A sign language interpreter is a person who has high-level skills in two languages, English and British Sign Language (in the United Kingdom), and who has had special training in the theory and practice of interpreting (comparable to a spoken language interpreter).
There is an increasing and unmet demand for sign language interpreters, particularly in such areas as further and higher education, employment, health and law. Training for interpreting consists of developing fluency in sign language and advancing the level of spoken and written language. Following this, there is a period of training and supervised interpreting practice.Students completing the interpreting pathway of our Undergraduate programme may proceed to work as Junior Trainee Interpreters or Registered Trainee Interpreters, or in other professional roles within the Deaf community such as regional development officer for a Deaf organisation, or as a link worker in a county or city council. There is currently a demand for people who are aware of Deaf issues and/or with bilingual skills as teachers, counsellors, youth workers, social workers, community care staff, healthcare staff, the media and many other settings involving contact with Deaf people and Deaf organisations.
