From April 21 - 27, 2007, PEN-International hosted a 12-member delegation from China and the Philippines, for a weeklong training session on “Establishing an Interpreter Training Program” at NTID/RIT. The delegation included two members representing De La Salle College of St. Benilde, Manila, Philippines, and ten members representing PEN-China at Tianjin University of Technology, Zhengzhou University, and the China Disabled Persons Federation.

The weeklong session started with an opening luncheon and campus tour on Sunday. Dr. Rico Peterson, Associate Professor in the Modern Language Department at Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts was the primary trainer for the week. Faculty members from NTID's department of American Sign Language and Interpreter Education also conducted presentations throughout the week.

Topics covered included: The history of the NTID Interpreter Training Program, Interpreting as a Profession, How to Work with an Interpreter, Models of Interpreter Training Program, Curriculum Development in ASL and Interpreting, Service Learning in Interpreter Education, and Curriculum Development in ASL. Ms. Donna Gustina, chairperson of NTID's department of American Sign Language and Interpreter Education, facilitated an evening panel discussion of three students in NTID's interpreter training program. There was also a great exchange of resources including articles, textbooks, curriculums, dictionaries, and CDs.