Assessing the Level of Performance of Sign Language Interpreters from Impaired Hearing Students’ Perspectives at Public and Private Jordanian Universities

Abstract

This study aimed at assessing the level of performance of sign language interpreters in both public and private Jordanian universities, as well as to recognize the effect of the study variables specifically gender and qualifications for acoustically disabled and interpreter, and the experience of the interpreter on the level of the performance assessment of sign language interpreters and the hearing disabled students in the capital (Amman) and Balqa' Governorates' public and private universities. The sample of the study consisted of (100) students. In order to collect the data, the researcher has built a study instrument which consists of three dimensions: a personal dimension (15), cognitive dimension (13), and professional dimension (13). Validity and reliability of the instrument were calculated, and then the instrument was applied on the study sample.The results of the study showed that the level of assessment by the hearing disabled students for sign language interpreters who accompany them in public and private universities and institutes was high. The personal dimension came first, followed by the cognitive dimension, and finally the professional dimension. The results showed a lack of statistically significant differences on all dimensions attributed to the gender variable of the acoustically disabled. The study showed the existence of statistically significant differences in favor of females on the personal dimension attributed to the interpreter gender variable. Results also showed that there were no statistically significant differences attributed to the impact of the acoustically disabled qualifications on all dimensions except the professional one in favor of diploma, and there were no statistically significant differences attributed to the impact of the interpreter's qualifications on all dimensions except the professional one in favor of diploma, and no statistically significant differences attributed to the experience variable of the interpreter.Keywords: language interpreters, the impaired hearing, the level of performance of sign language interpreters