“It was a new opportunity where we were able to have students join our program here in Jerusalem who wouldn’t have been able to otherwise. [This has] given us the impetus to further develop our online learning program...so that people who are not able to come to our Jerusalem program can get the same type of learning experience and really be able to access the original language in their own home context and while they fulfill their responsibilities as translators or consultants.”

“I have loved tuning into the class each day, to watch students actively engaging with complex material. It has also been an incredible achievement for the instructors (in USA, Asia, Europe and soon to join from Africa) to run a multi-lingual online program that includes mainstream participation of Deaf students and a group from Francophone Africa.

The amount of work behind the scenes in interpretation and translation, as well as follow-up sessions in Russian Sign Language, French and Hebrew has been vast. The instructors have put in a huge effort– one group recording almost 70 short videos of introductory interviews! Papers and assignments are submitted in multiple languages and formats (including signed videos), and synergy is happening across diverse communication platforms and 15 timezones.

For me, the highlight has been seeing the integration and interaction of the Deaf students in the class each day– the online format has actually enhanced participation.”