Establish first-hand experience
in this chosen profession

A major in American Sign Language (ASL) Interpreting or a minor in ASL creates appreciation for a unique United States minority group, exploring the role of language in our society to prepare for work as a professional interpreter with deaf and hard-of-hearing persons in the church and community. Students have the exciting opportunity to be involved in an internship in the community being mentored by skilled certified interpreters. This opportunity will provide the training necessary to begin to establish first-hand experience in this chosen profession during the second semester of their senior year.

ASL Graduates hired into various positions

The seniors from the '05-'06 graduating class have all found jobs to their liking. Some are specifically working as professional interpreters; others are working in different roles with the Deaf Community. You might find these graduates:

• traveling across the country interpreting the narrations at car shows for Buick, Pontiac, GMC and Chevy
• in local Indiana public schools system interpreting at middle schools and preschools
• in private practice interpreting in the Michiana region on assignment in doctor's offices, schools, job training, etc
• interpreting in a North Carolina elementary school
• working as the program coordinator for Anabaptist Deaf Ministries
• employed as a case worker with First Steps supporting Deaf parents and their infants (disabled)

Major in American Sign Language-English Interpreting

Goshen College offered its first classes in its new bachelor's degree program in ASL interpreting the fall of 2002. The four-year degree program is designed to prepare graduates for a professional interpreting career and to use their skills in service to the community and the church. Upon completion of the B. A. degree, students will have taken the written portion of the National Registry of Interpreters for Deaf evaluation and have a sound base on which to build their interpreting skills.

Minor in American Sign Language

The minor in ASL is for students who wish to expand their language skills and cultural knowledge to enhance other majors such as ministry, education, social work, psychology, etc. This program will enable students to develop an appreciation and understanding of the way in which people in the Deaf community live, think and communicate and develop basic ASL skills.