AUT - New Zealand Sign Language - English Interpreting
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New Zealand Sign Language - English Interpreting
New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) is recognised as an official, native language of New Zealand. NZSL – English interpreting is a growing profession in New Zealand.
The status of NZSL as an official native language of New Zealand is held in high regard overseas and more research is needed in the areas of NZSL and interpreting to raise awareness of the issues and develop solutions.
- AUT is the only place in New Zealand where you can train to become a qualified NZSL-English Interpreter.
- Our team of lecturers includes some of the most highly regarded people in their field.
- AUT’s close relationship with industry practitioners offers students the opportunity to work alongside and learn from experienced future colleagues.
- The BA Major in NZSL-English Interpreting (AK3006) is a comprehensive course designed to prepare professional interpreters to work between deaf and hearing consumers
- This programme was developed with input from Deaf Aotearoa, Sign Language Interpreters Association of New Zealand (SLIANZ) and other industry organisations.
Structure and content
Our dynamic classroom environment encourages student participation at each stage of the learning journey. Relationships with the Deaf community, interpreting fraternity and local booking agencies mean students have access to up to date information delivered in a variety of modes.
These include guest speakers, work experience, use of online learning packages and technology that allows staff to interact with students directly to provide valuable feedback.
Students will learn:
- advanced NZSL skills that provide communication access to the Deaf community
- a range of interpreting skills and knowledge that will allow new graduates to enter the workforce and undertake assignments as a professional interpreter
- ethical decision making skills to aid future professionals in all aspects of interpreting practice.
- linguistic knowledge of their working languages which allows interpreters to better understand the translation and interpreting processes.
- business related skills such as invoicing, taxation obligations and professional conduct.
Progression requirements
- Students in the NZSL- English Interpreting major are required to successfully complete Year One papers with at least a B grade average in the Language papers in order to progress to Year Two
- Students who do not achieve at least a B grade average in the Language papers in Year One will be required to continue with an alternative major
Papers
All papers are taught in NZSL and/or English.165108 iWrite
285104 Research and Analysis
165600 Undergraduate Writing for Academic Purposes
915002 Ki te Whaiao: Introduction to Maori Society
166109 iReflect
166110 iCommunicate
916307 Aotearoa New Zealand Culture and Society
167100 iResearch
165901 New Zealand Sign Language 1
166901 New Zealand Sign Language 2
165903 Deaf community and culture 1
166903 Deaf community and culture 2
Year 2 papers:
166902 New Zealand Sign Language 3
166904 Introduction to the Interpreting Profession
166905 Ethical Decision-Making
167901 New Zealand Sign Language 4
167902 Current Issues in the Deaf World
167904 Comparative Analysis of English and NZSL
167905 NZSL Interpreting 1 – Dialogic Interactions
In the second and third years, students are introduced to the interpreting profession, including the history of interpreting internationally and in New Zealand. Specific interpreting skills are taught sequentially. Students also learn comparative linguistics of their two working languages, and how to make ethical decisions.
167906 NZSL Interpreting 2 – Monologic Interactions
167907 NZSL Interpreting 3 – Advanced Interpreting Techniques
167770 Advanced Interpretation Legal Studies and/or 167780 Advanced Interpretation Health Studies
167771 Advanced Interpretation Legal Interpreting and/or 167781 Advanced Interpretation Health Interpreting
167908 NZSL Interpreting Practicum Experience I – Observations
167909 NZSL Interpreting Practicum Experience II – Professional Practice
In the final year students choose either the legal or health streams [or both], and finish off their study with a comprehensive practicum component spanning both semesters.
This will involve real life observations of qualified interpreters at work in the first semester, and another semester where students can practise their interpreting skills in authentic settings alongside qualified interpreters and ultimately on their own.
Minors and electives
For a complete list of the potential electives, see Minors in the Bachelor of Arts.
Career opportunities
Opportunities exist in various interpreting settings in the deaf community, which includes areas such as:
- Medical
- Legal
- Counselling
- Life-events
- Mental health
- Educational settings
Scholarships
The Ministry of Economic Development have funded scholarships to support students who want to become qualified NZSL interpreters, and to contribute to building a qualified national NZSL interpreter workforce to staff a potential future Video Relay Service.