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Journal Of Ratchasuda College, Research and Development of Persons With Disabilities
Vol.11 No.14 January - December 2015


A Study of the Existing Situations and Problems of the
Thai Sign Language Interpreter Practice in the Educational Setting
:A Case Study of Ratchasuda College, Mahidol University

Teerasak Srisurakul1, Sakda Komonsing2, Panita Phoyen3

1 tum_nfe@live.com , 2 sakda_ko@hotmail.com, 3 panita.pho@mahidol.ac.th

Abstract

The objectives of this research were to study on the situations and the problems of the Thai sign language interpreter on learning process management for the deaf students, and suggest the resolutions of the practice problem on learning process management for the deaf students, then collected the empirical fact to prepare the interpreter for the deaf students learning process management. Qualitative Methodology was applied to conduct the research by collecting data from 6 Thai sign language interpreters working at Ratchasuda College, Mahidol University, by indepth interview and focus group discussion. The analysis of data used to analytic induction, concluding, and summarize.


The findings of the situations were 1) Interpreters studied the vocabularies. 2) Thai sign language interpreter was used Thai sign language to communicate. 3) Before teaching meetings between the lecturers and the sign language interpreters were unsystematically managed. 4) The proper loudness of the lecturers affected to the interpreters practices. 5) The interpreters could emphasize the texts on the slide or on the books while the lecturers were teaching. 6) The interpreter should be given the teaching materials before class for further preparation of vocabulary and contents of the subject. 7) There was the ambiguity between the role of lecturer and the interpreter. 8) The interpreter could not add or interpret any more contents from the lecture of the lecturer. 9) The improper roles were that the lecturer assigned the interpreter. 10) There must be 2 interpreters each class, about 3 hours duration, and every 15- 20 minutes shifting. and 11) Other physical factors affected to the interpreter performance. The problems and resolutions of the Thai sign language interpreter practice in educational setting for the deaf students were 1) The background knowledge affected to sign language and speaking interpretation, while the solution could be presented such as learning from VDO, partner coaching, the interpreters socializing with the students to get more knowledge of vocabulary, specific vocabulary glossary composition from together learning with the lecturers, interpreters, sign language lecturers, the note takers, and VDO recorders. 2) The problem of coordination with the lecture. The interpreter suggested the lecturer to set the specific time available for the students' meeting. If time schedule would be changed, the lecturer should inform in advance, and the lecturer should be punctual because the interpreter had to continue working in another class without break. 3) The ambiguity of interpreters and the lecturer roles in the learning process. The interpreters suggested to clarify whether the interpreter in each subject was only an interpreter, teacher-assistant, or the co-lecturer, and performed consorted with the role. 4) The health of the interpreter problem, the interpreters suggested to allocate the proper timetable, and 5) The physical factors problems; for instance, the quality of microphone and speakers was not clear enough for the interpreter, the sharpness and size of interpreter capture on the monitor affected to the unclear sign language view of the interpreters for the deaf students. The solution was to adjust the surroundings to help the students see the interpreters better.


Keywords: Thai sign language interpreter, Learning process management, Deaf student

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* Opinion, information and conclusion in the articles are from journals' writers. It does not imply that publication department agreed for all contents.