Motivational criteria for developing readiness for professional activity of interpreters of the Russian sign language

The present study describes motivational criteria as necessary factors in developing readiness of Russian sign language interpreters to perform their professional activity. Motivation is considered from different points of view as a construct that stimulates the direction of behavior in improving skills in interpreters’ professional activity, the development of their linguistic abilities in interaction with the deaf community. The study also provides the data from a questionnaire of the second year university students majoring in “Russian Sign Language Translation”. The questionnaire results revealed the main motivational criteria that contribute to the successful development of readiness of future interpreters for professional activity. These criteria relate to the main groups of motives which include a conscious choice of major for professional learning. The motives have such motivational criteria as interest for profession, as well as for the studied sign language and deaf culture, respect for the people within this profession, desire to achieve success in professional activity and awareness of the importance of the profession of a sign language interpreter. The theoretical and practical significance of the study is the development of motivational criteria that determine readiness for professional activity as one of the main components of the criteria. This will allow teachers of sign language to pay attention to the aspects of motivation when training interpreters.