Growing up with a mother who taught Deaf children, Mike Glover always had a lot of questions for her about the Deaf culture.
"I was fascinated by the signing," remembers Mike. "And through my mom and her friends I was able to gain an insight into the
Deaf community that I would not have been privy to anywhere else. They were great role models for me."
Mike began taking American Sign Language (ASL) courses in his spare time, and when he couldn't advance any further in his training there, he
asked a friend of the family for advice on where he could continue his studies.
"She had great things to say about George Brown's ASL English Interpreter program." remembers Mike. "The fact that the program
co-ordinator and several of the instructors were Deaf definitely appealed to me as well."
Although originally interested in studying sign language simply for the sake of personal enrichment, after enrolling in the GBC program, Mike
began to seriously think about making a living as an ASL - English Interpreter, professionally interpreting English into American Sign Language
and vice versa.
"At GBC we were exposed to many aspects of the history and values of Deaf culture, both the struggles and the achievements," he says. "The
more I learned about the Deaf community, the more I envisioned myself finding fulfilling work within it."
Mike applauds the field placements that are a major part of the program for giving him a firsthand experience of an interpreter's job.
"In first year, you are placed with a Deaf professional to get a sense of their day-to-day lives," he explains. "Then in second
year, you are placed with an interpreter in an observation capacity, and in third year, you dive in and start interpreting 'live' yourself."
After graduating in 2003, Mike immediately began work as a freelance interpreter. Most interpreters have no shortage of work, as there are countless
places where Deaf people often request the presence of an interpreter, such as educational environments, weddings, funerals, job interviews, or
during medical appointments or courtroom appearances.
"Sometimes I turn down many assignments in a week, either because I'm already booked or because I know someone who will be better suited
to that kind of job," Mike explains. "I often refer people to agencies or other interpreters."
Although he doesn't discount the relative stability of working full-time for an agency, right now Mike is happy with the freedom of controlling
his own freelance business, and the professionalism and adaptability that demands.
"The reason I love this career is the challenge, and that I learn from each new assignment," he says. "What I look forward to
most is working in many different environments over my career."
Read more stories from George Brown Graduates...
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