Course Convenor:
Interpreter Development Programme for Heritage Signers, Level 6 Diploma in Sign Language Interpreting
Languages:
British Sign Language, English, French, French Sign Language
Qualifications:
- BA (Honours) French and Linguistics, University of Manchester
- MA Translation and Interpreting (French/English), University of Manchester
- MA Traduction, interprétation et médiation (langue des signes françaises), Université Jean Jaures, France
- Registered Sign Language Interpreter
- Registered Sign Language Translator
- Level 5 Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults
- Level 3 Award in Education and Training
- A1 Assessor
Bio:
Akbar is a hearing child of two deaf parents, growing up bilingual in English and BSL. He holds a BA (Honours) in French and Linguistics, an MA in Translation and Interpreting (French/English from the University of Manchester and is currently studying to become a French/French Sign Language interpreter at Jean Jaures university in Toulouse, France. He is a Registered Sign Language Interpreter (RSLI) and Registered Sign Language Translator (RSLT) with the NRCPD. His professional working languages are English, BSL, French, and French Sign Language (LSF).
He has been working as a professional signed language interpreter since 2009 (qualified 2018) and has experience in wide range of domains. He currently specialises in broadcast media, including BBC News and Parliament TV, as well as working across his four language combinations in the UK and in France.
In addition to his interpreting practice, he has authored a number of publications on interpreting and translation, including his groundbreaking article ‘Power Down’ – examining the lack of ethnic diversity in the signed language interpreting profession – published in Newsli and VIEWS in 2020. He is a founding member of the Interpreters of Colour Network (IOCN) and served on the Board from 2020-2022. In 2022, he was awarded the IOCN Evolution Award in recognition of his ‘outstanding contribution to the network and the signed language interpreting profession’.
Akbar is a qualified teacher and A1 assessor for the BSL, interpreting and translation qualifications. This includes working closely with awarding bodies on the development and assessment of BSL, interpreting and translation qualifications, and with the NRCPD as a board member. He was the course convenor for 2 modules on the MA Translation programme at University College London.