Leaving on a Jet Plane: Supporting Interpreter Education in the United States & Singapore

ASL Article - https://youtu.be/zPIGZC6hpfk

Amanda Kennon, MA, NIC

Amanda Kennon, MA, NIC is a freelance ASL-English interpreter from West Chester, PA who specializes in government, business, non-profit, Tech, and education settings (K-12, postsecondary, and adult education). She received her B.A. in Interpreting and ASL/ Deaf Studies from Maryville College and her M.A. in. Interdisciplinary Studies: Individualized Studies: Ethics and Interpreting from George Mason University, completing her Capstone Project, “Ethics & Professional Identity: A Proposed Curriculum for Students in Interpreter Education Programs.” In addition to her interpreting work, Amanda is a mentor and presenter whose special interests include professionalism, reflective practice, and ethical decision-making. Notably, Amanda and Dr. Laura Polhemus have presented about neurodiversity at the 2023 RID National Conference and 2024 Conference of Interpreter Trainers. In addition to their ongoing research, their “Beyond the Spectrum: Exploring Neurodiversity in the Interpreting Profession” can be found on Facebook and Instagram, @SLIneurodiversity.

Purchases from their Bonfire Store will support their work in Singapore: https://www.bonfire.com/store/slineurodiversity/

To look forward, I must first look back. For my interpreter training, I had the privilege of attending Maryville College, a liberal arts institution that is passionate about experiential learning and global citizenship. They instilled in me the motto of their founder, the Rev. Isaac Anderson, “Do good on the largest possible scale.” Although I graduated almost two decades ago, I continue to be shaped by my education personally and professionally. However, I never imagined that I would be supporting interpreter education in the United States and Singapore.

Long-time friend and colleague, Dr. Laura Polhemus, is an Assistant Professor and Interpreter Program Director at Bethel University (Indiana) and I have mentored several of her students. Her innovative seminar course, ASL 360: Singapore Interpreter Training, provides a unique opportunity for students, Abby Taylor, Amber Ballard, Melody Seager, and Shalyn Rathbun. Rebecca Buchan, alumna Mikaela Jordan, and I will also be joining the endeavor to lend our support and expertise as working interpreters, mentors, and interpreter educators. The purpose of the trip is to provide an experiential learning opportunity for interpreting students, as well as, address a critical need in the Singaporean Interpreting Community.

Historically, in the United States, interpreter students have had little opportunity to be exposed to global Deaf communities or international interpreting. Increasing their Extralinguistic Knowledge (ELK) and worldview will better prepare students to work with a variety of Deaf communities and cultural backgrounds (Giles, 1995). Singapore Sign Language (SgSL) interpreters likewise provide services for diverse communities; however, they receive very little formal training or support. There is currently no assessment or certification system nor code of professional conduct. In addition, the Singapore Association for the Deaf has a small pool of staff and community interpreters.

Our group is thrilled and honored to be working closely with Deaf academic Phoebe Tay. Since January, we have been learning about Singaporean culture, Deaf community, and development of Singapore Sign Language (SgSL) from hearing and Deaf presenters over Zoom. In contrast to the fairly monolingual United States, in Singapore, English is widely used along with Malay, Tamil, and Singaporean Mandarin. Singapore Sign Language (SgSL) is a mix of Shanghainese Sign Language (SSL), American Sign Language (ASL), and local signs with Signing Exact English (SEE) influence. As the Bethel University students are at different stages of their ASL development and interpreting program, Rebbeca, Mikeala, and I provided interpreting support. Working between English, ASL, and SgSL was career first for all of us and a valuable learning experience for interpreters and students alike.

We will develop training materials during the Spring Semester, then travel to Singapore in July. These trainings will be provided free of charge to the SgSL-English interpreters during five evening and one full-day sessions. In accordance with the best practices of the international interpreting community, our presentations will be signed; we will use ASL and include SgSL signs to the best of our ability. We will also provide English interpretation which will not only ensure full access for newer interpreters, but also give Bethel University students interpreting experience with the support of certified interpreters.

During the initial planning stages, Dr. Polhemus and Ms. Tay surveyed Singaporean interpreters and identified the following topics for the training:

● Interpreting from spoken to signed language

● Interpreting from a signed to spoken language

● Dialogic interpreting

● Sign language skills

● Deaf Community Allyship

However, as we engaged with guest presenters, our understanding of the community’s needs has evolved. For example, with the launch of Video Relay Services (VRS) in December, one of the presenters requested an additional session focused on VRS interpreting strategies. We also received feedback about ethical decision-making and plan to dedicate additional time to that topic.

While in Singapore, we will also participate in Deaf community events and explore Singapore’s rich history and culture, including the neighborhoods of Chinatown, Little India, Kampong Glam, and Katong-Joo Chiat. We are also planning a special day trip to Johor Bahru, home of the fourth Signing Starbucks in Malaysia (Starbucks Corporation, 2025).

When I asked the students what they are looking forward to, I received the following responses:

I am excited to learn more about the Deaf community and how interpreting works in another country! I know there are tons and tons of sign languages and Deaf communities around the world, but it’s hard to find resources to learn about them. With this Singapore study abroad, I am learning all about the history, politics, and current events of SgSL, interpreters, and the Deaf community. We learn this from Singaporean presenters, which is amazing. I am thrilled to be able to apply what I’ve learned and to continue learning when we visit!

-Melody Seager, Sophomore

Singapore for me is an opportunity for growth. Growth for myself, for interpreters, and for the Deaf community. I’m looking forward to being a part of this amazing journey with my team in such a beautiful place! I’ve never been to this part of the world, so I can’t wait to experience all Singapore has to offer. I’m also looking forward to seeing all my team and the interpreters there can learn from each other to facilitate a better future for the Deaf community as a whole. This will be a once in a lifetime opportunity, and I am blessed to be a part of it!

-Amber Ballard, Junior

While I am a bit nervous about the eighteen-hour non-stop flight and time away from my family, I am looking forward to expanding my horizons personally and professionally. Like many interpreters, I love being a part of the global Deaf community and being exposed to different languages and cultures. I am elated to be a part of this unique experience that combines my love of interpreting, mentoring, and teaching with my love for travel. My greatest hope is that this will be a positive experience for all involved and the beginning of a long-lasting partnership.

If you are interested in supporting this project, please contact Dr. Laura Polhemus at laura.polhemus@betheluniversity.edu.

References:

Gile, D. (1995). Basic concepts and models for interpreter and translator training. Amsterdam: John Benjamins.

Starbucks Corporation. (2025). Starbucks Malaysia celebrates 26th anniversary with opening of its fourth store. https://stories.starbucks.com/asia/stories/2025/starbucks-malaysia- celebrates26th-anniversary-with-the-opening-of-its-fourth-signing-store/