Mentoring: fostering the profession while mitigating the gap

Item

Title
Mentoring: fostering the profession while mitigating the gap
Creator
Kimberly A Boeh
Degree Name
Master of Arts in Interpreting Studies
Project Type
thesis
Date
3/14/2016
Abstract
Literature suggests that mentoring in the field of interpreting will help novice interpreters overcome the steep learning curve that exists between graduation from college preparation programs (or through other entry-level avenues) and work readiness. This study investigated the perceived benefits of mentoring for the signed language interpreting profession by practitioners in the field. A total of 443 respondents varying in age, sex, ethnic backgrounds, work experience and certification levels from the United States and Canada were included in this study.
The purpose was to clarify the attitudes, beliefs, and perspectives of current practitioners and students in the field of signed language interpreting related to mentoring. Four constructs were investigated regarding mentoring in relation to work readiness for entry-level interpreters: knowing how to present qualifications as well as how to present one’s roles and responsibilities, working in specific settings, mentoring in relation to increasing professional acumen related to interpreting, and feelings of readiness to handle ethical decision making as an entry-level interpreter.
Results from this investigation indicated that the majority of respondents perceivedmentoring to be beneficial in the majority of the work settings investigated and other topics included in this research. There was however, a higher importance placed upon linguistic skill-based settings over non-skill-based topics in relation to mentoring for entry-level interpreters (e.g., knowing how to present qualifications, knowing how to present their role and responsibilities, freelance business knowledge, general business knowledge). Respondents also reported a feeling of readiness to handle ethical dilemmas during their first year of interpreting.
Committee Member
Vicki Darden, Alicia Wenzel, Barb Dunaway and Adrianne Johnson
Rights
Western Oregon University Library has determined, as of 6/26/2018, 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 at the email address listed above.
http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
Language
eng
Date Available
3/1/2016
Type
Text
Identifier
theses/26