In collaboration with Christos Georgokostopoulos, a PhD candidate at the University of Thessaly, HandsUp is offering the Consulting and Supervision service for professional and trainee Greek Sign Language interpreters.

Christos Georgokostopoulos – Curriculum Vitae
Born in Thessaloniki, he is bilingual and can communicate fluently in both Greek Sign Language (GSL) and Modern Greek. He has two degrees in occupational therapy and pedagogy, as well as a master’s degree in psychopedagogy. He is currently a PhD candidate at the University of Thessaly, specialising in Applied Linguistics of Sign Languages. With over 20 years of experience teaching GSL as a second language and interpreting, he is renowned for his insightful perspective and in-depth understanding of interpreting practices. He is the co-author of the textbook “Basic Principles and Practices of Communication with the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, written with Sapountzaki Galini, and has also published articles in scientific journals and conference proceedings. He is also actively involved in the Scientific Committee of the Candidate Interpreter Examinations of the Association of GSL Interpreters and has served as an evaluator for GSL proficiency and interpreting examinations. Through his speeches and presentations, he shares his knowledge of deafness, sign language development and teaching, and interpreting.

Methods of counselling and supervision for professional and trainee GSL interpreters:

1/ Reflective practice involves reflecting on experiences to understand choices and improve performance. This method is offered through case or video analysis to help identify and address challenges.
2/ Feedback involves the consultant providing support on specific issues. This includes identifying problem areas in interpretations and providing feedback on linguistic, ethical or cultural issues. It also involves practising in specialised contexts, such as medical or legal interpreting, interpreting songs or poems, and so on.
3/ Peer mentoring is based on collaboration between professionals who have shared experiences and challenges. The aim is to share knowledge, provide mutual support, and solve problems collectively.
4/ A case study involves analysing real or hypothetical scenarios to understand and solve complex problems. By examining a case in detail, it seeks to formulate alternatives and strategies for dealing with similar situations in future.

Individual and group counselling is available.
For more information and reservations, please contact our secretariat directly at handsup.secretariat@gmail.com