Facts about Estonia

Population: 1 332 893
Deaf People in number: 1500
Interpreter Centers: 4
Members of
Eesti Viipekeele Tõlkide Ühing: 25
Chairman: Regina Toom, reigina.toom@ut.ee
Homepage: www.evkty.ee

 

 

 

 

 

 

Country report 2011 

 
Facts about Estonia
  • Population: 1 340 194 (01.01. 2011), approximately 1 500 of them are Deaf
  • Size of the country: 45 227 km2

Interpreters

  • Number of certificated Sign Language interpreters: 25 (9 full-time interpreters, 16 part-time interpreters)
  • Interpreter organisation: Eesti Viipekeele Tõlkide Ühing (http://www.evkty.ee), 26 members (19 full members, 7 supporting members
  • Interpreter training: 3-years full time training in the University of Tartu since 2006

Most important events for the association and the situation of SL interpreters

  • Celebrating the 20th anniversary of EVKTÜ with organizing a national conference „From the Interpreter for the Deaf to Sign language Interpreter“.

The conference was aimed to provide the public with a wider overview about the past and present situation of the profession of SL interpreter and interpreters in Estonia, to map the current problems in the field and find possible solutions to them by bringing together all parties involved in the interpreting service – costumers/consumers (deaf and hearing clients), employers (different schools and organizations, where the deaf people are studying or working), financial supporters (local governments), service providers (SL interpreters, interpreting centers) and SL interpreter students.

  • Preparation of the new National Qualification Standard for Sign Language Interpreters (the new qualification standard will be fit into accordance with the European Qualification Framework).
  • Concluding the partnership responsibilities in the IISE (Training Sign Language Interpreters - International Settings) project
  • Preparation (in cooperation with the Estonian Deaf Association) for developing a national qualification standard for the providers of interpreting services – the need for this has risen from the fact that some local governments (eg in Tallinn) have lately been very actively trying to promote the use of unqualified interpreting services, which the Deaf Association as well as EVKTÜ does not approve.
  • Participating in the local public events and exhibitions (in cooperation with the Estonian National Museum) introducing the topics of deafness and Estonian Sign Language. 

Goals for the coming year

  • Finishing the work with the National Qualification Standard for Sign Language Interpreters
  • Finishing the work with the National Qualification Standard for the Providers of Interpreting Services
  • Raising the quality of SL interpreting services (by organizing refresher courses for the SL interpreters)
  • Standing for the continuation of SL interpreter training at the University of Tartu (as there is a danger that the government will close the training, because it is too expensive, there is not enough interest for studying the profession and it is not easy to find a job as an interpreter after graduation).