Belgium - VVTG
Country report 2008
Population
Belgium 10.000.000 inhabitants
Flanders 6.117.440 (Approximately 6000 SL users)
Size of the country
Belgium: 30.528 km²
Flanders: 13.521km²
Number of active SL interpreters in Flanders
126 active Sign Language interpreters (out of which 73 interpret on a regular base) Interpreter service: www.cabvlaanderen.be
Interpreter organization VVTG (no website)
33 members in 2008Interpreter training
all students combine their studies with a job, a family life, or another study
there are two trainings in Flanders, one in Mechelen and one in Gent
www.cvo-mechelen.be
www.vspw.be
It is a 4 year modular program (10h/week)
Contents:
5 modules Flemish Sign Language (120h/ module)
theoretical subjects: Deaf culture, Psychology, anatomy and fysiology of the ear and technical devices, non-verbal expression,voicing, interpreting
internship
Recently (September 2008) Lessius hogeschool, in Antwerp started with a Bachelor program for Sign Language interpreters ( within this program SL has the status of a second foreign language)
www.lessius-ho.be
Important events in the past year
(Flemish sign language was recognised in 2006)
In 2008 our wages raised, we now earn 32,07 € an hour
the amount of interpreting hours provided/ financed by the government increased
Tenuto was founded (this organisation provides workshops for graduated interpreters)
The training in Mechelen celebrated its 20th anniversary with a colloquium “the SIGNificant other” (several workshops led by international guest speakers)
Goals for the association for the coming year
none
in October the whole board will resign, so the future of the association is very uncertain