What are some different ways that Deaf persons work with interpreters?

Communication Methods: Ways that Deaf persons work with an interpreter. ASL is one of the top languages used within Deaf communities. Interpreters need to follow each Deaf individual's language preference, such as American Sign Language, PSE ("contact sign," which is a mix of ASL signs and English-like signing), or Signing Exact English ("SEE," a manual code for English words). If a school requires ASL, and then a Deaf student transfers from another school that uses SEE, it could take some time for this individual to pick up ASL.

We are not always able to determine which interpreter's skills will best fit a particular Deaf consumer's preferences. Some Deaf people communicate with visual gestures, and these individuals may not fully understand English. In this situation, using a lot of ASL vocabulary may not be as effective in the interpreting situation. Sometimes, educational interpreters must use juggle both ASL and PSE, while a Deaf student struggles to strengthen his or her ASL and English skills. With a student who lacks fluency in language and in manual codes, an educational interpreter may rely primarily on visual-gestural communication.

A deaf person with "high-visual-gestural" skills and limited ASL and English skills may need more than an interpretation in order to learn. He or she may derive more benefit from special educational instruction than from sitting in a class watching an interpreter. Sometimes, one-on-one assignments may offer the chance for an interpreter and a deaf person to work out the most effective communication methods for their situation.

When deaf students join clubs, sports teams, and before-and-after-school activities, this participation with hearing students may be of benefit in expanding language and communication skills. Watching an interpreter who is using a language or code that is not understood may cause a student to feel lost. Interpreters with skills in various communication methods can provide opportunities for deaf students to better understand and communicate.

Who should hire interpreters? Should this be the responsibility of a Human Resources or Special Education department? Can a person who doesn't know any sign language select an interpreter capable of working effectively with deaf students who use differing communication styles? The IEAP brought up the challenge of situations in which the deaf person does not let the interpreter know that he or she does not understand the messages. Sometimes an interpreter feels it is their duty to just "interpret" rather than to ensure that communication messages are getting through. I work to evaluate interpreters to assess their abilities in communicating through visual-gestural styles, as well as through ASL, PSE, and manual codes for English. I work to make sure that interpreters are capable of providing clear communication for individuals and groups with differing communication styles.  

What are some secrets that you would love to share with your fans?!

 

Ha! I've got several secrets: working out, modeling, photography, and flower gardening. Modeling is something that gives me an opportunity to show that “Deaf people can do anything!” However, communicating with the photographers is challenging. I'm looking forward to getting a chance to work with Deaf photographers someday! I like taking good care of myself, drinking plenty of water, keeping in shape, and spending some relaxing time at a spa or pampering myself at a salon. Oh, and I'm a chocolate lover, too!

One of my least favorite moments in life is trying to catch the 2^nd flight after a quick layover! Often, I've had to run from gate to gate not to miss the 2^nd flight. I hate the feeling of getting all “out of breath”. Airlines and hospitality services are often not very accommodating about communicating with Deaf customers. When there are annoying lapses in customer services, I always try to write about my concerns so that these industries will become more well-educated! Hopefully, then they'll treat their next Deaf consumers BETTER!!!
 

Photography is a lot of fun, very peaceful and a great stress reliever! I love taking nature photos, especially animals, flowers, forests, and sunsets at the beach. I love wiggling my toes in the sand along the beach! Perhaps I'm a beach gal, I have always dreamed of owning a beach house. Maybe one day it will happen.

Why is Professional Development so Important to ASL Interpreters?

New discoveries must always be made to keep pace with the current standards of interpreting audiences, to maintain and enhance interpreters' knowledge and skills, and to stay relevant and up-to-date in the profession. Awareness of changing trends and directions in both the interpreting profession and Deaf culture will always be necessary. Likewise, it is important to understand the differences between Deaf and hearing cultures and to professionally and appropriately interpret the respective languages and cultural expressions.

An interpreter who continues to use obsolete signs, and to rely on outdated knowledge, will see that the Deaf community loses respect for that interpreter’s professional skills. New signs are constantly evolving, and the Deaf community continues to create new signs to keep up with new terminology and technological advances. I advocate for professional development that keeps pace with these emerging trends. This is especially vital in specialized interpreting fields (e.g., educational, legal, and mental health contexts). Professional development allows interpreters to keep up with new terms and phrases used by the general community, and new signs that keep in sync with trends in the Deaf community. Maintaining a professional profile requires professional development.

