Programme Description
Speech-to-text interpreting provides meaning for meaning transcription to aural information. This form of access service is utilised in both online and in-person settings learning environments by Deaf and Hard of hearing individuals who prefer to access information by text instead of or in tandem with sign language interpretation.
Speech-to-text interpreters focus on conveying the meaning of what is being said, in contrast to verbatim speech-to-text services. This reduces what the consumer has to process visually and still be able to access the same amount of meaningful information. This is achieved through the use of shorthand, eliminating filler words, and condensing connected thoughts whenever possible. The transcription also includes any relevant non-verbal auditory information.
Through theory and practical hands-on components, this course equips the participants with the cultural knowledge and technical skills to perform the role of a speech-to-text interpreter, thus providing equitable communication access to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community. The focus of the training will be higher education settings.
Find out more about Equal Dreams’ speech-to-text interpreting service, including an explainer video and our portfolio, at this page: Equal Dreams’ Speech-to-Text Interpreting Service.
Check out the video to find out more about our speech-to-text interpreting training, where you can learn to provide an equitable learning experience by creating live transcripts:
Descriptive transcript of the video here
Learning Outcomes
- Participants gain knowledge about Deaf culture and the community with a focus on their educational journey and options.
- Participants are able to identify the range of Deaf access services options available, when and how these options are utilised.
- Participants understand the role of a speech-to-text interpreter as an accessibility professional.
- Participants are able to understand shorthand theories and apply them to build their own personal shorthand dictionary.
- Participants gain knowledge on meaning-for-meaning and speed-building techniques and are able to apply to their transcription-interpretation work.
Target Audience
- Any individuals interested in accessibility work
- Teaching faculty in higher education, disability service professionals, students training to be peer access team
- For participants based in Singapore
- Bonus (but not compulsory): Those with minimum typing speed of at least 80 words per minute.
Note: Minimum speed applies to those interested in taking up paid assignments. Even if you don’t meet it, no worries — we welcome you to join us! You may face some challenges during simulation exercises, but you can still pick up the knowledge & STTI techniques to practise and improve on your own, or apply them to your work. You can always take up assignments at a later time when you’re ready.
Accessibility
Please let us know if you have any access requirements in the registration form, and we will do our best to work with you to provide them.
Programme Fee
Early bird registration: SGD$260 per pax
Standard registration: SGD$290 per pax
Note: Your place will only be confirmed upon payment, on a first come first served basis. There’s no refund of programme fees once paid, unless the programme is cancelled.
Opportunities Upon Programme Completion
Suitable participants will be invited to our mentorship program, which can lead to opportunities to join Equal Dreams’ accessibility team. We are open to flexible arrangements including full time, part time, freelance, traineeship or internship.
Schedule
Total contact time: 12 hours, 5 sessions (6 hours via Zoom, 6 hours in a face-to-face session)
Estimated preparation time: 2 hours per week
*Certificates will be sent out at the end of the programme to those who achieve at least 80% of attendance.
Venue
Sessions 1 and 5 at ITE College Central, 2 Ang Mo Kio Drive, Singapore 567720.
Lesson 2 to 4 will be held via Zoom.
Registration
Registration for September intake is now closed.
Interested but can’t make it for the current intake?
Indicate your interest to be informed for the next intake!
Trainers’ Profiles
Shila Yong, Accessibility Specialist
With a free-spirited and self-motivated personality, these qualities led Shila into the rabbit hole to explore the curiosity of a life without sound or music on different frequencies. She marked her first foray into Deaf community by learning Singapore Sign Language. In 2016, Shila was part of the team that started the provision of formalised speech-to-text interpreting service. Being a deep generalist, Shila excels in transcribing for a wide variety of subject matter. With her wealth of experience in speech-to-text services in diverse settings and knowledge in accessibility for the Deaf, Shila has built up comprehensive and robust short-hand strategies for this green field of speech-to-text interpretation. Her professional vision is to build up a collaborative community to develop shared resources to advance accessibility for the Deaf and Blind communities, cultivate meaningful connections and uplift one another as a community together.
Outside of professional accessibility work, Shila is deeply passionate about natural medicine, ancient folklore and culture, plants, healing and nature, and continues to apply her creativity and keenness for knowledge, as seen in her professional work, to these personal interests.
Clara Chee, Accessibility Specialist & Content Strategist
A love for writing and language had Clara pursuing her B.A in Linguistics and Multilingual Studies, which also coincided with when she picked up Singapore Sign Language, out of curiosity about minority linguistic communities.
After a stint in advertising as a copywriter, she had the opportunity to merge a passion for crafting words with an interest in working with disability communities at Equal Dreams.
Currently, she heads the social media and web content team, while providing access as a sign language and speech-to-text interpreter. She’s also particularly passionate about projects with an intersection between education, storytelling and accessibility.
Work aside, Clara is an avid reader and hobby hopper who enjoys dipping her toes into new things. She’s tried baking, watercolour painting, embroidery, yoga and UX design, to name a few. Admittedly, she’s quite mediocre at all of them — but hey, the fun is always in the trying.
Have a question about the course?
Head to the Frequently Asked Questions page for our programmesContact
For more enquiries, please contact us at training@equaldreams.sg
