Interpreter Development Programme for Heritage Signers (3 Years)

Interpreter Development Programme for Heritage Signers (3 Years)

Upcoming courses:
One weekend a month, 16 September 2023 - 26 July 2026
Last Updated: 18-04-23

At a glance:

Level 6 (RQF)
Open to hearing people from deaf families
3 years - 1 weekend per month
Leads to RSLI with NRCPD
Includes BSL and interpreter training
London venue
£3,000 per year (inc. VAT and exam fees)

Course content

The Interpreter Development Programme for Heritage Signers (IDP-HS) course is open to hearing native, near-native and heritage signers who would like to pursue a career as a qualified sign language interpreter. You will achieve the Signature Level 6 Diploma in Sign Language Interpreting and Translation and the Signature Level 6 Certificate in British Sign Language qualifications. This course leads to Registered Sign Language Interpreter (RSLI) status with the NRCPD. This is currently the only course of its kind in the UK.

We have developed the IDP-HS course based on our extensive experience in the interpreting, translation and training fields. The course is made up of 360 hours of guided learning and 360 hours of independent learning spread over 3 years. This is an intensive programme and requires your full commitment.

This course will take you from little or no knowledge of sign language interpreting to Registered Sign Language Interpreter (RSLI) status. You do not need any qualifications in BSL to join this course, but you must be able to demonstrate competency in BSL at minimum Level 2.

You will be able to register as a Trainee Sign Language Interpreter (TSLI) in the second year of this course (subject to you also meeting all other requirements set out by the NRCPD).
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
The first year is made up of 120 hours of guided learning hours and 120 hours of structured independent study (total 240 hours). The guided learning sessions are divided into 10x 12-hour sessions over a weekend once a month over 10 months. This is followed by an additional 12 hours of structured independent study per month, which is completed through our e-learning platform.

In the first year, you will develop your knowledge, understanding and skills in the following areas:
ModuleTopics covered
Intermediate British Sign LanguageYou will develop your skills in British Sign Language from level 2 (A2) (or equivalent) towards intermediate level (B1). You will develop your productive and receptive skills, vocabulary and grammar. You will also study the history of BSL and deaf culture, including the role and identity of hearing heritage signers and child language brokers. This module is benchmarked to the Level 3/4 qualifications in BSL. Topics include: home life, social and recreational activities, education, employment and jobs, science and technology, medicine and law and politics.
Theoretical principles in interpreting and translationThis module will introduce students to some of the key theoretical frameworks in interpreting and translation studies, including functionalist theories, ethical models and the role of the interpreter and translator. It will introduce students to some of the current principles and issues in the public service interpreting profession, with a focus on signed language interpreting. It will also look at some of the unique issues that arise for heritage signers and the relationship between heritage signers and the interpreting profession.
Introduction to interpretingYou will be introduced to the main interpreting theories in spoken and signed language interpreting. You will also study the history of the sign language interpreting profession, including the role of hearing heritage signers and child language brokers. You will be introduced to consecutive interpreting, note-taking skills, simultaneous interpreting, text translation and audiovisual translation. You will practice both one-way and two-way interpreting. This module will also introduce you to some of the main domains that interpreters work in, including health, employment, education and community.
The second year is made up of 120 hours of guided learning hours and 120 hours of structured independent study (total 240 hours). The guided learning sessions are divided into 10x 12-hour sessions over a weekend once a month over 10 months. This is followed by an additional 12 hours of structured independent study per month, which is completed through our e-learning platform.

