Different demands and new technologies. Exploring novel approaches to the teaching of sign language interpreter students at Hochschule Fresenius

Hochschule Fresenius has been offering a master’s degree in sign language interpreting in Idstein, Germany since 2009. During the current reaccreditation process the decision was taken to completely redesign this course and turn it into a bachelor’s programme with its first cohort scheduled to take up their studies in September 2022. For the development of the new syllabus, a broad range of different guidelines had to be considered covering various perspectives such as administrative requirements regarding the general design of university programmes and long-standing standards for sign language interpreter trainings. But there was more to it than just implementing regulations: First of all, the redesign of the course opened up the opportunity to also take into account the most recent developments in the field of sign language interpreting and strive to design a syllabus that - in addition to traditional subject matters - depicts what job entrants really need to learn these days in order to start their working life as sign language interpreters on solid grounds. Secondly, special emphasis was put on a well-planned design of the self-study parts of the course, with a focus on methods that can foster collaborative, cooperative and peer-assisted learning even on distance thus strengthening communicative, intercultural and general personal competences as well as team work and self-responsibility. Finally the cherry on the cake was that the redesign also made it possible to consider the introduction of new technologies into the learning and teaching process as an addition to already well-established methods. Thus also novel digital approaches were explored during this process including digitorials, 3D videos and even avatar-based virtual learning environments. The aim was to give students the opportunity to try out mock real-life interpreting situations without having to be there in person – a big step in terms of broadening training options and a huge advantage in times when on-site practical training is made difficult by the necessity of social distancing rules.