Term

Summer 8-8-2015

Capstone

Thesis

Degree Name

MAESL

Primary Advisor/Dissertation Chair

Julia Reimer

Secondary Advisor/Reader One

Anne DeMuth

Peer-Reviewer/Reader Two

Rose Steller

Abstract

The research question addressed is, In preparing a needs assessment for a 40-hour community interpreter training course,

• What intercultural competence skills do adult ELs need to develop?

• What gap exists between the intercultural competency beliefs, strategies and behaviors of perspective EL candidates and those needed to succeed in the interpreter training course?

The motivating factor in this capstone was investigating ways to prepare adult ELs to enter the 40-hour professional community interpreter training. The study had a qualitative research design that included three individual expert interpreter interviews and a focus group of eight adult ELs. Results indicated that all the skills listed on the Deardorff Pyramid of Intercultural Competence are important for students to develop, but most important are the skill to listen and the skill to analyze. Another finding indicated that intercultural development for interpreters in a complex lifelong individual journey. The data collected in this study will be used to help design an adult EL preparatory ESP course.

Keywords

Adult Education, ESL/ ELLs

Download

Included in

Education Commons

Share

COinS