In the second year, you will develop your knowledge, understanding and skills in the following areas:
ModuleTopics covered
Advanced British Sign LanguageYou will develop your skills in British Sign Language from level 3 (B1) towards advanced level (C2). You will develop your productive and receptive skills, vocabulary and grammar. You will also study the history of BSL and deaf culture, including the role and identity of hearing heritage signers and child language brokers within the deaf world. The assessment for this module takes the form of 3x live observed BSL discussions, 1 externally marked presentation, 1 externally marked discussion and 1 receptive exam. You will achieve the Level 6 Certificate in BSL qualification upon completion of this module. Topics include: medicine, politics and the law, employment and finance, education, science and technology and media and society.
Professional interpretingYou will continue to develop your interpreting skills in one-way and two-way interpreting. You will study some of the key theories in interpreting and translation studies and learn how to apply them to your practice. This module will give you the skills to analyse your interpreting performance by understanding the cognitive processes and stages of the interpreting process. You will continue to practise your skills in consecutive interpreting in addition to developing skills in simultaneous interpreting. You will also be introduced to interpreting in a wider range of domains, including health, education, employment and performance. At the beginning of the second year, you will be assessed against the National Occupational Standards for Trainee Interpreters, which will enable you to register with the NRCPD as a Trainee Sign Language Interpreter (TSLI) and start working as a professional sign language interpreter.
Prepare for interpreting assignmentsYou will learn about the importance of preparing for interpreting assignments, applying key theories in interpreting and translation studies to plan and prepare appropriately for assignments. You will be able to assess your own ability to undertake, and accept, interpreting assignments, as well as plan and prepare for assignments as part of a team of interpreters. You will learn about the importance of maintaining a glossary for domains you regularly work in. You will critically evaluate and apply a range of preparation strategies and you will produce evidence of preparing for 4 assignments.
Plan and implement continuous professional development You will work with your professional supervisor to plan your development points over the course of your studies. You will create, maintain and update a Professional Development Plan throughout your studies. Your plan will be informed by trends, developments and good practice in the sign language interpreting/translation profession as well as your own evaluation of your gaps in knowledge, skills and competence. You will have regular meetings with your supervisor to review your PDP (required to maintain your TSLI registration).
Remote interpretingYou will learn about the emerging field of Video Relay Interpreting (VRI) and engage critically with current debates about VRI in the sign language interpreting field. You will learn how to prepare and perform VRI assignments, including how to set up, check and monitor equipment effectively and how to manage the specific demands relating to this mode of delivery. You will also be introduced to subtitling and audiovisual translation.
The third year is made up of 120 hours of guided learning hours and 120 hours of structured independent study (total 240 hours). The guided learning sessions (including assessment time) are divided into 10x 12-hour sessions over a weekend once a month over 10 months. This is followed by an additional 12 hours of structured independent study per month, which is completed through our e-learning platform.

In the third year, you will develop your knowledge, understanding and skills in the following areas:
ModuleTopics covered
Advanced professional interpretingThis module will bring together your skills in interpreting in order to refine your skills in interpreting between English and BSL at native level. You will master a range of interpreting techniques, particularly in simultaneous interpreting. You will also be introduced to interpreting in specialist domains, including conferences, mental health and court. You will be assessed in both two-way and one-way interpreting and in both simultaneous and consecutive modes. Assessment takes the form of 5x evidence or observations of one-way and two-way interpreting performance.
Work as part of a team of professional interpretersThis module will give you the knowledge and skills to work effectively as part of a team of interpreters. It will equip you with a range of co-working techniques, such as feeding, checking and monitoring skills, as well as strategies to work with other professionals (i.e. relay interpreters and English>BSL translators). You will consider a wide range of co-working techniques in various situations and domains, using key principles and ethical models to justify your decisions.
Sight translationYou will learn about the situations when you might be required to produce sight translations of written and signed texts. You will consider the appropriateness and feasibility of the sight translation task. You will be able to apply a wide range of interpreting and translation theories and principles to justify your translation approach and ethical decisions.
Evaluate performance as a professional interpreterYou will use a wide range of theoretical frameworks, ethical frameworks and key principles in interpreting and translation studies to critically evaluate your own interpreting performance. You will be able to justify and analyse the interpreting approach, as well as evaluate the consequences of ethical decisions made. You will also have the opportunity to engage in group reflective practice sessions. You are required to produce a critical analysis of your interpreting performance for all of the 6x internal assessments.

Assessments

There are total of 17 assessments for this qualification over the total three-year duration. The assessments cover the assessment requirements for the Signature Level 6 BSL and Level 6 Interpreting qualifications. Year 1 and Year 2 cover BSL and written assessments. Practical interpreting assessments are done in Year 3. Most of the assessments will be conducted in the classroom through simulations, but students may be required to collect some evidence in the community.
Year 1 Assessments
Year 2 Assessments
Year 3 Assessments
No.AssessmentMethod
1Business PlanCoursework - internally assessed
2BSL GlossaryCoursework - internally assessed
3Informal one-to-one discussion in BSLFilmed clip - internally assessed
4Professional Development PlanCoursework - internally assessed
No.AssessmentMethod
1Informal group debate in BSLFilmed clip - internally assessed
2Formal group meeting in BSLFilmed clip - internally assessed
3Formal presentation in BSLFilmed clip - externally assessed
4Formal one-to-one discussion in BSLFilmed clip - externally assessed
5BSL receptive skills examFilmed clip - externally assessed
6Prepare for interpreting assignments x4Coursework - internally assessed
73,000 Word essayCoursework - externally assessed
No.AssessmentMethod
1One-way consecutive BSL>English and critical analysisLive observation or filmed clip - internally assessed
2One-way consecutive English>BSL and critical analysisLive observation or filmed clip - internally assessed
3One-way simultaneous interpreting BSL>English and critical analysisLive observation or filmed clip - internally assessed
4One-way simultaneous interpreting English>BSL and critical analysisLive observation or filmed clip - internally assessed
5Two-way face-to-face interpreting BSL/English and critical analysisLive observation or filmed clip - internally assessed
6Two-way remote interpreting BSL/English and critical analysisLive observation or filmed clip - internally assessed
7One-way simultaneous interpreting BSL>EnglishFilmed clip - externally assessed
8One-way simultaneous interpreting English>BSLFilmed clip - externally assessed
9Two-way face-to-face interpreting English/BSLFilmed clip - externally assessed
10Two-way remote interpreting English/BSLFilmed clip - externally assessed
11Sight translation English>BSLFilmed clip - externally assessed
12Immediate translation BSL>EnglishWritten product - exter-nally assessed

