ball.
Once you have successfully passed your Degree you are now a qualified interpreter. There are now different routes available for you to begin work - contact the interpreting agencies listed elsewhere here for more info. Other than the CDS there aren't really any other current routes to becoming a working interpreter (or at least none that I would recommend). It is a professional qualification for a rapidly growing profession - and the fact we are *professional* interpreters is one reason why I do not recommend any part time options. You need immersion in the community, tuition from the best ISL teachers and interpreter trainers the country has to offer, and intensive assessment. The job is a highly complex one, and you need to be ready for the challenges it can throw at you.
Hi all,
There is generally a lot of confusion about becoming a sign language interpreter and very few sources to help people out. So this is my guide to becoming an ISL / English interpreter!
Bear in mind that these are my own personal recommendations and you are best to make inquiries from other sources also.
First thing to remember is that it is NOT ENOUGH to just 'be good at signing' to become an interpreter. Interpreters need to be more than just good signers. They need to be fluent, and in some ways more than fluent. You need to be familiar with different varieties of ISL - older signs, male / female signs, etc. You also need to have a very good level of English, to be able to understand speakers when signing and to be able to represent the deaf person when voicing.
You also need to be aware of ethics. When you're interpreting, you can't tell people afterwards what the Deaf person said or who was there. You need to keep these things confidential. You also need to be neutral and you CANNOT offer your own opinions or skew what people say when you're interpreting. To be fully aware of these issues you need specific interpreter training.
So firstly you're going to need to develop your sign language skills, and that starts off with sign language classes. Where to go for classes? I'm going to recommend the ISL Academy's network of FETAC-accredited classes (most in Dublin I believe but some outside too) as your first port of call. They offer classes given by CDS-qualified teachers that will give you a well-rounded view of how different ISL is to English. I personally trained with and under a lot of Academy teachers and can highly recommend them. The Centre for Deaf Studies also offer classes based in TCD using ISL Academy teachers.
You could also contact the Sign Language Association of Ireland. SLAI can be occasionally more 'Signed English' in their approach, but they are nonetheless a hugely experienced network of Deaf teachers. If possible (and affordable), sign up for a class with each one. IrishDeaf.com also offer classes in the Dublin area.
There is also a network called the Munster Deaf Tutors Network who are based in the Kerry Deaf Resource Centre - perfect if you're based in the South. If you are in Cork you can also try Cork Deaf Association. And you also have the Centre for Sign Language Studies in the West of Ireland. If you are based in northwest Ireland you could try Foyle Sign Language Centre in Derry.
I'm hesitant to recommend any old sign language tutor. Trained tutors (preferably CDS-Trained) are hugely important - not only are they fluent signers but also have been trained to teach. Just as not everyone off the street can be a skilled teacher of English, the same goes for Deaf people. So make sure your teacher is trained.
I'll also add that in my own personal view (don't shoot me) the best teachers of ISL are Deaf people. There is far more to learning a language than the vocabulary, and with a Deaf teacher you are getting information about Deaf culture and society from an insider's perspective. Deaf teachers also tend to make better teachers simply because they are better signers than hearing people; for me it's that simple. I have been learning ISL since 1995 and consider myself quite a skilled signer, but I wouldn't dream of becoming a teacher, as I would know that the language model I would offer would be far from representative or ideal. Again - it's just my opinion, and I know that when CODAs come into the picture it can be slightly more complex.
Let me just add that so, so many people ask me if there is a book that they can buy to learn sign language from. Well, there ARE books and other materials that can help you when learning sign language - but they should always be a backup to going to classes taught by a qualified Deaf teacher. Sign up for weekly classes and practice, then the books and DVDs and videos will be a huge boost. The problem with books is that they are 'frozen', still photos or drawings - and ISL is a moving, 3-D language that needs to be taught in a moving and 3D way.
DVDs and videos can help too, again as a backup to classes. I find that DVDs are sometimes a little 'artificial' - signers face the camera and have read a script, or pieces of dialogue are signed for the camera - it's not the real, natural way that Deaf people sign, even though it's great for building vocabulary. And of course a DVD can't tell you where you're going right and wrong with YOUR signing.
Website resources are more limited for ISL though there are plenty there for BSL and ASL. Alvean Jones has a great series of vlogs where the vocabulary you are taught is correct and variants (such as women's signs) are covered. Again however you can't get any feedback as to how you're doing. Please steer clear of vlogs purporting to teach ISL done by people who are still learning it in evening class. I'll bet you €100 that every single vlog they do will contain at least one sign done incorrectly.
Over and above any of these supports to classes, you NEED to mix with deaf people. It's not an optional extra or something that you can do later. You need to practise with real life Deaf people who aren't your teacher and who you can practice communicating with. There are tons of events and organisations that can help with this. The links on this page should give you a clue as to where to go to meet Deaf people. (HINT: ISL AWARENESS WEEK EVERY SEPTEMBER!)
I realise it's sometimes difficult to find Deaf people to practice with, in this era of Deaf club decline. You can't obviously go up to a signing stranger on the street and ask them to go for a drink (not unless you're looking for Garda attention!) But there are ways and means. If possible, arrange to get together with classmates and form a signing group that meets in the pub, signs but DOESN'T SPEAK (this is crucial) and then invite Deaf people along as you meet them. Getting a job working with Deaf people is ideal, but obviously not easy to come by - keep an eye out for opportunities.
I'd recommend that you study ISL for at least 3-4 years before you can consider interpreter training. This will give you a good solid basis to build on in training and means you won't be shocked at the raised bar on Week 1. The only ongoing course in the Republic of Ireland to become an ISL interpreter is the Centre for Deaf Studies' ISL / English Interpreting Degree. It's a 4-year undergraduate course within Trinity College's School of Language, Speech and Communication Sciences. It's a fantastic course, very intense and maybe will feel like entering a different world... but the staff are amazingly supportive, you will build long lasting links with your classmates and you will have a ball.
Once you have successfully passed your Degree you are now a qualified interpreter. There are now different routes available for you to begin work - contact the interpreting agencies listed elsewhere here for more info. Other than the CDS there aren't really any other current routes to becoming a working interpreter (or at least none that I would recommend). It is a professional qualification for a rapidly growing profession - and the fact we are *professional* interpreters is one reason why I do not recommend any part time options. You need immersion in the community, tuition from the best ISL teachers and interpreter trainers the country has to offer, and intensive assessment. The job is a highly complex one, and you need to be ready for the challenges it can throw at you.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Free ISL DVDs!
Looking for some practice with your voiceover?
Finding it difficult to keep abreast of new ISL terminology and vocabulary?
Then you could do a lot worse than visiting the Irish Deaf Society and getting some of their FREE DVDs in ISL.
The ones produced by DALEP, a sub-project of the IDS, are mostly aimed at Deaf people but are available to all.
The IDS also produce information DVDs on all kinds of subjects and they are a great resource for learners of ISL as well as interpreters honing their craft. (And they're a lovely bunch of people too! And I'm not just saying that cause I used to work there.)
Finding it difficult to keep abreast of new ISL terminology and vocabulary?
Then you could do a lot worse than visiting the Irish Deaf Society and getting some of their FREE DVDs in ISL.
The ones produced by DALEP, a sub-project of the IDS, are mostly aimed at Deaf people but are available to all.
The IDS also produce information DVDs on all kinds of subjects and they are a great resource for learners of ISL as well as interpreters honing their craft. (And they're a lovely bunch of people too! And I'm not just saying that cause I used to work there.)
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