In my training sessions, I enjoy seeing participants update their sign inventory. In training, I have to code switch, choosing signs carefully to keep interpreters current. I may choose to sign more slowly in order to help interpreters grasp particular concepts. As I teach, I provide demonstrations in order to make sure the participants get all the information they need.

I work with both interpreters and the Deaf community, and I conduct “research” in both communities to keep up-to-date. Some deaf consumers have no idea how to work with their interpreters on matters concerning linguistic studies, the CPC, or placement during an assignment. I provide additional training for the Deaf community to ease their interactions with interpreters. Different Deaf communities come from varied socioeconomic levels and there are groups that may have greater strengths in American Sign Language or in the English language. I demonstrate current natural language trends in both ASL and English. Professional interpreters must understand and customize interpreting for their audiences. For example, ASL dialects have a big impact on the quality of VRS interpreting. To aid interpreters, I continuously keep alert to changing English expressions and to evolving ASL adaptations. I demonstrate these in my video clips and workshops. In any profession, and certainly in a language-related profession, it is important to attend training sessions and stay up-to-date with linguistic changes.

My goal is to make a meaningful contribution, helping interpreters become more effective in the workplace, and encouraging them to advance their careers. This may involve moving into specialized fields like educational interpreting, signing for VRS companies, and increasing knowledge in medical, legal, and other types of interpreting. As I train interpreters, I see that they gain experience with new possibilities, new knowledge, and new skills, such as how classifiers have been used with current concepts, and how best to translate English idioms.

I deliver a deeper understanding of what it means to be a professional. I have always enjoyed sharing cultural exchanges through storytelling and through providing examples of exactly how to improve voiced interpreting. Also, by advancing our body of knowledge and deploying technology (e.g., YouTube, mobile videos, etc.), I can help to lower public apprehension and to increase public confidence in individual professionals. Professional development of this caliber raises interpreting standards.

I also share many interpreters’ real-life stories, including their tales of accidental sign bloopers that have led to negative results. I train participants to successfully endure many challenges and to avoid mistakes. Sharing real-life stories allows participants the opportunity to realize that they are not alone. Stories and examples from working interpreters support hard-working professionals and the lessons learned please interpreting audiences. 

There are numerous specific meanings that may require sensitivity in interpreting.

Examples:

•       “sleeping together”: This phrase may convey that two people slept in a single, shared bed. Perhaps there is an implication that the two people had sex, but this is not necessarily the meaning that is intended.

•       "mammogram": The old-fashioned sign could look scary to some people. A better alternative is to sign “breast x-ray” at first, followed by a brief explanation of the procedure, and then subsequently using the correct sign.

ASL semantics as used in various contexts:

•       vibration: This depends on what is vibrating. A vibrating phone looks much different than vibrating, buzzing bees.

•       sex: Again, this depends on what or who is having sex. Sex between dogs looks very different than reproductive processes between flowers.

•       cut: Instead of a single, generic sign used to represent all kinds of cuts, this verb requires agreement, as it is directional and location-specific. Thus, it should be signed on the specifically-affected area of the body.

Some words need to be fingerspelled rather than “signed” because there are many meanings attached to the concepts and their context is quite sensitive. Some examples of words that should be fingerspelled include: weapons, drugs, suicide, abuse, victim, terrorism, and cancer.

Sensitivity while voice interpreting: Many interpreters have asked me about the appropriate terms to use while voice-interpreting, especially on the platform at conferences. Voice interpreting in a culturally sensitive manner at these functions is important, yet many interpreters have never had an opportunity to learn culturally appropriate terminology for these situations. To address these concerns, I put together a chart for my "Voice Interpreting" workshop.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overall, I love working with interpreters and I enjoy guiding them as they upgrade their professional skills and knowledge. Appreciation for professional interpreters strengthens our Deaf world!  ~ Trix



Journaling: Why write?

The good news: New signs are always appearing and coming into wide use, and you want to remember them. The bad news: No one has recorded these "new" signs, cataloging them on video for the benefit of students, educators, interpreters and researchers.

How can you capture and preserve these glimpses of "new" signs – at least signs that are new to you? Perhaps you grasp the main focus of one of these signs, but find it challenging to remember the live nuances. There are others that you seem to understand in context, and yet still aren’t sure about. What’s the solution?

