Association of Polish Sign Language Interpreters Invites submissions for the anniversary conference of STPJM: “Deaf and Hearing – Together into the Future”
to be held on September 28, 2024, in Warsaw.

Association of Polish Sign Language Interpreters (STPJM) is celebrating its 15th anniversary! Despite being in its teenage years, thanks to its activities, the landscape of sign language interpreting in Poland has undergone many positive changes. We’ve achieved a lot, but there’s still much to be done. There’s always room for improvement!

We would like to celebrate STPJM’s next birthday, as usual, with a conference. This year, we propose that the discussions focus on the theme of a shared path to the future – a shared journey for us: the hearing and the Deaf, interpreters, clients, researchers, teachers. Together – in various configurations and relationships, but in a sense of unity, building strength and mutual support. Into the future – the distant one, but also the one we create here and now. This theme seems very timely, and therefore we invite you to engage with it by submitting proposals for your conference presentation.

The main languages of the conference are Polish and Polish Sign Language. Interpretation into English and International Sign will be provided.

Conference Program

9:30 – 10:00 Participant Registration
10:00 – 10:15 Welcome and Opening of the Conference

10:15 – 12:00 Session I
🟢 10:15 – 11:15 Key Note Speakers Robert Adam, Christopher Stone
🟢 11:15 – 11:35 Joanna Ciesielska, Damian Rzeźniczak, Magda Schromová, Renata Świderska-Noworyta Cooperation between Hearing and Deaf Interpreters at the “LGBT+ Diamonds Forum” Conference: Case Studies and Best Practices
🔵 11:35 – 11:45 Discussion

11:45 – 12:00 Coffee Break

12:00 – 13:15 Session II
🟢 12:00 – 12:20 Aleksandra Kalata-Zawłocka, Bartosz Marganiec, Kamila Skalska The Profile of a Sign Language Interpreter: Results of the First National Census
🟢 12:20 – 12:40 Diana Kirakowska, Kamila Szmitko Allyship Beyond Warsaw – Cooperation of Interpreters in Olsztyn
🟢 12:40 – 13:00 Julia Bellon, Tomasz Grabowski Cooperation with Cultural Institutions / Employee Perspectives: How to Work with Interpreters on Projects Involving Deaf People?
🔵 13:00 – 13:15 Discussion

13:15 – 14:00 Lunch Break
14:00 – 14:30 Poster Session and Lottery

14:30 – 15:45 Session III
🟢 14:30 – 14:50 Joanna Huczyńska, Damian Rzeźniczak Case Study of Client and Interpreter Team Cooperation: “Accessibility During a Wedding”
🟢 14:50 – 15:10 Marek Śmietana, Emilia Szuchniewicz Live Theatre Interpretation by a Deaf and Hearing Interpreter Team
🟢 15:10 – 15:30 Daniel Kotowski, Weronika Szymańska-Gątarek Deaf Client and Hearing Interpreter – Continuous Cooperation
🔵 15:30 – 15:45 Discussion

15:45 – 16:00 Coffee Break and Anniversary Cake

16:00 – 17:15 Session IV
🟢 16:00 – 16:20 Anna Hummel, Agnieszka Saganowska Obstacles in Literary Translation as a Challenge for Two
🟢 16:20 – 16:40 Krystian Kamiński, Wioletta Stępniak, Agata Sztorc-Gromaszek Like a Hermit Crab and Sea Anemone – Cooperation of Deaf and Hearing for Cultural Accessibility
🟢 16:40 – 17:00 Short Presentations:
Monika Kozub Translations Between Polish and Polish Sign Language: Error Analysis and Improvement Strategies
Karolina Gdańska Psychotherapy Interpretation and the Future of Psychological Support Systems for the d/Deaf – Preliminary Results of a Qualitative Study
Joanna Ciesielska, Magda Schromová All Hands on Deck – Simultaneous Interpretation into Polish Sign Language During Protests
🔵 17:00 – 17:15 Discussion

17:15 – 17:30 Conference Closing

Scientific Committee

dr Aleksandra Kalata-Zawłocka

Assistant Professor at the Institute of Applied Linguistics and the founder and former president of the Association of Polish Sign Language Interpreters (STPJM). She is a researcher and author of several academic publications on sign language interpretation, as well as a trainer for sign language interpreters. Her current research interests include interpreting ethics, preparation for interpreting, and interpreting from sign language to spoken language.

Kinga Chmielewska

A Polish Sign Language (PJM) interpreter working with the Sign Linguistics Laboratory at the University of Warsaw. She holds a master’s degree in speech therapy from the Maria Grzegorzewska University and has studied Polish Sign Language philology at the University of Warsaw. From 2022 to 2024, she served as the treasurer of STPJM.

