From classroom to the land and sea: NSCC ASL students take over the Halifax Harbour Hopper
Experiential learning through the Extraordinary Learning Fund
In the heart of Halifax, a group of students from NSCC’s American Sign Language (ASL)/English Interpretation Program (AEIP) gathered for an experience different from traditional classroom learning. Thanks to NSCC Foundation’s donor-funded Extraordinary Learning Fund, nine second-year students chartered a tour on the Harbour Hopper, a retrofitted military vehicle that transitions from land to sea, for a unique learning opportunity that applied classroom learning to a real-world setting.
“When we are afforded an opportunity such as the Harbour Hopper trip, the students get a much more robust and accurate experience that more closely mirrors the day-to-day work of interpreters, which was our primary goal,” said Beth Reid, Faculty, School of Access, Education and Language at NSCC who applied for funding to make it happen, knowing the value it would have for the students.
The tour challenged second-year students in new ways outside the classroom. As they toured Halifax's historic streets before splashing into the harbour, each student took turns interpreting the guide's animated commentary about the city's noteworthy sites, historical facts, and stories. This dynamic environment, paired with the guide's jokes and rapid transitions between land and sea observations, created the perfect setting for developing the essential adaptability needed for professional interpretation.
Building professional skills beyond interpretation
The opportunity extended beyond interpretation practice. Students engaged in the full spectrum of an interpreter's responsibilities, including coordinating with the tour company and requesting preparation materials, which are essential soft skills that are crucial to success in the field.
"All the classroom theories that we have learned came to fruition in this one opportunity to practice interpreting and all that it encompasses,” reflected Keira Hewson, a second-year AEIP student at NSCC Ivany Campus.
As the Harbour Hopper transformed from vehicle to vessel, students similarly had to adapt their signing techniques and positioning – maintaining clear communication while the audience focused on both the interpreter and the tour around the city. This prepares students not just to interpret language but to navigate changing environments and maintain professionalism in diverse settings.
Creating community and enhancing education
Support from the Extraordinary Learning Fund made the experience financially accessible, allowing them to invite first-year AEIP and ASL Studies students to attend the tour and get a taste of their potential futures. “It was also a great opportunity to develop a sense of community within the two ASL programs,” said Beth, regarding the cross-program participation.
Through donor generosity, the Extraordinary Learning Fund continues to help NSCC employees and Campuses provide these unique learning opportunities for their students by reducing financial barriers and enhancing learning outcomes. For these future interpreters, it was more than a tour – it was a step into their professional future, demonstrating how their classroom skills translate into real-world impact as they prepare to connect communities through communication.
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