Entry Requirements

1. Hearing native, near-native or heritage signer
2. BSL skills at equivalent of Level 2
3. Pass the interview and aptitude test
4. Good level of English (e.g. GCSE grade C, CEFR B2)
5. A university degree (in any subject) is desirable

You do not need any qualifications in BSL to join this course. We will test your BSL skills. at the interview.

You must have a good level of literacy to be able to read and understand the course materials.

Ideally, you will have a network of contacts to help you to collect evidence of your interpreting work for your portfolio.

Progression

The IDP-HS is a unique course that gives you the skills to interpret between English and BSL at native level (AA language combination).

You will achieve the Signature Level 6 Diploma in Sign Language Interpreting and Translation and Signature Level 6 Certificate in British Sign Language qualifications, which allow you to apply for Registered Sign Language Interpreter (RSLI) with the NRCPD and start working as a qualified sign language interpreter.

You will be eligible for full membership of the Association of Sign Language Interpreters (MASLI) and Visual Language Professionals (MVLP).

When you have 3 years of interpreting experience, you will be eligible for full membership of the Institute of Translation and Interpreting (MITI) and the Chartered Institute of Linguists (MCIoL).

You will also be eligible to join the International Association of Conference Interpreters, as well as the European Union Institutions and the United Nations, as a conference interpreter with AA English/BSL language combination.

This course will give you the skills and confidence to work in all domains, to aspire towards positions of leadership within the sign language interpreting profession and to seek interpreting opportunities around the world.

Careers

Many qualified BSL/English interpreters are freelance sole-traders. There are several interpreting agencies that offer work to qualified BSL/English interpreters. These include some big multinational agencies that offer interpreting services in several languages and some smaller specialist agencies that deal mainly with BSL/English interpreting services.

NUBSLI publish guidance on rates for freelance interpreters, which vary depending on the region of the country. On average, a newly qualified interpreter can expect a starting salary of £30,000 per annum. This can go up to as much as £50,000 per annum for experienced freelance interpreters.

For more information about starting out as a professional BSL interpreter:

National Union of British Sign Language Interpreters (NUBSLI)

Association of Sign Language Interpreters (ASLI)

Visual Language Professionals (VLP)

Institute of Translation and Interpreting (ITI)

Chartered Institute of Linguists (CIoL)

International Association of Conference Interpreters

European Commission

United Nations

Dates and times

16 September 2023 - 26 July 2026 (IDPHS-2324)
Year 1 Dates
Saturday 12:00-18:00 and Sunday 09:00-15:00 once a month
16-17 September 2023
21-22 October 2023
18-19 November 2023
20-21 January 2024
17-18 February 2024
16-17 March 2024
20-21 April 2024
18-19 May 2024
22-23 June 2024
13-14 July 2024
Year 2 Dates
Saturday 12:00-18:00 and Sunday 09:00-15:00 once a month
21-22 September 2024
19-20 October 2024
16-17 November 2024
18-19 January 2025
15-16 February 2025
15-16 March 2025
19-20 April 2025
17-18 May 2025
21-22 June 2025
12-13 July 2025
Year 3 Dates
Saturday 12:00-18:00 and Sunday 09:00-15:00 once a month
27-28 September 2025
25-26 October 2025
22-23 November 2025
24-25 January 2026
21-22 February 2026
28-29 March 2026
25-26 April 2026
23-24 May 2026
27-28 June 2026
25-26 July 2026

Fees

£3,000 per year

Monthly: £300 per month x 10 months

£300 deposit required to reserve your place (this will be subtracted from the total cost)

£75 non-refundable interview fee is also payable. This is not returned in the event you are not offered a place on the course.

Fees include awarding body assessment fees and access to Moodle. Monthly Direct Debit payment plan comes as standard. Our fees are always all-inclusive so there are never any unexpected costs!
Contact Form
BSL First LTD | Company number: 12860304 | VAT number: 379905441

Designed & Development by WP Ability

linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram