JCCC has three respected interpretation programs where students learn to help others with that most essential societal skill: communication. 

ASL/English interpreting 

Students enrolled in the ASL/English interpretation program learn new language skills, especially American Sign Language and fingerspelling.

The program is the beginning of a lifelong learning process. The sequence of courses provides instruction and experience needed to interpret between visual American Sign Language and auditory English. Comparisons are drawn between English and ASL, with emphasis on the development of interpretation skills.

Students can earn an associate of applied science degree in interpreter training at JCCC. The 69-credit-hour program prepares the would-be interpreter to provide entry-level interpretation and transliteration for the deaf, hard of hearing and non-deaf communities.

A practicum class, where students are supervised in a variety of situations, provides the capstone of the program and usually occurs during the student’s last semester.

JCCC also offers an American Sign Language (ASL) studies postsecondary certificate that has been developed based on the need for professionals and community members to be skilled in ASL. This 36-credit-hour program is intended as supplementary and does not prepare the learner to work as an interpreter.

For more information on ASL/English programs at JCCC, email Darryl Luton, department chair, or call him at 913-227-4481 (direct videophone).

Health care interpreting

The health care interpreting certificate is designed to give bilingual (English and Spanish) students the awareness, knowledge and skills necessary to serve as entry-level interpreters and translators in health care settings, including hospitals, clinics, medical offices and similar environments.

Those who complete the 20-credit-hour program should be eligible for employment as salaried or on-call staff interpreters, or as self-employed freelance interpreters.

A 27-credit-hour health care interpreting entrepreneurship certificate prepares you to open your own business providing health care interpreting services.

The health care interpreting certificate program traditionally begins in the fall semester.

Legal interpreting

The legal interpreting certificate is a 20-credit-hour program that includes seven courses and is designed to give bilingual (English and Spanish) students the awareness, knowledge and skills necessary to serve as entry-level translators in legal settings, including courts, law offices and similar environments.

The legal interpreting certificate program begins in the spring semester.

For information about health care interpreting or legal interpreting certificates, including the upcoming class schedule, email Christina Wolff de Casquino, or call her at 913-469-8500, ext. 3513.