Journal! Keeping a journal is one of my favorite ways to help myself mentally "record" signs or grammatical elements that have touched me or made me say to myself, "Far out!" One of my favorite times to collect "new" signs is during videophone conversations with native Deaf signers from different regions. I strongly recommend making a habit of writing sign observations down in a mini-notebook that you keep on hand, all the time. I’ve really enjoyed sharing these new signs with my friends, participants, mentors, and you! Keeping a "sign journal" not only develops a treasure of new information, but also represents an important investment in your career.

Without writing in a journal, you’ll find it impossible to remember everything you’ve had the opportunity to see. No kidding – my mind has no room for so many new bits of information. I have to keep my journal to avoid the mistake of losing my precious new knowledge. Once, I had a great time observing and "learned" many new signs, but I didn’t write them down. What happened? I lost them. Write signs down! Create several pages: New signs, Converting Signing Exact English (SEE) to ASL, Classifier Handshapes, "Far Out" Signs, and Personal Memos.

Examples:

New Signs: (new signs that haven’t been recorded) Vlog, Iphone , money-check

Signing Exact English (SEE): Credit card

Classifier Handshape: (the appearance of a new handshape, a predicate used as a verb) Pager signal, Tornados, love bugs, scorpion

Far Out Sign: (exaggerated or "cute" signs, such as details added by a signer for fun or extra emphasis) Licking one’s fist means "working hard!" Licking one’s fingers means "perfect".

Personal Memo: (Dear Nobody, new terms, new Deaf words, new Hearing perspectives, signs that have personal importance to you)

"Written communication is the essence of human sincerity."

Journaling seems so sweet and simple. The mini notebook is fabulous! I carry mine with me all the time, and when I grasp a brand new sign, I write it down, immediately. I can’t believe there are so many signs that haven’t yet been taught in classes or recorded in research projects. Whether socializing, chatting with people on the phone, or watching live ASL storytellers – you’ll find chances to add fascinating new signs to your personalized journal. Keep on writing!

What does your travel schedule look like?

BOOKING PLANS

Every booking requires a lot of related work: booking flights, setting up lodging, renting a car, and making other plans.  Some hosts take care of everything, which works very well for my time frame since I do not employ a booking agent or manager to handle my paperwork and arrangements.  I do set up everything on my own for the workshops and shows.  I much prefer to have an organization host an evening show, as I feel silly selling tickets on my own, and it takes far too much time. Selling tickets is a responsibility that should be shouldered by the hosting organization, not by the presenter.

PLAN AHEAD

Packing, packing, and packing to get everything ready to go! Sometimes I forget a few things, but I'm getting better at remembering almost everything. I prefer to pack 2-3 days in advance. I have my own small room full of travel size stuff, work clothes, handouts, DVDs, and such so that I can easily get the packing done.

FLIGHTS

I always get up very early, drive an hour to get to the airport, and park my truck in the airport parking lot. Going to the airport requires a lot of walking, so I wear good shoes and comfortable, warm clothes. Checking in, I use my mobile boarding pass which is much easier than printing out paper boarding passes. Getting through security usually takes a lot of time, especially if they have a long line, so I sometimes use the premier lane for a shorter line. It's hard to predict how much time it will take to get through security. Sometimes they do a pat-down. When they scan me, a hairpin or hair clamp can cause a problem. I need to remind myself to take these off before entering the scanner.

If there are at least 45 minutes to wait for my flight, I always try to get some hot cocoa to relax while waiting to board. Sometimes the plane is delayed, which makes me anxious about catching ^{the connecting} flight. If the 1^st flight arrives late, I have to rush to the 2^nd flight without any bathroom or hot cocoa breaks. That's the worst - running from one gate to another to try to catch the second flight!  Sometimes I miss the connecting  flight, resulting in missing some or all of the scheduled work for  the evening of that day.

Once we've landed and I've checked into or out of the hotel at last, the all-day flight usually takes 8-10 hours. 

CAR RENTALS

I depend a lot on the GPS to help me get to my destinations. Sometimes I get lost due to construction, detours or closed roads. I also need to keep my GPS updated. 

JET LAG

I'm sure you can imagine how exhausting this is, and how my body reacts to jet lag. I have to get up early to catch my morning flight. If my plane leaves at 6 am from the East, I have to get up at  4 am (Seattle’s time: 1 am).  I usually sleep on the flight, but not always. Passengers sitting behind me are sometimes annoying, kicking or pushing behind me. That keeps me awake for the whole flight.

