Mentoring: International Applications

Mentoring is a relationship that allows knowledge and experience to cross cultural and generational boundaries. Is there a clear definition, which can translate across national boundaries, to consider this as a viable approach to training and development of sign language interpreters? This paper will examine some of the mentoring programmes that are in existence internationally and identify any common definitions - from this research we will construct a basic framework from which interpreting organisations can build on to establish their own mentoring schemes. This will be explored by: - Understanding current definitions of mentoring as a training intervention. - Collating examples of good practice where mentoring exist internationally. - Identifying common themes and range of approaches to mentoring. - Criteria of a successful training programme for mentors. - Formulating a mentoring programme in a national association of sign language interpreters.