Renata Świderska-Noworyta

A Deaf interpreter and a member of the Association of Polish Sign Language Interpreters since 2012, she is a PJM lecturer in the Polish Sign Language philology program at the University of Warsaw. She is the owner of Creallinno and an organizer and trainer of numerous workshops for PJM interpreters and youth.

Michał Łach

A Deaf Polish Sign Language lecturer and interpreter, currently observing the social life of the Deaf community and interpreters from the sidelines. He is a member of theAssociation of Polish Sign Language Interpreters and a graduate of the postgraduate program in Polish Sign Language. He was once an active social activist.

Weronika Szymańska-Gątarek

A PJM interpreter and PhD candidate at the Doctoral School of Humanities at the University of Warsaw. She holds degrees in Polish philology and Polish Sign Language philology from the University of Warsaw. With many years of experience in creating content for social media, she now applies her skills to research projects and academic conferences, promoting research findings and the activities of the Sign Linguistics Laboratory.

Submit your presentation

International Sign

In the conference discussions, we would like to focus on:

  • Case studies of collaboration between hearing and Deaf individuals in various configurations: interpreter-interpreter, interpreter-consultant, interpreter-client;
  • Research on collaboration between Deaf and hearing individuals reflecting the overall picture of how this cooperation currently looks – whether it is happening or not; what is important for both sides for it to succeed; what could be changed in the future;
  • Deaf interpreters – who they are, what educational and employment opportunities they have; where and when they are needed; how to cooperate with them, how to support them;
  • Deaf and hearing recipients of interpretations – what they know about interpreting and how to increase their knowledge; how to educate both communities about interpreting so they can make the most of interpreting services; what they can and should not expect from interpreting services;
  • Methods of cooperation between Deaf and hearing interpreters that improve the quality of interpretation – preparation, feedback, trust, mutual support; how to develop them, how to teach them; how hearing and Deaf interpreters can mutually enhance their competencies;
  • Solidarity and camaraderie in the interpreter community – how to nurture good relationships; how to encourage young people to become interpreters, to join STPJM; how to foster positive relationships between novice and experienced interpreters; how to build a sense of professional community;
  • Training sign language interpreters in close contact with the Deaf community – how to increase social and cultural awareness among PJM learners; how to cultivate an ally stance among beginner interpreters;
  • Proper relationships between Deaf interpretation recipients and interpreters – how to avoid oppressive behaviors, microaggressions, stereotypes, and prejudices; how to create relationships based on mutual respect and partnership.

We invite you to submit proposals for presentations: papers, workshops, and posters. Proposals can be submitted in Polish, English, Polish Sign Language, or International Sign.

Presentation Duration:

  • Plenary Presentation: 30 minutes
  • Session Presentation: 20 minutes
  • Workshop: 1.5 hours or 3 hours

The main languages of the conference are Polish and Polish Sign Language. Interpretation into English and International Sign will be provided.

Proposals should be submitted by July 7 (extension!), 2024, to:
konferencja@stpjm.org.pl

Submission should include:

  • Name and affiliation of the presenter
  • Title of the presentation/workshop/poster
  • Abstract (up to 500 characters, including spaces, excluding bibliography)
  • Preferred language of the presentation: Polish/PJM
  • Author’s bio

Notification of acceptance will be provided by July 15, 2024.

Prices

Ticket type
Early Birds
until July 16, 2024
Attention! Extension until July 20th
Regular:
from July 21 to September 9, 2024
Late
from September 10 to September 27, 2024
I am a student.

Conference 10:00-17:00
170 PLN200 PLN260 PLN
I am a student.

Conference 10:00-17:00 + evening Gala STPJM
290 PLN320 PLN435PLN
I am a translator affiliated with a professional translators’ organization.

Conference 10:00-17:00
180 PLN210 PLN275 PLN
I am a translator affiliated with a professional translators’ organization.

Conference 10:00-17:00 + evening Gala STPJM
300 PLN330 PLN450 PLN
I am a speaker, an interpreter at the conference (option available from July 15)

Conference 10:00-17:00
0 PLN0 PLN0 PLN
I am a speaker, an interpreter at the conference (option available from July 15)

Conference 10:00-17:00 + evening Gala STPJM
120 PLN120 PLN120 PLN
I have a personalized invitation from the STPJM board.

Conference 10:00-17:00
0 PLN0 PLN0 PLN
I have a personalized invitation from the STPJM board.

Conference 10:00-17:00 + evening Gala STPJM
120 PLN120 PLN120 PLN
I am interested in the conference topics.

Conference 10:00-17:00
195 PLN230 PLN300 PLN
I am interested in the conference topics.

Conference 10:00-17:00 + evening Gala STPJM
315 PLN350 PLN455 PLN

Funding

financed by the national institute od freedom - center for civil society development as part of the goverment programme for civil society organisations develompent for 2018-2030 CSODev