TIMECARD

I joke with my friends, saying that when I leave the house, and return, I punch a time card. Traveling takes a tremendous amount of time. My friends noticed how MUCH traveling time is demanded by my work, and how little income must sustain me. It doesn’t meet their expectations. I keep track of time wherever I go, and I track the expenses for each trip. I really love my job, but the aspect of traveling takes so much time. 

Trix, what do you think of interpreters out in the world?

From the bottom of my heart, I appreciate all of the interpreters providing professional excellence within the Deaf, Deaf-Blind, and Hearing communities. In the past, there were very few interpreters available, but now you see so many wonderful interpreters busy at work, everywhere you look. This is outstanding for our communities, and I feel that we can never thank these interpreters enough. Their high-caliber training and performance are a wonder to behold. Whether interpreters invest in the community as volunteers or as people who make interpreting a career, they provide vitally important services that truly show "Deaf Heart." They give their best to their craft.

Some interpreters struggle with performance on the job, but we appreciate that they are doing their best. Some are real champs who we would love to have around full time. Interpreters specialize in many fields: legal, medical, mental health, performance, and education. Whichever paths they take, they contribute their skills and make a difference. Now, there are even video phone interpreters available. It's amazing to see the growth of availability, areas of expertise, training and talent in the field of interpreting. My strongest recommendation to all interpreters who ask how to improve is simply to “Practice, Practice, & Practice!”  

I want to say thank you to all of those who gave me compliments about my work! With the various workshops available at an event, it is possible to make many choices. This can be beneficial for consumers, but it can also be difficult to fit in all of the things you want to see when there are many events going on at the same time. When I am presenting, I try to avoid scheduling conflicts that interfere with other events. One time, I learned that an RID chapter was hosting a conference, so I had to cancel my originally-planned workshop immediately and offer to present my workshop at their conference. Some interpreters expressed to me that they learned a lot about differences between Deaf and Hearing presenters with different perspectives. Some presenters have full time work and do presentations as a side job. Some hosts were not aware that in my case, presenting is my full-time job. I enjoy traveling and meeting various Deaf communities.

A lot of people asked me if I will bring my own interpreter to a workshop or show. No. I prefer to have a variety of interpreters work with me. It's always fun working with them. Do I have a favorite interpreter? My favorite interpreter is any individual who is always growing. I do have a particular interpreter who I tend to request for personal situations such as medical appointments and my children’s school meetings, but for my career, I have enjoyed seeing so many interpreters who express their passion for their field as they work with me. They (and all of you) are awesome for giving your time and talent within our communities.

Thank you, Interpreters!

 

How did you start publishing your DVDs?

When I was young, I dreamt of being an author, writing books for everyone to read. Fortunately, however, my ASL talents proved stronger than my writing abilities!  Once I brought a book I'd written to a publisher who supported Deaf schools, but my book was declined. I felt that my writing was not great. Then, a mentor and business consultant encouraged me to use my hands to express myself! And there, I found my talent. So far, I've produced more than a dozen DVDs.

 

To create a DVD, you need a start-up investment, a script, a time-frame, and a business plan with a budget for filming, editing and marketing the video. Although I'm familiar with Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Premier, and other resources, and I can produce a script and come to a point when I think I'm ready to get it on camera, it can take a lot more time than I originally planned to get everything recorded! I'm grateful for the patience shown by my DVD publishers, because sometimes I make silly mistakes, and have to start over and sign things again and again! When I watch my own hilarious bloopers, I really am amazed at how silly I can be. Once, I signed something and then fell down when a fly zoomed in front of me. Another time, I just froze and forgot what I was supposed to say next! Sometimes I finger-spell something wrong, because I'm so focused on what I'm signing. It's always a challenge to get the recordings done, but we have fun in the process.

After all of the “signing” parts are over, we sit down and watch the footage to choose the best parts and get them in order. Editing, retouching, cleaning-up, and all of those fun tasks can take up to a month to complete. Once I've got a “final draft”, I send it out to my editor as well as to certain viewers and friends to make sure there are no silly mistakes, glitches, or parts that make people say, "What?"  After gathering all this feedback and making corrections, we polish everything, confirm the final version, and that DVD is ready to go!

