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The ASL Interpreting Profession

Eleventh graders learn about ASL interpreting — a vital profession that bridges Deaf and hearing worlds. Interpreters must be fluent in both languages, stay neutral, and follow a code of ethics that keeps conversations confidential.

Grade 11Interpreting55 minutes1 class periodACTFL / Visual LanguageExplicit teaching4 StandardsACTFL
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Lesson at a Glance

Everything you need before the bell rings

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to…

  • ✓Explain interpreting.
  • ✓Know the skills needed.
  • ✓Understand the code of ethics.
  • ✓Explore a career.
Essential Question

How do Deaf and hearing people communicate across languages? Often through an interpreter. What does this important job involve?

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Lesson Phases
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Vocabulary Terms
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Standards Aligned
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Interactive Task
Explore · Interactive

Interpreting Check

Project each item and have students answer about the ASL interpreting profession.

🤝 Understand the interpreting professionTry it
Answer each question about the ASL interpreting profession.
The Lesson · Visual-Language Flow (Warm-Up · Present · Practice · Sign · Reflect)

55 minutes, five moves

Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.

1

Warm-Up — Bridging Two Worlds

6 min

Deaf and hearing people often communicate through an interpreter — what does the job involve?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Ask how the languages meet.
  • Ask what an interpreter does.
  • Set the goal.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Wonder.
  • Wonder.
  • Get ready.
2

Present — Interpreting

13 min

Students learn.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Send students to Interpreting Check.
  • Note fluency & neutrality.
  • Note the code of ethics.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Answer.
  • Note it.
  • Note it.
3

Practice — Practice

15 min

Students practice.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Explain the role.
  • Discuss confidentiality.
  • Discuss.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Explain.
  • Discuss.
  • Share.
4

Sign — Sign

15 min

Students sign.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Fingerspell INTERPRETER.
  • Sign the interpreter sign.
  • Sign to a partner.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Spell it.
  • Sign it.
  • Sign.
5

Reflect — Reflect

6 min

Students close.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Say what an interpreter does.
  • Name a needed skill.
  • Complete the exit ticket.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Say it.
  • Name it.
  • Complete the exit ticket.
Standards Alignment

Built to the standards you report on

Aligned to the ACTFL World-Readiness Standards for Learning Languages (Intermediate-High).

ACTFL
Cultures 2.1

Explore the interpreting field.

ACTFL
Cultures 2.2

Explore Deaf-community services.

ACTFL
Connections 3.2

Connect to careers.

ACTFL
Communities 5.1

Value language access.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • Interpreting concept cards.
  • Give short summaries.
  • Discuss examples.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Start with “relay messages.”
  • Use one example.
  • Discuss one idea.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Research becoming an interpreter.
  • Learn about VRS interpreters.
  • Explore the RID.
Materials

What to gather

  • 📽️Screen / board
  • 🤝Interpreting cards
  • 💻Interpreting Check
  • 📚Career resources
  • ✏️Notebooks
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

interpreterrelays between two languagesVRSvideo relay servicefluentskilled in both languagesneutralnot taking sidesconfidentialitykeeping conversations privatecode of ethicsprofessional rulesrelaypass the message faithfullybridgeconnect two languages
Evaluate

Exit Ticket

Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.

QUESTION 1
What is an ASL interpreter’s job?
To relay messages faithfully between Deaf and hearing people.
QUESTION 2
What must a good interpreter be?
Fluent in both ASL and English, and neutral.
QUESTION 3
What does an interpreter’s code of ethics include?
Ethics such as confidentiality — keeping conversations private.

Reflect: interpreting.

Have students describe one thing an ASL interpreter does (like relaying messages neutrally). A printable interpreting sheet is in the World Languages library.

Study · Flashcards

Study the key terms

Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.

🃏 The ASL Interpreting ProfessionFlip
Card 1
Term
Tap to flip →
Meaning
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Practice · Quiz

Check your understanding

A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.

📝 The ASL Interpreting ProfessionQuiz
Score: 0
1 / 6
Question 1
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Practice · Worksheet

Printable worksheet

A print-and-go review sheet with a built-in answer key. Tap “Show answer key” to reveal answers, or print the clean version for students.

🖨️ The ASL Interpreting ProfessionPrint
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: bridge, code of ethics, confidentiality, fluent, interpreter, neutral, relay, VRS
  1. not taking sides
  2. connect two languages
  3. video relay service
  4. relays between two languages
  5. skilled in both languages
  6. keeping conversations private
  7. pass the message faithfully
  8. professional rules

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. What is an ASL interpreter’s job?
  2. What must a good interpreter be?
  3. What does an interpreter’s code of ethics include?
Answer key — Part A: 1) neutral · 2) bridge · 3) VRS · 4) interpreter · 5) fluent · 6) confidentiality · 7) relay · 8) code of ethics
Part B: 1) To relay messages faithfully between Deaf and hearing people. 2) Fluent in both ASL and English, and neutral. 3) Ethics such as confidentiality — keeping conversations private.