Interpreter Training Program Students and Their Confidence: How Does it Relate to the Retention Rate?

Title

Interpreter Training Program Students and Their Confidence: How Does it Relate to the Retention Rate?

Creator

Amber Lynn Carlson

Degree Name

Master of Arts in Interpreting Studies

Project Type

thesis

Date

6/13/2026

Abstract

American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters are facing a downward-trending retention rate in the interpreting field, as reported in the article by Van Berkel (2024), which states, “But the pool of interpreters is shrinking in Minnesota and across the nation. A survey of Minnesota interpreters in 2021 found nearly 40% expected to leave the profession within five years” (Van Berkel, 2024, para. 3) finding that there is a staggering imbalance between interpreters and Deaf and Hard-of Hearing individuals within the community. Language Services Associates (n.d.) sates, “According to the National Census of the Deaf Population there are approximately 500,000 Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Americans who use ASL, and a ratio of roughly 50 Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing ASL users to one ASL interpreter” (Language Services Associates, n.d., para. 7). The goal of this thesis is to discover the connections between interpreter training program (ITP) students’ readiness to work upon graduation and the retention rate of interpreters continuing in the job force. I surveyed 15 ITP students, four graduated ITP students who did not continue to become interpreters, and eight resigned/retired interpreters who left the field of interpreting. Along with sharing the results, I discuss the findings that I uncovered and any literature, blogs, or social media postings that relate to and support my findings. In doing so, I hope to be able to provide insight as to why this may be happening and how we can better support new interpreters and ITP students to be better prepared for interpreting, and staying in the field long term.

Keywords

Retention

ASL Interpreters

ITP Students Confidence

Committee Member

Elisa Maroney

Colleen Jones

Erin Trine

Rights

Western Oregon University Library has determined, as of 07/27/2026, this item is in copyright, which is held by the author. Users may use the item in accordance with copyright limitations and exceptions, including fair use. For other uses, please ask permission from the author.

https://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en

Language

eng

Type

text

data