Currently, I have only one vendor, Harris Communications. This great company has been so good to me for a long time, but I am also hoping to expand to bookstores and other sales venues.  Amazon sells two of my DVDs. Running my own business as a workshop presenter, keynote speaker, stage performer and video producer is deeply rewarding, so I no longer worry about those publishers who turned down my books. Thanks to video technology, multimedia enhancements for my workshops and performances, great people to work with, and all I have learned, I feel I have had plenty of successes and it seems sometimes that my whole life is just magical.

Check out Trix Bruce's DVDs!
http://www.trixbruce.com/dvds/

With these video programs, you can earn CEUs from the comfort of home! You’ll be able to improve your ASL storytelling techniques and interpreting skills.

 

 

How do you feel being a Deaf Entrepreneur?

When I was young, it was always my dream to have my own business. And now, my dream’s come true!

After I graduated with two college degrees, I didn’t think that I would become a performer or presenter. I worked as an American Sign Language (ASL) instructor for many years. During my work as an ASL instructor at high school, I felt that the experiences of working in a part time job during my college years helped so much with the assisting, tutoring, and teaching I was doing at the high school. However, I thought that if I changed careers, it might be to run my own business in women’s clothing, since I loved clothes so much.

While I was teaching at the high school, an interpreter asked me to provide a fun workshop. That started something that has now been running for 15 years. From meeting informally at someone’s house to filling venues at schools and hotel meeting rooms, my business has grown and developed. Everything I’ve learned through the years has been valuable, and although some of it wasn’t pleasant, most of it has been very rewarding.

I learned a lot from the stresses, mistakes, and challenges I’ve faced. I’ve had good support and enjoy working as a team. It is impossible to work alone! In the past, I thought I would go it alone, but I recommend against this philosophy. Now I relish working with editors, interpreters, hosts, participants, and coordinators.

“It’s amazing to have the chance to plant seeds and see people blossoming into unique and successful individuals. I try to follow in the footsteps of successful business owners. We are all proud of our accomplishments! When people discover that I am Deaf, and a business entrepreneur, they realize that a Deaf person - just like anyone else - can follow her heart, work hard, and become successful.” ~ Trix

I didn’t think of myself as a Deaf Entrepreneur until recently. Now, I believe this is the best description for what I do. Although I work with editors, interpreters, hosts, participants, and coordinators, I handle everything regarding my business basics on my own. I wish I had a manager helping me to keep going, but it hasn’t been practical. I have several contractors, though. My business has been strong and has grown, but it is still a small business.

I strongly believe in the word: SUCCESSFUL. The first five years, I didn’t think I would succeed establishing my own business. I had so much to learn. I certainly made mistakes, took some wrong turns, and struggled with some challenges. Yet, I conquered my own doubts and rose up after my stumbles, and now I am, by my own definition, successful.

Working very hard is something I enjoy. I really push myself. I know that I have to believe in myself to make things happen. With all the ups and downs, the key strength I have enjoyed is my “can do” attitude. Along with hard work, persistence, and enough help to pull things together, I have been able to maintain and grow my business. Without the support of my family, fans, and wonderful business contacts in schools, agencies and businesses, as well as my contractors, I couldn’t have come this far. I am thankful to everyone who has supported me.

Hey, Trix! What do you think about what happened with the unqualified and fraudulent interpreter at the Mandela memorial service?

A lot of fans have asked about this, and shared their opinions about the fraudulent interpreter at Mandela’s memorial service. At first glance, when I saw that they had included an interpreter, I was grateful for what I thought seemed like appropriate Deaf community accessibility. However, then, all around the world, the Deaf were shocked when they were unable to understand that interpreter at all because he was "faking" sign language and just moving his hands randomly.

The world is full of situations like this, in which accessibility is not provided, whether due to an unqualified interpreter or some other situation with inadequate communication. Trust me. I've been there!  I've tried so many times to educate people to provide for Deaf people's right to clear communication in public situations. This is not a first, but its significance is that now the whole world has seen the shocking situation in which a man without qualifications in interpreting, and with a long record of instability and even violence, was placed near the President of the United States and other world leaders. Maybe this was some kind of karma, a terribly unsafe and inappropriate situation caused by lack of concern for qualified interpreting accessibility. This situation has impacted the whole world!  There are so many questions for the governments, security staff, committees, attorneys, and Deaf people – why was an unqualified interpreter there? 

