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FAKE INTERPRETER!



When I was touring Teras Merapi with 9.738 feet in height and 20 miles in distance by car, I was reading something that really interesting. What that is? Surya Sahetapy who is a Deaf activist taking study in Rochester, New York posted a video about a fake interpreter at the police press conference (the link: https://www.instagram.com/p/Cdk_hYrpJEH/). That's not surprised because it always happens.

I surely understand that many hearing people want to learn sign language and that's good. We are happy. And even, we are still happy to know that you only know basic sign language because you're good at signing. But, we have own standard if you want to be an interpreter. If you don't sure, I want to shout out how does Deaf Americans testing a hearing student who wants to be an interpreter. 

In the United States, they have many universities and community college offer sign language linguistic and Deaf studies program so hearing people who want to be an interpreter can apply and learn sign language and how to be a professional interpreter. Everyone who knows sign language isn't allowed to interprete at public room such as courts, hospitals, concerts, schools, or any public room/ facilities unless they have an official certification that admitted legally by the university or community college. Surya says that if someone is uncertificated caught on interpreting sign language at a public room will be fined $50.000 and enter jail in a year (taken on his comment). So, hearing people must be taking a four-year sign language program and pass the whole of the tests, including an internship program. I know that some studies show averaged hearing people just need 3-6 months to learn sign language depending on how their progress is. Nevertheless, sign language and interpreting classes are different. Sign language is basically the only purpose of communicating with Deaf people, meanwhile sign language interpreting class is for someone who wants to be a professional interpreter. Sign language is equally to English, French, Spanish, and Chinese so they have something that specifically on how to be a professional interpreter.

Then, how about Indonesia? Indonesia has nothing as America does. We have a sign language class actually and is provided by a sign language center (Pusbisindo/ Pusat BISINDO), Gerkatin (Deaf organization in Indonesia), and Deaf communities across Indonesia, between free or paid classes. They have some level that you need to master sign language but normally level 1 to 5 if I'm not mistaken. We haven't a university that offers a sign language program or at least a diploma. So, what should you do after finishing all sign language classes? You can be applying for a file interpreter certification at PLJ (Sign Language Interpreter Center) or be tested by a Deaf organization/ community. We have many sign language interpreters but the number is smaller than the Deaf population in Indonesia. Based on PLJ's data, the number of professional sign language interpreters is only between 30-40 people meanwhile Deaf population is reaching around 2-3 million, according to Badan Pusat Statistik. But, some people can be an interpreter when they only least 1-2 years to learn sign language. That always happens. Many hearing people think SLB/ special needs school teachers can be appointed to be an interpreter because they are experienced in teaching Deaf children even though becoming a teacher and an interpreter are different things. If you have 10-year of working at SLB and then become an interpreter, you are considered to be broken the ethic and professionalism and your expertise is questioned and in doubt. A professional sign language must be having an experience of spending with the Deaf community, be recognized by, knowing the Deaf culture and sign language interpreter ethic, have neutral behavior, and obeyed professionalism. That describes when you have a signed name that is given by the Deaf people you've met and this is recognition. 

In addition, sign language is actually would always open for public room whether you want to be an interpreter or just want to communicate with Deaf people. If you want to communicate with Deaf people, you don't need any requirements and unecessary to enter the interpreting class. And, even you can learn BISINDO, ASL/ American Sign Language, BSL/ British Sign Language, or any sign language if you want to. I highly recommend that you just need to know BISINDO first when you are living in Indonesia since you will meet Deaf locals who know BISINDO. But, if you want to learn ASL or BSL, you just apply for an online class on social media, make a video call with a  Deaf foreign if you have, or you're living in a foreign country that has itself sign language. So, you're not need to worried and you still can learn sign language in a different purpose.

I hope everyone will aware that how important to be a certificated and professional sign language interpreter so they can work legally and aren't in doubt of their expertise. A university needs to open a sign language program for a diploma or bachelor. That needs to be realized so hearing people will have a chance of applying for a sign language program at a university and work legally of becoming a professional interpreter.

We are happy to open and teach you to learn sign language. We hope would many more hearing people want to learn sign language so we can make an inclusive community and make sure Deaf people can have a new hearing friend who knows sign language, anyway they only know basic sign language or fluently sign language as well. We need the community to be well-eduated, support, and respect the Deaf culture. 

Thanks, everyone!

Source:

https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/asl-major-1616

https://datausa.io/profile/cip/american-sign-language

http://www.pljindonesia.org/informasi

https://pusbisindo.org/

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