CASLI Educational Interpreting 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: An educational interpreter is working in a 3rd-grade classroom where the teacher uses a document camera to show student work without narrating what is on screen. What should the interpreter do?
- Describe the visual content displayed on the screen to the Deaf student (Correct answer)
- Remain silent and wait for the teacher to provide verbal commentary
- Ask the teacher to pause until the Deaf student can view the screen directly
- Sign only what the teacher says verbally and ignore the visual display
Correct answer: Describe the visual content displayed on the screen to the Deaf student
Educational interpreters must convey all environmental information, including visual content not narrated verbally, to ensure the Deaf student has equal access.
Question 2: During an IEP meeting, a parent who is Deaf asks the interpreter to explain a term used by the school psychologist. What is the most appropriate response?
- Interpret the question back to the school psychologist and let them clarify (Correct answer)
- Provide a brief personal explanation to save time
- Signal the IEP team to pause and ask the psychologist to re-explain the term
- Skip the term and continue interpreting the rest of the meeting
Correct answer: Interpret the question back to the school psychologist and let them clarify
The interpreter's role is to facilitate communication; the Deaf parent's request for clarification should be directed back to the speaker, not answered by the interpreter.
Question 3: A Deaf high school student signs to the educational interpreter that she is being bullied by classmates. What is the interpreter's primary obligation?
- Maintain confidentiality and take no action
- Report the disclosure to the appropriate school staff as a mandatory professional obligation (Correct answer)
- Advise the student on how to handle the bullying herself
- Interpret only in academic settings and disregard the disclosure
Correct answer: Report the disclosure to the appropriate school staff as a mandatory professional obligation
Educational interpreters are typically considered mandated reporters and must follow school policy to report student safety concerns to appropriate staff.
Question 4: Which seating arrangement best supports an educational interpreter working with a Deaf student in a classroom?
- Interpreter seated behind the student to avoid distracting classmates
- Interpreter positioned beside the teacher so the student can see both simultaneously (Correct answer)
- Interpreter standing at the back of the room for visibility by all students
- Interpreter seated anywhere convenient for the student to turn and watch
Correct answer: Interpreter positioned beside the teacher so the student can see both simultaneously
Positioning the interpreter near the teacher allows the Deaf student to monitor both the speaker and visual aids without repeatedly shifting gaze.
Question 5: A Deaf student's IEP specifies use of Signed Exact English (SEE). The student, however, consistently uses ASL. What should the interpreter do?
- Follow the IEP requirement and use SEE as specified (Correct answer)
- Switch to ASL because it is the student's preferred language
- Ask the student which system they prefer each day
- Use a blend of ASL and SEE at the interpreter's discretion
Correct answer: Follow the IEP requirement and use SEE as specified
The IEP is a legally binding document; the interpreter must follow its specifications unless and until the IEP team formally amends it.
Question 6: An educational interpreter overhears a special education teacher making a derogatory comment about a Deaf student in the hallway. The most appropriate first step is to:
- Report the comment to school administration immediately
- Confront the teacher directly in the hallway
- Document the incident and consult the school's interpreter coordinator or supervisor (Correct answer)
- Ignore it because hallway conversations are outside the interpreter's scope
Correct answer: Document the incident and consult the school's interpreter coordinator or supervisor
Professional ethics require addressing observed misconduct through proper channels; consulting a supervisor before escalating is the appropriate first step.
Question 7: What is the recommended processing lag (décalage) for an educational interpreter working in a lecture-style high school class?
- Processing immediately with no lag to keep pace with the teacher
- A lag of 1–3 seconds to allow comprehension of full phrases before signing (Correct answer)
- A lag of 10 or more seconds to ensure full sentence completion
- No standard lag; the interpreter should match the teacher's exact pace word-for-word
Correct answer: A lag of 1–3 seconds to allow comprehension of full phrases before signing
A lag of 1–3 seconds allows the interpreter to process meaning and produce accurate target-language output without losing significant content.
CASLI Educational Interpreting 2
An educational interpreter is working in a 3rd-grade classroom where the teacher uses a document camera to show student work without narrating what is on screen.
What should the interpreter do?