Frequently Asked Questions

Does it cost to attend?

• No. We pay you. This program is a PAID mentoring experience on the Gallaudet University campus. Mentees receive generous weekly stipends between $600 and $1000 per week.

What should I expect if I am selected?

• Challenge leading to noticeable improvement - we are about RESULTS!
• Training and orientation in August
• Extensive diagnostic skills assessment
• Ongoing training, workshops, observations, role play, discussion groups and mentoring sessions
• Valuable work experiences both on and off campus
• Personal mentors and individual mentoring sessions as well as teamed assignments

How do I apply, and what is required?

• View our Application Information page for details and a short application inquiry form. After completing and submitting this form, you will be sent a URL and instructions for completing the on-line application
• The on-line application will ask you questions about your interpreting experience, your skill development goals, your desires related to mentorship, names of references, and your preference for cohort group.
• The website also includes practice videos and instructions for the live application.

What are the program dates?

• The program begins Aug 5, and ends May 16, excluding winter and spring break and federal holidays.

What is the application deadline?

• Phase 1 of the application is due Friday, March 1, 2013. All paperwork must be completed before this date to move on to the second phase of the application process.
• Phase 2: Finalists complete live video applications during the week of March 4th - March 8th 2013.  Appointments will be made with candidates who are eligible after completing phase one.  All appointments will occur Monday-Friday between 8am - 5pm EST.
• Candidate selections announced April 15th, 2013

Where would I live?

• All Visiting Interpreters are expected to live on-campus.
• If you prefer off-campus housing, you must live within 10 minutes of campus for DPS on-call duties and/or para-SSP duties.

What is the structural support for this program?

• This program is an investment from GIS in advancing the skills of professional, working interpreters nationwide
• The Results! Mentoring Program is supported by the Results! Mentoring Team. This team is comprised of the GIS Mentoring Program Lead and 4 GIS Mentoring Coordinators.
• Support also comes from certified and experienced interpreters/interpreter mentors.  These mentors are trained GIS staff and freelance interpreters who provide direct mentoring to individual mentees.

Why do I have to be certified to apply to the SC:L Preparation Program?

• The SC:L is a specialist certification.  The Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf requires national certification (a generalist certificate) prior to sitting for the SC:L exam.
• GIS does address the needs of student interpreters through another program, the Results! MAI Mentoring program. In this program, trained GIS staff interpreter mentors provide individualized mentoring and work experiences for students in the Gallaudet Masters in Interpreting (MAI) academic program.
• GIS also addresses the needs of pre-certified interpreters through our Results! Freelance mentoring program. This program provides mentoring for GIS freelance interpreters in the DC metro area who have passed a GIS screening and completed 100 hours of work for GIS. 

How many applications do you receive, and how many interpreters do you select into each cohort?

• Our application pool varies from year to year, depending on the numbers and types of cohorts we support. Our applicant pool also grows as word spreads about our program. Generally, we receive between 50-100 applications per year.
• The numbers of interpreters selected per cohort also varies, and depends on multiple factors including the skill sets of applicants, and the feasibility of mentor matching for each mentee. In the past, we have had from 4-6 mentees in each cohort.
• For the 2013/14 academic year, we expect to invite up to 7 Visiting Interpreters.

Why don't you offer a shorter program?

• We are about RESULTS!, and we know from experience that a shorter program does not allow sufficient time for new skills to be fully internalized. For that reason, we do not offer a summer, or a half semester program.
• We do provide some flexibility around vacation schedules and have a procedure for requesting days off.  Visiting interpreters with limited responsibilities 'back home' may find this flexibility sufficient so that they can still participate in the program.

Can I participate in this program through distance learning?

•  Unfortunately our program design requires on site participation.  

What can I expect while working at Gallaudet?  

• Working on the Gallaudet University campus looks different every day.  The variety of courses that are interpreted range from undergraduate to PhD level courses.  Many classes are interpreted into English and several are also captioned from the interpretation.  There are also opportunities to work from English to ASL in student internships or sponsored events on campus.  Gallaudet interpreters work with a diverse group of Deaf professionals and students.  In addition, the Gallaudet campus houses the Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center where interpreters occasionally work at open houses, IEP meetings, and with emerging signers. 

What will a typical day involve?  

• A typical day involves interpreting teamed assignments on the Gallaudet Campus.  Mentoring sessions also happen throughout the week, as well as study groups, obervations, and time to prepare for assignments. 

If I am not selected this year, can I reapply again next year?

• Certainly!