Did you know that you can become an interpreter of the Sign language through formal and official training? In Spain, there is a Higher education training cycle within the professional family of “Sociocultural and Community Services” that qualifies you for this.
Duration and access requirements
Training in Sign Language Interpretation comprises 2000 teaching hours distributed over two academic years. To access the cycle, you must meet at least one of the following requirements:
- Possess a Bachelor's or Second Year Baccalaureate degree of any type.
- Have a Higher Technician or specialist degree.
- Have passed the University Orientation Course (COU) or the pre-university course.
- Have any university degree or equivalent.
- Pass the entrance exam if you are over 18 years old. 19 years (o 18 with a related Technician title).
Duties of a sign language interpreter
The sign language interpreter performs an essential task: he or she translates messages between oral language and the sign system, ensuring a fluid communication between people with hearing disabilities and their environment. It also acts as a guide and interpreter for deafblind people, adapting to each context and need.
Training plan
El Curriculum It includes theoretical and practical training structured in the following: professional modules:
- Spanish Sign Language.
- Application of interpretation techniques to sign language.
- Body expression applied to sign language.
- Psychosociology of the deaf and deafblind population.
- Guidance and interpretation for deafblind people.
- Interpretation in the international sign system.
- Linguistics applied to sign languages.
- Professional areas of application of Spanish sign language.
- Foreign language: English.
- Training and Career Guidance (FOL).
- Training in Workplaces (FCT): 380 practical hours.
Career Opportunities
After completing their training, graduates will be able to work as:
- Sign language interpreter (Spanish or from the autonomous community).
- International Sign Language Interpreter.
- Guide-interpreter for deafblind people.
Sectors requiring these services include:
- Education: support for deaf students in schools and universities.
- Health: communication between deaf patients and medical staff.
- Media: acting in television, theatre and cultural events.
- Social and community services: collaboration with associations and entities supporting deaf people.
- Public administration: assistance with procedures and services aimed at this group.
The professional scope may include specializations depending on the sector (Education, health, justice, etc.) or the interpretation technique required, which sometimes requires a deep knowledge of specific technical vocabulary.
The importance of sign language
It is crucial to note that sign language is not universal. In Spain, there are Spanish Sign Language and the Catalan sign language, both officially recognized. Each communicative context requires interpreters with specific skills in the sign language used in that region.
Becoming a sign language interpreter is much more than just obtaining a qualification; it is a commitment to social inclusion, equal opportunities and accessibility for deaf and deafblind people. If you have a vocation for promoting integration and communication, this is a career path that offers multiple personal and professional rewards.