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Hi everybody! So, I
know that the background is a little bit different here, but I'm actually on vacation
right now. I'm at my mother-in-law and step-father-in-law's house.
So I'm sorry if the lighting is a little off or weird.
Anyways a while back I had gotten a request as to why
the reason I became a sign language interpreter.
So, the person themselves was considering becoming an interpreter. They wanted
to get some motivation or the reason I get so I'm gonna explain that to you.
The first time that I ever actually saw sign language, I think
was back in my junior or my senior year of high school.
We went to a play. I think it was in Canada maybe.
Umm anyways it just so happened that at the play,
there was a group of Deaf students! So obviously there was a sign language interpreter there,
and of course I was totally focused on that. I didn't even watch the play. I don't know
sign langauge. I don't know anything that they said. I don't know if she did a good job,
still I was really fascinated with it. So then I decided to go ahead and get invovled
in sign language. So went ahead and during my senior of high school
I took ASL 1 and 2. I went to a local community
college there. So I did that and I really enjoyed it!
You know I really liked Deaf people. My first and actually all of my
ASL professors at that community college were Deaf. So I thought that was really cool.
So I learned sign language, and I thought I wanted to become
a Deaf teacher. I think its a TOD, teacher of the Deaf.
So anyways I went to a state college for that.
I stayed there for one semester and kinda
looked at the teaching classes and I didn't want to become
a teacher. So I thought that maybed I'd just go back to the interpreting
program. So I went back to the same community college. Went back home,
and took classes there. You know just kinda took sign language classes
and learned it and seemed like I was pretty good at it. So then I decided
to become an interpreter in the interpreting program.
Up to that point I had never met any Deaf people. No Deaf friends, I mean
I met them at the college (clears throat)... excuse me... I met some at
the school that I worked at. I was a teacher's aide there. So I met Deaf people there, but
I didn't have any like friends when I was young, or like
boyfriend/girlfriend type of thing. Nothing like that. So,
then once I was done I decided for sure I wanted to be an interpreter. But
I thought that I should probably go for a BA program. That would be better. So I applied
to Gallaudet and NTID (RIT).
I decided on NTID. So I went there and got my BA.
Yeah I mean I started interpreting. Really it's that
simple. Umm I just love sign language, and love
learning. But it's a funny story. Maybe it's genetic....
cause you're thinking how could that be genetic. Actually, I had no idea,
I promise but my mom she had told me later that she
had taken sign language classes. She said "you know I took sign language classes."
I wanted to become an interpreter too like my mother!
So I can't believe she wanted to become an interpreter, but you know life happened and whatever.
Anyways she said a long time ago my aunt,
and grandma (her sister, mother), the three of them took sign language classes, well
SEE classes. I was maybe like 2 or 3, I was pretty
young and so my mom really liked it. So later she went to college
thinking she'd become an interpreter. It didn't work out, but she had
never told me and it just happened that I became an interpreter which is really weird!
So anyways if you guys want to become an
interpreter. Maybe you're interested in sign language. The best thing to do
is to take a sign language class. Through like your community college or something.
Umm having a Deaf teacher I think is the best. it really forces you to
learn sign language. So you don't depend on speaking to a hearing teacher, but
again that's up to you. If you don't have any Deaf people in your area that's perfectly fine. Just
kind of learn it and see how you feel. If you like sign langauge, start
hanging with Deaf people. Make sure you're willing to meet with a variety of
people and you're really motivated to learn. If you feel all those things
match for you then go ahead and do it! It's just important you never
stop learning and you know like I said make sure you're social with Deaf people.
That really helps your signing a lot! It will help you style a lot.
So yeah umm hopefully that answered your questions. The
person who requested that and I'm sorry I'm only doing videos every once
and a great while on here. I know I have a lot of new subscribers. Thank you so much
all of my new subscribers! I really appreciate all of you being involved in my channel.
Please leave me comments below. Let me know wha kinds of videos
you want to see. More sign language, more interpreting related,
whatever you want to see and let me know! Alright guys see you in the next video.
Bye!