“Putting ASL/English Interpreter Education Programs to the Test”
You have graduated from an ASL/English Interpreting Program – now what? One of the most prevalent issues after graduation is when to take “the test;” that is, the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID’s) National Interpreter Certification (NIC) test. The question of “Am I prepared?” or “When is it a good time to take the test?” lingers over the heads of almost every recent graduate, and most wait months, if not years, before their first attempt. Contrary to the popular belief, those who have recently graduated from an Interpreter Education Program (IEP) are prepared to take the NIC written straight out of the program.
What is the NIC test?
The National Interpreter Certification test is the newest test available to ASL/English interpreters through RID. The NIC test consists of three parts: (1) the written portion of the test, which includes general questions about the Deaf Community, Deaf history, the Interpreting Community, and more, (2) the interview portion, which tests the applicant’s process of dealing with the ethical dilemmas involved with interpreting, and (3) the performance portion, which tests the applicant’s actual interpreting skills through simulated real-life interactions. The test developing process initially began in 2002, when a group of experts, deemed by the National Council on Interpreting (NCI), “surveyed several hundred professionals in the field in order to develop a blueprint for the new test,” and this blueprint went into effect in 2005 (RID Certification Department 2006). This new test “identifies the skills and knowledge necessary for a capable professional sign language interpreter to practice safely and competently” (RID Certification Department 2006). Although the test has not yet been implemented as a necessity for every interpreter in the field today, it is recognized as the new standard for interpreters nationwide.
Methodology Revisited
Fourteen subjects were surveyed using an online questionnaire through surveymonkey.com. The subjects were interpreters in the Salem/Portland area, ranging from age 21 and up. Out of the fourteen who responded, twelve were female and two were male. (Note: Although the number of male respondents seems low, this is actually an accurate representation of the female-to-male ratio in the interpreting field.) The participants were all asked the same eight questions:
- Are you male or female?
- How long have you been interpreting (0-5yrs, 5-10yrs, 10-20yrs, 20+ years)?
- Did you graduate from an IEP? Please explain.
- Have you taken either the NIC Written or Performance, or both?
- How did you feel before, during, and after the test (nervous, confident, etc.)?
- If you have not already taken either of the tests, do you plan to?
- Are you now NIC certified?
- What advice do you have for those who have not yet taken the NIC test? Please include any resources and preparatory materials you used/wish you would have known about beforehand.
The responses for each applicant varied greatly. While all data collected proved to hold new insights, there are three pieces of information that will be focused on in this study: questions 2, 3, and 7.
Analysis of Results
Raw Data
Participant # |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
Gender |
F |
F |
F |
F |
M |
M |
F |
F |
F |
F |
F |
F |
F |
F |
Years of Experience |
0-5 |
0-5 |
0-5 |
0-5 |
0-5 |
10-20 |
0-5 |
10-20 |
10-20 |
0-5 |
0-5 |
0-5 |
N/A |
0-5 |
IEP |
Y |
Y |
N |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Taken NIC |
N |
Y |
Y |
Y |
N |
Y |
Y |
Y |
N |
Y |
N |
N |
N |
N |
Passed Written |
N |
Y |
Y |
Y |
N |
Y |
Y |
Y |
N |
Y |
N |
N |
N/A |
N/A |
Taken/Passed Performance |
N |
Y |
N |
N |
N |
N |
Y |
Y |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N/A |
N/A |
NIC Certified |
N |
Y |
N |
N |
N |
N |
Y |
Y |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N/A |
N/A |
Notes:
7/14 participants had not taken test
Participants 13 and 14 are not planning to take the NIC
7/14 participants had taken the test
6/7 participants were IEP graduates from Western Oregon University
5/7 participants have 0-5 years of experience in the field
The goal of this study was to collect data that supported the above-stated thesis: that IEPs do prepare interpreting students to pass the NIC written exam straight out of college.
Out of the 14 subjects who were surveyed, half had taken the NIC written and/or performance, and the other half had not yet taken the test. 3 out of the 7 who had not yet taken the test were not planning on taking the test; 1 was not working as an interpreter at the time of questioning; the other 2 did not plan on taking the NIC due to the increased cost and/or because they were already certified through RID.
Out of the 7 who had taken the test, only 3 were certified; however, all who attempted the test passed the written, and are planning on taking the performance part of the test in the near future. Also, out of the 7 who took the test, 6 of them had graduated from an Interpreter Education Program (IEP), over half of which had graduated in the more recent years (1996-2007). In addition, 2 out of the 3 NIC certified interpreters graduated in 2007, meaning that these participants had only been interpreting for one year (assuming that they had not interpreted prior to graduating). Only one IEP graduate was male, and he has had between 10-20 years of interpreting experience to date. One out of the seven has her M.A. in Deaf Education and did not graduated from an IEP. She is not NIC certified.
Based on the collected data, one can conclude that it is very possible to take, and pass, the written portion of the NIC directly after graduation. Out of the seven interpreters who have taken the test, six out of the seven have graduated from an IEP, and all have passed the written. There is no evidence that shows that the “gap” between graduation and certification is necessary.
Summary
From this study, one can infer that most recent graduates of an Interpreter Education Program in the Salem/Portland area have the preparation that is needed to take the NIC written—and pass it. The sheer number of recent graduates who are certified is evidence in itself to support the notion that "we are ready.” One IEP graduate stated, “WOU [Western Oregon University] did a fantastic job of preparing me, and I knew that most of the suggested reading for test prep was already included as required reading for the program.”
Furthermore, I would like to close with some advice—and words of wisdom—from the Salem/Portland Interpreting Community about how to approach the NIC test. First of all, save your money and set your test date immediately. The NIC test is not only expensive but it is also in high demand, and getting a test date in the near future could be a challenge. Secondly, find a mentor that you can study under and learn from, socialize within the Deaf Community, familiarize your eyes to interpreting between 2-D clients, and take the written portion of the NIC straight out of the program. Attending workshops such as the NIC Prep Workshop at the Language Door in Tigard, Oregon, is always a great asset. The suggestion to read all of the preparatory materials listed on RID’s website, including utilizing the NIC Prep DVD, was almost unanimous; the benefit of using these materials could not be stressed enough. Moreover, practice by yourself, or in a group, simulating real-life scenarios and challenging each other.
In regards to taking the actual test, most of the surveyed interpreters also suggested going into the test with a plan of how best to answer the interview questions, which are said to be very detailed and specific, as well as taking the test slow and checking your answers before the final submission. And most importantly, get plenty of rest and be confident in your abilities. Nobody is perfect, so try your best anyway. Finally, the participants would like to wish any and all test applicants “Good Luck!”
References
- (A. Paul, personal communication, November 13, 2008).
- Paul, A. C. (November, 2008). [NIC Q’s]. Unpublished raw data.
- RID Certification Department. (2006a). NIC Knowledge Candidate Bulletin. RID. Retrieved on November 6, 2008, from www.rid.com
- RID Certification Department. (2006b). NIC (NAD-RID Certification). RID. Retrieved on November 6, 2008, from www.rid.com
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