Once I performed my show in an auditorium full of elementary school children, and I noticed they weren't laughing at the funny parts. I knew it must be because of the inadequacies of the voice interpreter, so I asked the staff there to use a back-up interpreter (as usually there are two interpreters working as a team) and I performed the bit again. The kids got the point and laughed and laughed.  I decided to stick with the 2^nd interpreter for the rest of the performance. Later on, I talked with the 1^st voice interpreter, and she admitted that it was her first time voicing for a live performance.  I learned something from this experience, and afterwards, I made sure that a fully certified & experienced voice interpreter was selected for this position.

Most staff in charge of hotels, airlines, restaurants, and other such venues are not familiar with Deaf customers.  When I request a simple tactile alarm clock at a hotel, most people have no clue what it is.  Airline staff sometimes panic when they learn that I am a Deaf passenger. They keep asking me if I can lip-read. This gets to be an annoying question!  Restaurant staff give me funny looks when I simply ask for pen and paper to give my order. Is it so difficult to understand that I'd like to write my order? Do they think I am going to secretly rob them?

I always enjoy sharing my stories with various communities, such as the Disability, Diversity, Multicultural, Deaf, Hearing and Interpreter communities. In one of the shows I do, I love to make people laugh as I explain what I've been through while traveling over the last 15 years. 

Presentation:

Adventuring in American Sign Language: Trix ’s Travels

(excellent for all audiences, Deaf-Culture Educational)

 

Trix's newest show, Adventuring in ASL: Trix’s Travels, features hilarious true tales. As a Deaf person traveling among hearing people, Trix has experienced incredible ups and downs, adventures, snags, crazy-making moments, and eventual happy landings. Trix draws you in as she encounters misunderstandings, missed flights, embarrassing times, exciting challenges, and a growing sense of travel-savvy. Take a ride with Trix, and see for yourself! (YouTube Video Preview: Trix’s Travels)

Now, due to the event with the fraudulent interpreter, the world has finally been hit hard as it realizes what happens when communication issues are not carefully considered. Deaf communities have spoken out. This has INSPIRED me, and I say, "Good for them!" I support the complaints and look to join the worldwide Deaf community to seek improved service quality. The more people who recognize that Deaf people have rights and Deaf people can speak out, the better. Deaf people "Can do!"

Thank you all for thinking of me and allowing me to share my thoughts with you all.

Where do you find wonderful clothes for your work?

Wearing professional clothes during my presentations is key. My closet features mostly dark clothes, and that hit my mother hard. But she knows, now, that I don't wear any flower prints, polka dots, nor colorful patterns. She stopped buying them for me and decided to just take me shopping when she wants me to pick out something special.

I tend toward navy, dark brown, dark teal, blue, black, dark grey, grey, or any dark, solid color. These clothes provide a good signing background, which is appreciated by Deaf people, interpreters, and my audiences. I try to keep distractions to a minimum, so I avoid heavy jewelry and elaborate nail treatments.

Dressing up is a lot of fun; however, picking the right color and style for the best sign language visibility is vital to my work as a presenter. Sign language interpreters consider these clothing issues, too, and I appreciate that!

Some of my favorite stores:

White House & Black Market

Macy's

Cache’

Ann Taylor

Ralph Lauren

TommyBahamas
J.Jill
MaxStudio (in this photo: black dress)

How come you haven’t performed outside of the USA?

I have often received invitations to go abroad. However, I have family responsibilities that keep me home.

I cherish what I've learned about International Sign Language through workshops and professional networking. For example, during Deaf Way II, I worked full time with a Deaf international interpreter. It was an incredibly rewarding experience! I have also had the honor of meeting many Deaf people from different countries.

The Deaflympics in Australia showed my video, "Surf", on their huge screen! I found this out when one of my friends saw me performing on screen in front of thousands of people.

 I've been happy to see websites and magazines feature my work. That has given me some international name recognition. One day, I hope to go abroad, and meet people from other countries in person. 

Video Clip: Trix Bruce's Surf Storytelling

"Which sources contribute most to your educational development?"

I really love movies that are based on real-life events. Watching these movies, I read the subtleties of the facial expressions to see the characters’ emotional responses. This deepens my enjoyment and inspires me to learn more. Reading is certainly valuable for everyone, but honestly, watching videos and presentations in American Sign Language (ASL) helps me to learn much more effectively.

