Uploaded September 2024 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Find out more at https://gupress.gallaudet.edu/internationalperspectives
"Beginnings of the Sign Language Interpreter Training Program in Kosovo" | Chapter summary in Kosovar Sign Language
Chapter authors: Selman Hoti, Robert Adam, and Arttu Liikamaa
From “International Perspectives on Sign Language Translator and Interpreter Education”
Edited by Jemina Napier, Stacey Webb, and Robert Adam
Published by Gallaudet University Press
**This video may not be repurposed or incorporated into other works in any way without the express written consent of the signer and the chapter authors.**
Visual description: The person signing in the video is a middle-aged man with short brown hair, wearing a black t-shirt. He is signing in front of a whiteboard. The sign language being used is Kosovar Sign Language
Transcript:
The Sign Language Interpreter (SLI) training program in Kosovo, launched in 2005 with support from the Finnish Association of the Deaf and the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, marks a significant step forward in meeting the communication needs of Kosovo's deaf community. This chapter explores the inception and evolution of the SLI program, tracing its development from its inception to its current status as a crucial component of Kosovo's linguistic and societal landscape.
Situated in the Balkans, Kosovo has a predominantly Albanian and Serbian speaking population. Kosovo Sign Language (KosSL) gained formal recognition in 2010. Since declaring independence in 2008, Kosovo has made substantial strides in achieving international recognition.
The necessity for trained interpreters was identified in a 2001 survey. With funding from the Finnish Association of the Deaf (FAD), Kosovo established a training program encompassing organizational training, basic-level interpreter training, and advancements in KosSL status. KosSL received official recognition in 2010, with public institutions starting SLI services in 2016.
The initial training program targeted candidates fluent in KosSL, offering basic and advanced training with rigorous attendance and assessment criteria. Resources were translated into Albanian, and a local accreditation panel was formed in 2012.
A revised curriculum, developed through international and local expertise, provides professional SLI training at an applied science level spanning four years, focusing on KosSL and interpreting skills. In 2013, a training initiative was launched for deaf adults to become sign language instructors. Despite challenges, ongoing efforts aim to enhance the quality and recognition of SLI services in Kosovo.
Find out more at https://gupress.gallaudet.edu/internationalperspectives
"Beginnings of the Sign Language Interpreter Training Program in Kosovo" | Chapter summary in Kosovar Sign Language
Chapter authors: Selman Hoti, Robert Adam, and Arttu Liikamaa
From “International Perspectives on Sign Language Translator and Interpreter Education”
Edited by Jemina Napier, Stacey Webb, and Robert Adam
Published by Gallaudet University Press
**This video may not be repurposed or incorporated into other works in any way without the express written consent of the signer and the chapter authors.**
Visual description: The person signing in the video is a middle-aged man with short brown hair, wearing a black t-shirt. He is signing in front of a whiteboard. The sign language being used is Kosovar Sign Language
Transcript:
The Sign Language Interpreter (SLI) training program in Kosovo, launched in 2005 with support from the Finnish Association of the Deaf and the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, marks a significant step forward in meeting the communication needs of Kosovo's deaf community. This chapter explores the inception and evolution of the SLI program, tracing its development from its inception to its current status as a crucial component of Kosovo's linguistic and societal landscape.
Situated in the Balkans, Kosovo has a predominantly Albanian and Serbian speaking population. Kosovo Sign Language (KosSL) gained formal recognition in 2010. Since declaring independence in 2008, Kosovo has made substantial strides in achieving international recognition.
The necessity for trained interpreters was identified in a 2001 survey. With funding from the Finnish Association of the Deaf (FAD), Kosovo established a training program encompassing organizational training, basic-level interpreter training, and advancements in KosSL status. KosSL received official recognition in 2010, with public institutions starting SLI services in 2016.
The initial training program targeted candidates fluent in KosSL, offering basic and advanced training with rigorous attendance and assessment criteria. Resources were translated into Albanian, and a local accreditation panel was formed in 2012.
A revised curriculum, developed through international and local expertise, provides professional SLI training at an applied science level spanning four years, focusing on KosSL and interpreting skills. In 2013, a training initiative was launched for deaf adults to become sign language instructors. Despite challenges, ongoing efforts aim to enhance the quality and recognition of SLI services in Kosovo.
