Hello and welcome to Tina's Corner podcast. We are a group of like minded sign language interpreters set out to improve the field of sign language interpreting. We have deaf consumers, hearing consumers and deaf blind consumers. And both hearing and deaf interpreters. And the focus of this podcast is to strengthen the bond between those groups of individuals. All persons, regardless of years of experience will benefit. I am Tina Perry, and I welcome you. Today I have invited Kristaline Williams..Kristaline Thank you,welcome.
Kristaline:Thank you, thank you for having me.
Tina:Kristaline is going to share her insights and experience so that others can see that interpreters travel different roads on their journey, only to arrive at the same destination, equality of information for all consumers. Welcome again. Thank you. First, I'd like to introduce Kristaline. And she is we're asking her questions about being a religious interpreter. But also she is a CODA. Now, we won't really get into that too much today, because I think that would that really deserves time on its own. But she is an 2019 graduate from the ITP interpreting program, interpreting program and also an OSU, the Ohio State University graduate in the year 2005, where she has a Bachelors of Science in Human Ecology, and also specialized in Family Resource Management. Currently, Kristaline is working for Hall N Ross as a staff interpreter, one of her biggest accomplishments, and I'm sure there's more than just one. But one of them that she has shared with us is that while she was in the ITP program, which is already vigorous enough, that she also took care of her dad. And the wonderful thing was, is that he was able to see her graduate, which was the only graduation that he was able to attend. And so that was a big accomplishment for her to be able to take care of her dad, and go through the ITP program. That's awesome. Thank you for being here.
Kristaline:Not a problem, again, thanks for having me.
Tina:So I want you to just take me back a little bit, can you tell me about go through the ITP program?
Kristaline:Sure. It's kind of a blur now. But I just remember, what put me in the program was my dad being in the hospital, and the interpreter came to his appointment. And I had no idea what the interpreter was saying. And I wasn't being judgy with the interpreter saying like, Oh, I don't know what you're saying, I don't know, if you're saying something, right. It was just I felt I needed to know what was being relayed to him. And so I took a community class at Deaf Services, and then went on from there. I think I went all the way to ASL three at Deaf services. And then I was like, you know what, let me just enroll at Columbus State and see where it goes. And now we're here.
Tina:And now we're here. Good for you. So since we're talking about religious interpreting, can you give me a little bit of background about your experience working as in religious settings, or as a religious or spiritual interpreter? I don't know what term you would like to use. But for the podcast, we've been using "religious" I know, it's kind of that term. But regardless, give us an your experience.
Kristaline:Well, my experience, I mean, I grew up in church, so I've known, you know, been in church all my life. As far as interpreting, I attended a church for over 15 years that had interpreters,never thought about interpreting myself because, you know, just never thought of it. And then, of course, my dad came, and then that's how that happened. But my first experience actually, hands up interpreting was during my practicum, an ITP program where a church, a local church allowed me to interpret to receive practicum hours. So that was my first experience there and also just kind of interpreting for my dad giving him that information when he would come to church with me. And that turned into after graduation, I was actually an interpreter at a local assembly. And then, you know, again, we're here
Tina:Again, more here. So what do you consider religious interpreting settings?
Kristaline:What I mean any, any, not necessarily just my religion, but any type of religious setting where there's a belief in a higher being or higher power, so any of that can be listed in my mind as a as a religious setting. That could be church. It could be a funeral. It could be a wedding. Just different ceremonies that may happen. That's, that's pretty much what I think of when you say, religious interpreting.
Tina:Have you ever been called to an assignment? Thinking it was a non-religious setting and it turns into a religious setting?
Kristaline:No, not yet. I have not. But I don't feel that I would be thrown off. Only because I going into interpreting and becoming a full time interpreter anything religious so to speak, I felt more comfortable, because I know church. So it kind of that kind of gives me a, you know, like whew I can do this? Because I'm used to, you know, being here.
Tina:Yeah. And sometimes for those of us or that may not be well, real familiar with that type of setting. Those things can pose challenges, you know, we're gonna go out to a business meeting or whatever, and somebody decides to do a prayer or we end up in a hospital setting and somebody is at the end of life, somebody comes in, you know, so those are types of things that can kind of throw us off. Right, you were talking about, since your focus really more is in the church setting. Do you think it's necessary for the interpreter to know, the Bible before accepting an assignment in a church setting?
