A Sign Language lecturer encounters former students also in the role of a client
For Arttu Liikamaa, who uses sign language in his everyday life, promoting accessibility is extremely important – and at Humak, he has the opportunity to do just that.
Arttu works as a lecturer in sign language at Humak. He studied Finnish Sign Language at the University of Jyväskylä, with pedagogical studies as a minor, which qualified him as a teacher.
Before beginning his teaching career at Humak, Arttu was involved in development projects in Albania and Kosovo through the Finnish Association of the Deaf. Through these cooperation projects, Humak became familiar to him even then. Arttu initially received a fixed-term contract and was later appointed to a permanent position. He has now been working as a lecturer at Humak for nearly five years.
His workdays are diverse, including teaching, assessment, projects, and above all, encounters with students. According to Arttu, interaction with students and getting to know them is his greatest source of inspiration.
“I find it meaningful that I can strengthen language awareness and promote accessibility and equality in society. Future interpreters and professionals in the field will be doing important work.”
One particularly rewarding experience for him is unexpectedly running into former students in working life. In his job, Arttu uses sign language interpreters, for example in meetings and occasionally in teaching, and sometimes in his free time he finds himself as a client of a former student.
“It’s always a great moment to see them at work.”
Values are visible at work
If Humak had to be described in three words, Arttu would choose bold, creative, and innovative. He explains this by saying that the institution creates new structures and changes society by improving accessibility and providing minorities with opportunities to participate on an equal footing. Humak is the only place in Finland that trains interpreters not only in Finnish Sign Language but also in Finland-Swedish Sign Language. In addition, there will be an increasing need in the future for communication instructors and interpreters for people with speech impairments.
According to Arttu, Humak’s work community is like a family to him. The interpreting team in Helsinki is close-knit; everyone knows each other and the team spirit is strong. The institution’s values are visible in practice, and the entire Humak community has a positive attitude toward sign language and accessibility. The community is egalitarian, and everyone has the opportunity to influence matters.
“If the field of sign language interests you, Humak is an excellent place to make a difference.”