For example, when I was young, I saw an article about “Patty Hearst” in a newspaper. I asked my parents to explain what was going on, but it seemed too complicated. When the movie based on her story was released, I watched it and immediately understood it in depth, with a high level of detail.  My education grew with every chance to see someone act something out or provide a visual demonstration. I watched hundreds of movies, reading the closed-captioning when it was available. If my interest was piqued by a story I’d seen on video, I would look it up on the internet to explore it further. Video, ASL, and captioning provide tremendous educational benefits.

In what ways does watching an ASL storytelling performance advance your interpreting skills and contribute to your professional growth?

Question for interpreters: In what ways does watching an ASL storytelling performance advance your interpreting skills and contribute to your professional growth? Should it be possible to earn CEUs for watching ASL storytelling presentations? How do such authentic cultural presentations enrich your interpreting repertoire? Do you pick up new vocabulary or classifiers? Do you deepen your cultural understanding?

Please kindly send your comments to Trix for use in documenting the value of storytelling performances in regard to CEUs. Thank you.

ASL storytelling presentations demand a lot from voice interpreters.

Message, tone, register, vocabulary selection options, timing, and the storyteller's personal style contend for attention in the mind of the interpreter. The process of conveying all of these storytelling elements from a signed performance to a voiced presentation is highly challenging.

The interpreter must bring the story to listening audiences without losing the ASL presenter's content, flavor, or flair. Interpreters need to keep both Deaf and hearing cultural perspectives in mind. Sometimes a whole string of signs will translate best into a word or short phrase, or a single sign will require a lengthy sentence or two. Studying English Equivalents will help interpreters prepare for work with ASL storytellers.

Why do I love Hot Cocoa so much?

There are many reasons why this hot cocoa made my day and even nights.  My parents introduced me to hot cocoa at the age of 2 during fall and winter times. I became addicted to hot cocoas for years.

During my college year, I had horrible day or even cranky. My parents offered me a hot cocoa, it melted my moments. I couldn’t explain. It goes on and on. I finally went to see a doctor telling me there was something wrong with me – drinking hot cocoa is a must.  My doctor said it was nothing wrong – it is better than drinking coffee, sodas, unhealthy drinks along with smoking cigarettes, chewing gums, etc.  I also learned that cocoa is healthy.

My tongue prefers this made with a milk along with Hershey and vanilla syrup. I enjoyed tasted many different hot cocoa packets whenever they offer, I purchased and saved in my briefcase as “to-go” cocoa wherever they are not available to offer a hot cocoa. I would ask for warm milk, mixed together – gulped! Yummy!

Unfortunately, my business partner is addicted to coffee, I don’t drink coffee. I am sure you enjoy your coffee just like me I enjoy cocoas. Having coffee sales would not stop me at all – I would simple add the different cocoas to taste along with coffee. Mmm.

My friends teased me that my cocoa is my drug. It is true; I didn’t mind having my cocoa insult ion, just kidding.  Of course, I would put “drink hot cocoa” at the top of “my things to do” list everyday wherever I go to work, perform, rest, and that way I get a least one thing done!

Finally, I have decided to put my hot cocoa shelf in my new coffee shop: Trix’s Hot Cocoa Collections. It was fun to find wholesale hot cocoa products. There are several excellent tastes, some are sort of, and a very few are not great.  Check my shelf and you find my products that are taste awesome! 

I d toast my hot cocoa to you all, enjoy hot cocoa!  Hugs, Trix

What is in store for you in the future?

I would like to put all of my workshops onto DVDs. I also hope to have the opportunity to be in entertainment, such as films, commercials, and/or television. I cannot predict what will happen to me in the future, but with support from friends, fans, communities, and families, I have been encouraged to follow my dream. One day, my dream will come true. I would love the adventure of performing in front of cameras.
I would love to continue with my studies pertaining to linguistics, specializing in ASL storytelling. I have enjoyed attending workshops and classes all over the country. I also would love to develop a further understanding of storytelling textures. I hope to continue educating and entertaining people.

What do you do during your free time while you are here presenting your workshops/shows?

REST:  Resting up is my highest priority so as to be prepared for my upcoming workshops and shows. I enjoy a little TV or a movie. If there's a spa available, I'm there!

HOT COCOA: Hot cocoa with milk is heaven.

PHOTOGRAPHY: I'll wander beaches, flower gardens, or any quiet places where I can snap pix and meditate.