Kristaline:It would definitely be helpful. Just just like any assignment, any pre assignment study that you can do, I don't see that any differently. So knowing, you know, what's going to be discussed in a church setting would be very important. If you are a continuous, ongoing religious interpreter, I think it's very important that you know the Bible, so you understand the concepts and the context of what's happening. And you're not skewing the information that in what's trying to be relayed. So I think it is necessary.
Tina:How did you prepare for your assignments in the church setting?
Kristaline:The best I could. So you know, trying to, you know, nudge on the praise of the praise and worship leader like, Hey, can we get the songs that you're singing this Sunday? Or are there any scriptures that you guys are going to read, any announcements that need to be read? You know, tapping on the pastor, like, "hey, Pastor, you get notes, can we get some notes? Or do you at least know your text? So I can, you know, read through the text and figure that out". So just asking people that are involved in the service to give you whatever information is possible. Sometimes it was successful, sometimes you walked in there with nothing.
Tina:I know that I have watched you interpreted in a particular church, and there was a team of interpreters there. Did you guys split the responsibilities? Were you like, was somebody in charge of doing the music? Somebody was in charge of interpreting for your, for the pastor? How did that work? How did you divide the responsibilities?
Kristaline:We kind of just, we, with that particular church, we actually worked really well as a team. So we just kind of fell in. If there was particular songs that you felt more comfortable doing or that you really liked to say, Hey, I got the first song, or hey, you get the second song, or you get announcements. I remember when I first started, like, during practicum, I was doing announcements. And then everyone else would fall in, or I would do some music. And then the other interpreters would do the preaching. So we just kind of, we just kind of just worked it out, it kind of just flowed really well. There really wasn't a plan. So to speak, some Sundays there were as more people began to be added to the group. But other Sundays were like," Okay, I'll take the first part of the sermon, you take the next part, and we'll go from there. If it flops, then you know, we'll handle it accordingly".
Tina:Good. So, do you believe that if a person is a non believer or a pre believer, that they so for a particular church, Let's just say, let's just say a Methodist church and you do not believe in the Methodist, preachings or beliefs. Do you think a person should accept an assignment in that setting?
Kristaline:Or I'll speak for myself? I personally would not. Unless I knew more about that belief. If I've studied that belief, and you know, know their belief, and I can effectively interpret without bringing my belief into that, then I would do that. I wouldn't say any other interpreter should not because you never know someone's knowledge about something whether they believe or not, they may know more about the Bible than I do. Sure. So I can't really say you can't you're you shouldn't interpret that it is. I think every interpreter should be responsible to know what you're capable of doing.
Tina:I agree. I agree with you. Is it okay to charge for your work as a church or religious interpreter?
Kristaline:I mean, I feel it's okay. Do I personally charge? no! But I feel it's okay to charge I mean you are, if they're if, if the church is able, and you know, in a position where they can pay, then I don't see anything wrong with them, you know, taking care of the interpreter because it is work just like, you know, everyone else that's on staff at the church if it is a church that pays.
Tina:So you think it's okay, then to volunteer? Because and the reason why I'm asking about volunteering is, I know that there's a stigma attached to interpreters who are always volunteering, and kind of setting a precedence for future interpreters. What do you what's your take on volunteering?
Kristaline:I think it's good to volunteer in any setting, not just a church setting, that's to give back, you know, a lot of people poured into you and, you know, just to give back, but I do understand the precedent setting. And maybe it could be something where you say, Okay, can you just give me a love offering, or, you know, just a donation for the interpreter, because it is their time, it is their effort, you know, to study and to get the song, just like any other job they would go out for. But, I mean, there are times where I feel like we should do some pro bono work and just, you know, give back.
Tina:What do you mean by love offering?
Kristaline:A love offering, meaning, you know, whatever the church collects that they're able to give. So maybe that church can't afford to pay you your rate. But they collected an offering, and they're going to portion off a piece of that offering to give to you, I think that that would be good, too, because they maybe they can't afford, you know, a Sunday afternoon, $75 an hour, they can't afford that, but they give you $25, because that's what they have, you know, as that church body. So I think that, for me, that would be acceptable as well.
