Interpreting Skills

See interpreting training outline.

Health note

All sessions will be carried out to comply with the World Health Organization guidelines for events.

This means:

  • Segments that can be taught online will be taught online (ethics, terminology, and portions of interpreting skills)
  • Segments that have to be taught in person will be taught in small groups, following guidelines from the Oregon Health Authority and the World Health Organization. These are helpful for interpreters, since we need to learn how to work in this environment. 
  • There will be no more than 12 participants per instructor. There will be enough space for participants to spread out during practice and not hear each other practice to the point of distraction. This is helpful in the context of social distancing and small group events. 
  • We will attempt to practice interpreting skills using the equipment court interpreters use to get social distancing in their settings, so interpreters can explore the use of professional equipment from the first day. This consists of portable transmitters and receivers. 

Approved for CE credits for Oregon Court Interpreters: 8 language specific credits and 8 general credits (total 16)

Three weekends: This module will be taught in three-hour blocks that can be combined in a series of three weekends.

Spanish: This training module is delivered in Spanish.

48 hours: Duration of this module

Prerequisite: Language proficiency in English and Spanish measured pursuant to OHA requirements. One ACTFL OPI test included in the cost of training.

Delivery: Course is delivered in person (location to be announced in time for registration)

Required books:

The Interpreter’s Rx, by Holly Mikkelson

The Interpreter’s Edge, for court interpreting practice, by Holly Mikkelson

Both books are delivered on the first day and are included in the cost of the training.

In this module, most of the time will be spent interpreting in all three modes, per the syllabus submitted below. The instructor will personally observe and coach the participants on their skills based on the rubric she has developed, and on the last day, she will evaluate the participants based on that rubric as a summative evaluation.

The following resources by Helen Eby are likely to be referenced:

Health Care Interpreting Skills syllabus

Four sets of the following series of sessions, for a total of 48 hours.

HOURS MODE OF INTERPRETING LEARNING OBJECTIVES
6 x 4 Consecutive interpreting Interpreters will, under supervision, interpret consecutive lessons of increasing complexity from the books listed above. In the second series, they will interpret more.
6 x 2 Simultaneous interpreting The instructor will lead the interpreters in a simultaneous interpreting warm up exercise.

Interpreters will, under supervision, interpret lessons of increasing complexity from the books listed above.

In the second and third sessions, the instructor will do less warm up and more interpreting exercises.

6 x 2 Sight translation and introduction to translation

This module will be taught online.

Instructor: Daniela Guanipa

The instructor will lead the interpreters in some principles of translation in preparation for sight translation.

Interpreters will, under supervision, interpret sight translation lessons of increasing complexity in each direction, as time allows, from the books listed above.

The evaluation method will be common to all sessions:

Interpreters will be able to:

  • Identify their strengths and weaknesses in interpreting.
  • Identify when they interpreted with accuracy.
  • Identify omissions and additions to their work.
  • Practice under exam conditions using a recording and under conditions simulating a real encounter with dialogs more similar to real life, including skills such as positioning, introductions, and note-taking.

The instructor will model the specific skill being practiced.

Interpreters will be encouraged to go to court to observe interpreters in action, evaluate them using the standards applied in class, and discuss their work if the interpreters are interested in doing so. Court observations are a requirement for court certification.

Evaluation:

  • The instructor will provide tips on how to improve performance as she observes the groups in action.
  • Interpreters will record their performance and evaluate their recordings against the script.
  • The instructor will take notes on the interpreters’ strengths and weaknesses in interpreting according to her rubric, and compare them with the second session on the same skill.

Summative evaluation: Observation of interpreters’ performance on final session of each mode of interpreting according to the rubric used throughout the training.

Schedule subject to site confirmation. Rates are dependent on cost of site. This may be postponed in whole or in part based on the planning difficulties involved in opening up America after COVID-19.
Date (all times in Pacific Time Zone)TopicLocation
tbd, 2 hoursEthicsOnline
tbd, 2 hoursEthicsOnline
tbd, 2 hoursEthicsOnline
tbd, 2 hoursEthicsOnline
tbd, 2 hoursMedical terminologyOnline
tbd, 2 hoursMedical terminologyOnline
tbd, 2 hoursMedical terminologyOnline
tbd, 2 hoursMedical terminologyOnline
tbd, 2 hoursMedical terminologyOnline
tbd, 2 hoursMedical terminologyOnline
tbd, 2 hoursSight translation and introduction to translationOnline
tbd, 2 hoursSight translation and introduction to translationOnline
tbd, 2 hoursSight translation and introduction to translationOnline
tbd, 2 hoursSight translation and introduction to translationOnline
tbd, 2 hoursSight translation and introduction to translationOnline
tbd, 2 hoursSight translation and introduction to translationOnline
tbd, 9 to 12 and 1 to 4Interpreting skills: Consecutive, simultaneousIn person, location in Portland area to be determined
tbd, 9 to 12 and 1 to 4Interpreting skills: Consecutive, simultaneousIn person, location in Portland area to be determined
tbd, 9 to 12 and 1 to 4Interpreting skills: Consecutive, simultaneousIn person, location in Portland area to be determined
tbd, 9 to 12 and 1 to 4Interpreting skills: Consecutive, simultaneousIn person, location in Portland area to be determined
tbd, 9 to 12 and 1 to 4Interpreting skills: Consecutive, simultaneousIn person, location in Portland area to be determined
tbd, 9 to 12 and 1 to 4Interpreting skills: Consecutive, simultaneousIn person, location in Portland area to be determined