ORGANIC, HEALTHY FOODS: A taste of local fare is fun.

WORK: Sorting through email is a must.

PERSONAL NETWORKING: An invitation for a cup of hot cocoa, a spa visit, a walk through a flower garden or down a lonely beach is an honor to accept. I am not fond of tourist spots with crowds of people. Traveling for 14 years, I've seen enough of cities. I crave small-town shops and quiet beaches.

How do you stay so thin?

(Laughing) There is no trick. I do not overeat and I only have one vice: hot chocolate with vanilla. The airports are my exercise – the long walking, lifting suitcases, and standing in long lines. I love to eat, but flights usually do not have food served. There is not much to eat during a long flight. I drink plenty of water. Some hotels don’t offer food service. There is no transportation for me to pick up food. The performances also require a huge amount of energy which burns calories.

"Continuously" work with Deaf Organizations?

When I was young, I thought there were only a few deaf people in this world. I was wrong! Enrolling at the National Technical of Institute for the Deaf in Rochester, NY, I realized there were plenty of deaf people and I got a chance to meet a lot of them. Since then, I have wanted to meet more deaf people. I have always looked forward to meeting new deaf people.

I always feel “honored” to be invited by interpreters at different Interpreter Conferences to help them, the interpreters, improve their training skills. I also have been doing a lot of storytelling for years. I credit the interpreters for letting me explore the “storyteller” in me.

I am extremely lucky to have so many friends who have shown their unwavering support. They gave me the confidence to go out and perform in the hearing world. Most of all, being accepted as a Deaf storyteller by the Deaf community means a lot to me. It is the “seal of approval” from my own peers. I am going to be there for the “deaf community or deaf organization” that asks for my “services” as a performer. I am who I am now because of the “deaf community”.

(Photo: ASL/Interpreter Teacher's Dog in New Mexico: Red Tail and Me)

I am a workaholic and I love the challenges that I meet along the way. It is through the challenges and obstacles that I “strive” to do better at the same challenges and obstacles that kept me feeling alive and kept me going. Besides, I think I have the best job in the world, doing what I love to do and meeting a lot of people (and their pets). 

Drama, Drama, Drama!!! How did I happen to become an entertainer?

Yes, I do remember that I was in a Thanksgiving Pilgrim show in elementary school. I enjoyed wearing the costume – it felt fun to be someone else! That led me to understand what a “play” is. I played the role of Helen Keller during my freshman year of high school; I fell in love with drama. If you are wondering how many years I have been in drama, do your math! Four years in high school and seven years in college. Have you ever wondered if I will stop performing? I have been in shows for over 25 years. It sounds like half of my life has seen me involved in drama. I have enjoyed constantly telling stories! (Photo: College ~ National Technical Insitute of the Deaf (NTID), Rochester, New York ~ MacBeth/Lady MacBeth, 1986-87)

Is this business a full time job?

Yes, giving presentations around America is my full-time job. As a professional presenter and entertainer with over 25 years of experience, I love interacting with my workshop participants and audiences. I handle bookings from my home office. I pay behind–the scenes crew members, business consultants, mentors, and my editor as private contractors.

This is not a perfect job. Certainly, I face challenges, such as flight delays, last-minute schedule changes, economic ups and downs, negotiation stagnation points, and other issues. Sometimes I don’t get paid in a timely manner; I may even have to wait for months at a time before clients come through with payment.

This kind of work requires extensive hours spent in preparing for events, traveling to and from shows – usually 8 to 10 hours a day, in order to set up equipment before the presentations. Some hosts haven’t visualized the idea of how much time it requires from when I “clock in” to leave to go work and return to my desk. However, the total number of hours I am away on a job should be considered as part of my paid work.

My show includes multi-media animation, slides, video, and sound effects combined with ASL, stories, poetry, comedy, and other features, incorporating all of these elements using a laptop, LCD projector, and sound system. As part of my business, I provide the equipment needed to put on a high-tech, professional show that captivates all comers from Deaf to Hearing.

I love training interpreters and sharing updated resources. I’ve designed several specialized presentations for interpreters who wish to expand their skills in visual education, the art of sign language, and storytelling.

I also enjoy presenting shows related to Deaf Culture, ASL Improv, and stand-up comedy through stories told to communities. I enhance my stories with drama skills that I’ve developed over the years. Could there be any better way to make a living?