Tips for Working with Virtual Interpreters- Sophia's Tips

Hello, my name is Sophia Miller and I work with LAF SLS. Tips for using Virtual Interprters: Always remember that there is an interpreter!

It's easy to remember that when there's an interpreter in the classroom because you see them, they're there. Easier to forget when they're on a screen and not standing there, but having multiple screens can help you both see the interpreter and remember that they are present in the classroom. The deaf student may have a computer there, maybe another computer aimed toward the teacher, another one aimed toward the board. So having multiple computers so you're alwasy cognizant of the interpreter present in the classroom does help.

If you're passing our papers that they're all working on, if the interpreter's in the classroom you can just hand them a paper also. Planning before that, you would know, 'Well, I need to make sure the interpreter has this worksheet that we're going to work on ahead of time. I need to either email it to them, fax, text message'. Get them the forms or the papers, worksheets to the interpreter beforehand so that they can still be part of the classroom though they're not physically there can help.