Tina:And I know they do that a lot with AA meetings where, you know, you're volunteering, but sometimes they will take an offering up during an a meeting. Do you think that interpreting in a religious setting is equally as important as interpreting in a non religious setting?
Kristaline:Absolutely. Because of my religious background, I believe that's probably one of the most important, but that's, you know, adding my beliefs, if I were to take the belief out of it, I would say any assignment is equally, any assignment is as important as the next we have a job to do. We're facilitating communication, and that's our job. So no matter whether you're at church or at a basketball game, your job is to facilitate the communication and do that effectively. So I think any job is just as equally as important.
Tina:Have you've heard anybody ever say that, working in a religious setting or church setting It's like, and what's the big deal? You know, you're just, it's just church. And, you know, have you heard that, that stigma?
Kristaline:I've never heard that stigma, but I can see that I can tell that it may be out there. I honestly feel like interpreting in church is one of the more difficult assignments that I've ever encountered. Because there's so much going on, you know, you have your music, you have the scripture, you have the preaching, and, you know, there's so much happening and so much involved with it. And it's a lot of it is very conceptual, that is not, you know, it's not easy to just sign that you have to figure out what the meaning is behind it. I mean, that's what we do anyway, but sometimes a little more in depth than what we think it is. I don't think it's no big deal at all, even if I took my religious belief out of it, I still wouldn't say that it was no big deal.
Tina:And I think people when we read the Bible, you know, a lot of times it's like, what, what does that even mean? And so right, there seems to be some extra work. That's why it's nice to be able to get the sermons beforehand, so that you can look it up, but even the music, like, what does this mean? I have no idea and, and so I think yeah, it makes it very challenging. And I think that's one of the reasons why being familiar with the language, being familiar with the terminology, being familiar with the signs is very important. Do you think it's important for the interpreter and the parishioners to have some type of relate work together relationship while they are interpreting?
Kristaline:You mean like the Deaf parishioners? I think so. I've noticed just with my dad in general, I'll, I'll use him as an example. When you involve him in the service, he's more apt to sign with you. He's more apt to you know, get into the service instead of you just interpreting. So I feel like if you encourage the Deaf parishioner, to you know, come on sign with me if it's a song or you know, give them that freedom to to be involved instead of them just sitting in watching you interpret, I think it's really important to have that relationship so that they can, you know, grow one in God and their relationship with God. And then, you know, eventually maybe they don't they, they will start doing things or want to, you know, copy sign a song that they're doing, and there'll be more involved, and they're not just sitting in the pew.
Tina:Yeah, I think that's important, too. I think, you know, the copying the songs and just having them to be involved, I think that's, that's part of our job is to let them know, this is time for you to if if the hearing parishioners are singing along what this is time for the Deaf parishioners to also sign along with them. So yeah,
Kristaline:Absolutely. Yeah, absolutely.
Tina:What would be your best advice to somebody who wants to work in this particular specialized setting?
Kristaline:Um, do your work, make sure that your you're, you're understanding, you know, ask people for the pre assignment, things that you'll need, don't be afraid to, you know, go to the pastor and say,"Hey, I'm going to be interpreting the Sunday, can I get your notes"? Like, make sure you're you're letting them know that this is something that's very important. It's not just you trying to get a sneak peek at the sermon, or a sneak peek at what someone's singing. But it's, it's so that you can help this deaf person experience God the same way they do. Because sometimes we get pushback, because we're asking for things in advance. And it's not for our own good or to be like, Oh, hey, I got pastors notes, this is so that this deaf person can have the same experience with God that you're having. And you know, they deserve that. And they're coming to church, and they want to be involved. But if we're not doing our work, and, you know, preparing effectively, then then they're not going to get anything out of it. So I would say, do your work and make sure that you're you're ready, you're prepared as you can be. Read your Bible, study, do the things that you need to do to be prepared, because there might be that sermon that just changes at the last minute, and you're like, Okay, well, I thought we were talking about Jonah, but now he's moved to Elijah. And I don't know anything about that. So you want to make sure you, you kind of have a grasp on what's happening in the Bible.
