This course prepares students to take on the challenges of building a practice as a professional interpreter while maintaining physical and mental health. The emotional labour and potential for burnout inherent in interpreting work will be examined, along with strategies for time and stress management. Students will learn basic business skills for working freelance as well as how to utilize resources, mentorship and peer support within the community of practice.
Prerequisites
INTR 2210.
Missing prerequisites?
Learn more about VCC's academic upgrading or English as a Second Language (ESL) courses, or discover which university transfer options are right for you.
What you will learn
- Course content will be guided by research, empirical knowledge, professional standards and best practice.
Wellness and self-care
- Strategies and routines for maintaining physical health
- Techniques and habits for maintaining mental health
- Managing stress, time management, organizational skills
- Making effective plans and setting realistic goals
- Establishing a personal support network
Emotional labour of interpreting work
- Potential for burnout, vicarious trauma
- Maintaining appropriate personal/professional boundaries
- Balancing professional role and social participation in the Deaf community
Interpreters as business practitioners
- Contrasting public and private sector work
- Employers, agencies, systems
- Understanding the marketplace for contract and freelance interpreting work
- Basic practices for a self-employed interpreter (business terms, invoicing, accounting, taxes, self-promotion)
The interpreting community of practice
- Participating, benefiting and contributing as a new practitioner
- Fostering mentoring relationships and peer support
- Working collegially to effect positive change
- Addressing issues of diversity, equity and inclusion
How to register
This course is offered as part of a VCC program only.
Course schedules
Select your program to see the available course schedules.
Contact us
If you have any question, please email at advising@vcc.ca.
† This information is intended as a guideline only. Program and course details are subject to change with the approval of VCC's Board of Governors.