Im 17 both of my parents are deaf, i interpret for them all them all the time, i know it extremely well, i got all a’s in my sign language class that they offer here at my high school, i pretty much speak it fluently since it is my first language learned next to english as well. Im not going to be an interpreter for all my life since i am looking into the field of Computers/it but i was looking toward being a certified interpreter, its going to be more of a side job while in college, so my question is. would i have to go to college? if so how long would it take me? I live in maryland and there is a big deaf college here (galludet) in D.C so i thought this might help. Thanks!
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you should google sign language classes. I know you have to get a certified, there are test and such. I am also looking into becoming an interpreter. I researched it on google and there are so many great sites. (I would give you some but my PC crashed and I lost all the sites.) good luck!
Oh yeah I do believe it takes a fair amount of time (year or two)
I don’t think you should have to go to college for it, since it is a native language to you (even though you aren’t deaf). What you would have to do is go to the RID website and contact them about taking the certified interpreter test. It is an expensive test, but you may be able to get grants to help you pay for the cost. I know that it envolves at least two parts, maybe three. I know one is receptive, one is expressive and i think the third may be written. (like the code of ethics kind of stuff) At any rate, you may be able to do an internship if there isn’t a law in your state yet that says you have to be certified to interpret. Contact a local interpreting agency and ask there. They may be able to give you a better answer since they are in your state. Here in ohio, they are passing a law that says you have to complete and Interpreter training course and be RID certified in order to interpret legally. But thankfully it wont be in place until i’m finished with college already! Well, good luck!