Tina:Exactly. Exactly. And you talked about just a little bit ago, about your practicum, I believe you said you were able to work in that setting. How do you you? And I think I heard you also say, you know, I just did the announcements. Is that how you would encourage somebody who's like, I don't really know enough about this, like, go to wherever you want to work as an interpreter. And what would you have them do? How if they were if, if you were in a setting, and a student came in, and they weren't your practicum. Student, but they wanted to be involved. What how would you start them out?
Kristaline:Now, I will say in my situation, I was extremely blessed that the church I attended, we have the same belief. So they were more apt to let me interpret, there are churches that will not let you interpret because they don't know, you know, if you're just a student wanting to come in, but you're not involved with that organization, they may not allow you to. So I was extremely blessed to be able to do that. So I'm not saying that I, you know, ideal that every practicum student will get to interpret in church. I just had a, you know, I would say I had favor in that situation. But if, you know, perfect world, they were able to go into a church, do what you're comfortable doing. When I first started, I was not comfortable with music. Now, I love music. And I was over the dance team at a church for 15 years. And you know, I can do an interpretive dance in my sleep, but to interpret a song with, you know, sign language and ASL around me that were, you know, really putting out beautiful ASL songs. So I was like, yeah, no, I'm not gonna do that. So I just did what I was comfortable with. And, you know, when they read the announcements, they read them at a good pace for me, and, you know, it was just something that I was comfortable doing until I could, you know, push myself a little further. I would say do it, do what you're comfortable doing.
Tina:Thank you. Do you have any particular resources that you use or you recommend that people may look into?
Kristaline:Yes, I use the Deaf Missions Bible. Deaf Missions has a they have signed the entire Bible, I believe it is, and ASL. Now, I do make sure that it matches my beliefs and what they're signing is you know, in line with what I believe, but it's a really good tool to help you to at least see how some scriptures are signed. And then you can tweak it how you need to tweak it, but I definitely that's probably the, the one thing that I use the most. If there's songs I will look the songs up on YouTube, see if someone else has signed them, get an idea of you know, get some ideas put in your head and then you know, practice the song and see what comes off into your hands. But I think it's really, for me, it's more of a spiritual thing like, what is God giving me? And what is how does he want me to put this out here? So prayer is a big resource.
Tina:Yeah, Deaf Missions Bible is that a.com?
Kristaline:um it's actually, Deaf missions.com
Tina:Okay, Deafmissions.com I'll be sure to add that on to this podcast.
Kristaline:And it's the ASL V Bible is what they call it. And it's,
Tina:What is it again?
Kristaline:ASL V as in Victor. Okay. And they, they pretty much have, you know, signed the whole Bible, it's kind of cute. They have, you know, some of them are dressed up in character, and, you know, finding, you know, certain scriptures. So, that has definitely helped me a lot.
Tina:That sounds like a great resource. I'll be sure to include that. Is there anything as we close here. Is there anything that I may have overlooked or anything that you would like to say before we close?
Kristaline:No, not really, the only thing I would I would say is for the non signers, that may listen to this and go to church. As it pertains to your deaf, parishioners that come in the door, just treat them like you treat everyone else. Make sure they feel accepted, make sure they feel wanted and include them, because most times deaf people will leave churches because they don't feel a part. And that's just like with any person, honestly, if you don't feel a part of an organization, you're going to leave that organization. So you know, don't be afraid of them. If you have an interpreter in your, in your church, utilize that interpreter. If you're scared to speak to them, they'll they'll teach you the basic signs or even the deaf person that I think they're more willing to teach you how to say "hi", then prefer you not to just speak at all. So just embrace them just like you would embrace anything out anyone else. There's nothing wrong with them. They want to worship God just like you do. So allow them to have that opportunity.
Tina:Thank you. That's great advice. Nobody has finished with that piece of advice. That's That's awesome. Kristaline and I really thank you for doing this with me today. And to our listening audience. I hope that you have learned something from Kristaline and she's been interpreting for a couple of years and is doing quite nicely. She works for a very prestigious interpreting agency. That's That's awesome. She you know is out and about and, and I so appreciate you coming here and and sharing your wisdom with us. Thank you, Kristaline.
Kristaline:Not a problem at all. My pleasure. Thanks for having me.
Tina:Absolutely.