What are they talking about???

New ideas, new technology, etc. needs new terms, labels, definitions.

I'm not talking about all that stuff - particularly the techy stuff.  I'm running as fast as I can (which isn't fast anymore) trying to stay current but I find myself turning to the "greats" often.  By "greats" I mean my great nieces and nephews for help.

Thanks, kids.

No, I'm talking about old stuff that someone has decided to slap a new name on.  It's confusing for us older people.

I'm a Sign Language interpreter.  Many of you already know that.  I have attended many, many workshops and seminars over the years.  Recently they've been remote which has been fantastic because I need my yearly 20 hrs of continuing ed to maintain my credentials.

A little background:  I started working as an interpreter in the late 80s without credentials.  I hadn't taken any classes and had absolutely no training.  Why did anyone hire me?  Because, back then, nobody knew anything about anything.  Pretty much.

Soon after I was hired at Saugatuck High School as an educational interpreter the state of MI started hosting workshops to help interpreters achieve the new testing level they needed to work in the field.

I learned a ton at those workshops and there were a lot of new labels and skill descriptions that almost made my head explode. 

After many years working for different school systems and after attending many, many workshops I remember, distinctly, sitting along side one of my bestie 'terps, turning to her and saying "what the heck are they talking about?"

After that particular skill was demonstrated we both turned to each other and did the "nod and ohhhh" thing.  It was something we'd been doing for ages but now had a new name.

I get it and at some level I appreciate that the "job" was finally becoming a "profession" and was getting some respect.  But it's been a challenge for an older 'terp like me.

I'm sure this is the case for many people working in different areas.  I remember hearing teachers talk about "new concepts" often.  Remember Chicago math? A lot of those concepts seemed cyclical.  Same stuff with a new name.  

"Looks like someone's been working on their PhD."  That phrase echoed down the halls of more than one school I worked in.

Can an old dog learn new tricks?  Yes but slower and maybe not the entire trick.