Educational Internship Assignment: Event CSDB weekly staff meeting

Pre-Assignment 6 Ps of Contextual Analysis

PLACE
SETTING IN WHICH
THE EVENT OCCURS
(environmental
issues; inherent
behaviors such as
whispering; time
references/urgent;
bystanders around;
dress)

PARTICIPANTS
PEOPLE INVIOLVED
(socioeconomic/political
factors such as race,
age & gender,
participants
relationship to you
and each other,
power issues,
knowledge of topic)

PERSPECTIVE
WORLDVIEWS
(the degree of
understanding &
familiarity with each
others culture,
language,
backgrounds, etc.)

This assignment takes place in a large room. Tables with chairs are
arranged in a large horseshoe fashion to allow visual access to
everyone and everything. The meeting discusses the next weeks
calendar and events and also transportation and interpreter needs.
The online interactive calendar is projected onto a screen in the front
of the room. Since it is Friday, interpreters and other staff may wear
jeans if they pay $2 which I think goes to student government. Many
staff also wear Denver Broncos or CSDB shirts to show their support.
Interpreters wear solid colored tops in colors that contrast with their
skin tone.
All participants are faculty and staff working with transition-aged
youth; either nearing graduation or in the residential transition
program for students aged 18-21 who have graduated from high
school. All staff are Caucasian and the group is a pretty even mix of
men and women. There is a wide range of ages, however, it seems as
if the average age would be in the 30s. There are no new staff
members, so staff already know each other pretty well some have
been working here a long time and know each other better than the
newer people. I know the staff on a surface kevel knowing many
names and some name signs. Staff are all familiar with the topic
because the schedule/calendar to be discussed is available on the
schools intranet and is supposed to be reviewed and printed to bring
to the meeting.
Staff are varied in their understanding of each others cultures, but in
general they understand and accept these cultures much better than
the average person. There are Deaf and hearing professionals working
with Deaf and blind students. The staff working with the blind students
understand that perspective well, however, being sighted, they are
limited in that understanding since they have not experienced being
blind or visually impaired. The Deaf staff working with Deaf students
are keenly aware and perfectly understand Deaf culture and its
impacts. Hearing staff working with Deaf students are much more
aware of Deaf culture than the average person, but is still limited since
they have not experience being Deaf themselves. Language in this
situation is fully accessible, with interpreters signing and voicing as
needed.

POINT
SUBJECT MATTTER
(the points the
speaker wants the
listener to leave,
understanding, any
specialized process
or vocabulary)

PURPOSE
UNDERLYING GOAL

The point is for all involved staff to know what is going on in the
department for the upcoming week; who has which school vehicle,
when and how long; when interpreters have been requested and the
status of that request; and other student needs.

The purpose is that all staff members are working off the same
information and improve teamwork leading to student success.

PERSONAL
INTERPERSONAL AND
INTRAPERSONAL
(aspects that impact
interaction between
the interpreter and
the primary,
secondary, and
tertiary participants)
EX: D & H
consumers,
interpreter teams,
business agencies,
etc.)

Mentor interpreter and me: This is a different mentor for this

assignment than my main mentor. She is supportive and encourage
me to take risks and interpret when I feel inadequate is certain
situations.
Deaf consumers and me: There seems to be a strained relationship
between half of the Deaf consumers. There are four: three I have
worked with while working as a substitute teacher. The last one I have
only worked with in a group setting and never have spoken to other
than nice to meet you when being introduced. This Deaf consumer
is extremely difficult for me to understand. The mentor interpreter
always has to take over in parts. This is very embarrassing for me and
impacts my interpreting due to that and being nervous. One of the
other Deaf consumers I struggle a little with, but I get the impression
that he doesnt like me and this is uncomfortable. The last two Deaf
consumers; one is actually hard of hearing and talks and signs at the
same time. He is very pleasant to me and I enjoy working with him.
The last one is always friendly and supportive and tries to make me
feel comfortable. I really appreciate him.
Hearing consumers and me: It is very nerve-wracking for me to voice
and sign in front of a room full of people who know and use ASL on a
daily basis.