Helping deaf students take charge and lead a normal life
Ina Ngubane is a South African Sign Language interpreter at the Belgium Campus iTVersity in Akasia, north of Pretoria
Tell me about your work as a sign language interpreter.
In the classroom I provide support to students and counsellors, and work with the student administration. I create instructional material, transfer knowledge and skills and interpret assessment material (tests and exams). I also interpret for the counsellors, engage with the student representative council and co-ordinate sporting activities. I evaluate new students and help with their admission.
How did you find yourself in this career?
I have a deaf sister and grew up among the deaf community, which is how I learnt the language. I began interpreting when I was recruited by one of my sister’s friends who was working as a manager in a deaf organisation. They needed a receptionist and a sign language interpreter.
What makes you good at what you do?
I understand that the goal is to teach the students and I take charge of creating objective learning experiences, including maintaining student discipline. I have a solid understanding of South African Sign Language (SASL) and the culture of the deaf, and being involved in academia means I have to be professional in my conduct as an educator.
What do you wish people understood better about people who are deaf and using sign language?
I wish people would understand that being deaf is not a disability and people don’t need to feel pity for deaf people and think they do not know anything. They cannot hear nor speak, but they are capable of doing other things and can also think for themselves. It would be even better if people would understand the deaf culture.
Sometimes deaf people are grouped as a linguistic minority and as a disability. There are social and medical views of deafness and these differ depending on whether you are an insider in a deaf community or an outsider. Medically and legally deafness is a sensory disability that can be moderate, severe and profound, but socially deafness is seen as a culture built on a language, and it is a tight-knit community.
What are your thoughts on sign language being made an official language?
It has been a long battle. I hope with sign language as an official language it will open the doors to equal access to education, public services and employment to the deaf.
What did you want to be as a child?
I wanted to be a teacher. I was born in KwaZulu-Natal but grew up in Gauteng. Whenever I visited KwaZulu-Natal I would assist my brothers and sisters with English as English was my home language at school in Gauteng. I am a sociable person and like talking, so I enjoyed helping out.
What is your go-to career advice?
Never stop learning, because the world is changing very quickly. And do not be afraid to make mistakes. Choose a career you are passionate about, but remember you have to earn a salary too. A career path is more flexible today than it was 20 years ago. You do not have to pick one career for the rest of your life. There’s nothing wrong with growing and understanding yourself better and changing trajectory later.