 Telelanguage Canada
 Telelanguage India Partner
 Telelanguage Asia Partner
|
ADVICE ON BECOMING AN INTERPRETER
|
|
ANSWERS TO YOUR QUESTIONS |
What does it take to be a good interpreter?
Mastery level fluency in two languages, first and foremost. While different settings will require different levels of competency and familiarity with specialized terminology and/or regional dialects, a certain base level of mastery must be attained to ensure your ability to perform any task. Mastery level fluency means complete mastery of the grammatical system of both languages, a wide repertoire of vocabulary used across contextual situations and areas of knowledge, as well as the ability to manipulate a number of levels of formality, styles or registers. An interpreter must have depth and breadth of language in order to interpret. Otherwise, every new situation (in terms of topic and language) becomes a stumbling block that prevents the interpreter from communicating the information.
Second must come your aptitude for the art of interpretation. As many are fond of saying: "Just because you have two hands doesn't mean you can play the piano." So it goes with interpretation. Many a bilingual professor of Spanish or English has found that they have no knack for interpreting and failed state or federal exams. Similarly, many times relative novices have tried their hand and realized they have a gift. It is difficult to predict who will succeed in the field especially considering all the other requirements: dedication, love of language, intellectual curiosity and other abilities too numerous to mention.
Most importantly, an interpreter must also enjoy the idea of serving as a human bridge between two people from different linguistic and cultural worlds. The act of interpreting makes government, courts, medical services, social services, law enforcement, education and business accessible to limited and non-English speaking persons. For this reason, interpreting is a noble profession that requires dedication to excellence and commitment. It is hard work, but very beneficial work.
|
How do I begin?
The first thing you should do is find out if you have an aptitude for and an enjoyment of interpretation. There are a number of ways to do this cheaply and easily before you register for a class or with a language company. The key is not to get overly discouraged if you find yourself unable to keep up. If you're excited by your early efforts, you might be on the right track.
-
Attempt to interpret what you hear on the radio or television. News broadcasts are good choices due to the content, pace and pronunciation.
-
Interpret in a low stress situation, perhaps between two bilingual friends.
-
Ask a bilingual native speaker to honestly assess your abilities. An instructor from whom you've taken a language course may be ideal.
If you take these steps and decide you want to pursue it further, consider the next steps to get a better sense of what professional interpreting requires:
-
Call your local courts or medical facilities and ask if you may shadow one of their staff interpreters or sit in on an interpreted proceeding.
-
Call Telelanguage's over the phone self-assessment.
-
Order self-instruction materials on tape. The ACEBO tape series is well regarded. It provides a very useful and affordable introduction to interpretation.
-
Volunteer. There are any number of social service agencies, religious and otherorganizations that have a tremendous need for volunteer interpreters.
|
What about professional training and formal education?
The answer to this question may apply to novices, journeymen and seasoned professionals alike. The reality is that interpretation is a relatively young field, and professional training and formal education are scarce. That being said, training and education are essential for any professional interpreter who wants to develop and expand his or her skills. Furthermore, the interest in interpretation has exploded in recent years and, with it, an interest in developing programs at every level. Telelanguage has developed an online interpreter training and testing programs for its interpreters. If you are hired you will complete this training.
Agnese Haury Institute for Interpretation - AHI
For an intensive professional program, we recommend the University of Arizona's Agnese Haury Institute for Interpretation. The Institute offers a three-week program every July that builds Spanish language and interpreting skills. This program offers quality training that is recognized throughout the interpreting community and is taught by the leaders in court and medical interpretation from across the United States. It is the longest running intensive courses in the United States and has trained over 1000 practicing and aspiring interpreters.
Students are given an introduction to the interpreting skills most used in the legal and medical setting (simultaneous, consecutive and sight translation), presented a wide range of vocabulary study pertinent to legal and medical interpreting, and taught the standards of ethical interpretion practice. Students learn judicial procedure and interpreter protocol and participate in courses ranging from lecture to small group work, from laboratory drill and practice to individual student critiques. Students complete a diagnostic tested at the beginning of the program and an exit test upon completion to measure progress.
The Agnese Haury Institute for Court Interpretation offers a curriculum that is appropriate for all levels: beginning, intermediate and advanced. Beginning students make incredible gains in Spanish fluency and can assess their future in interpreting. Students often repeat the course, building their skills to the level required for passage of certification tests. Intermediate and advanced students use the course to improve their skills to the level required for certification examinations. The AHI has a long and successful history in assisting interpreters in improving and expanding their skills to the desired level, and graduates of the Agnese Haury Institute form the leadership of interpretation across the United States.
Most importantly, the Agnese Haury Institute brings you into a network of practicing professional interpreters who serve as lifetime resources for each other. As Institute graduates go on to build their professional careers, they often rely on the resources of Haury faculty and fellow students as mentors along the way. This network is an invaluable resource and is counted among the many tangible benefits of the Institute. Some scholarships are available for the Institute, and the Institute staff is happy to write letters to employers to help you make any financial and/or time arrangements necessary for your participation. Opportunities for attending only two weeks of the Institute if necessary also exist.
Other organizations may provide professional training, and you should contact your local interpreting organization or the interpreting office at your local court.
|
What are the job opportunities in the field?
Overall, opportunities are increasing individuals with developed bilingual and biliteracy skills, especially for those with experience in interpretation. The need is growing for trained staff in academia, law enforcement, law, medicine and business, among others. Traditionally, it has been up to each interpreter to find new and innovative avenues to apply their skills and be compensated accordingly, oftentimes as a freelancer. This may be changing, and the future may hold more formalized and frequent opportunities for education, credentialing and employment.
In general, interest in improving the quality of interpretation service has increased along with the understanding of changing demographic trends and the growth of international trade. This holds true for both the public and private sectors. Recent federal government efforts including Executive Order 13166 (see http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/cor/13166.htm for more information) have motivated agencies to find new ways to improve their interpretation services, which has resulted in new opportunities for interpreters and bilingual staff.
Currently communities around the country are faced with having few people to meet the new demands for Spanish-language interpreters due to growing Latino populations. Research what the needs and resources of your community are or which language companies are hiring.
Over-the-phone interpretation is a growth industry in interpreation, and numerous public and private agencies are considering or have adopted this option. Telephonic interpretation provides flexibility for interpreters in terms of where and when they work. For more information about becoming a telephonic interpreter, contact Telelanguage by email: careers@telelanguage.net.
Jobs are also growing within government and business that require professional interpreters. Expanded knowledge of formal interpretation and translation skills can help a bilingual compete for jobs that require excellent professional language skills. (The Agnese Haury Institute has proven to be a powerful way to build professional language proficiency as well as improve interpretation skills significantly.)
|
What about medical interpretation?
In the past, medical interpretation has been an underdeveloped and undervalued arena. Hospitals have relied on untrained bilingual staff to meet the need, oftentimes without compensation either with money or a reduced workload. Currently, however, the medical interpretation issues have gotten the attention of many involved in policy and research. The reasons are numerous, but it seems that new findings and increased awareness have reached the critical mass necessary for widespread changes. Recent events, including Presidential Executive Order #13166, have prompted numerous agencies to reevaluate their current interpretation practices.
|
What about languages other than Spanish?
The discussion of interpreter issues in the United States often focuses solely on Spanish because of the large Hispanic population. However, the need for qualified interpreters in multiple languages is present and growing. Unfortunately, efforts to provide training and certification in languages other than Spanish have been sporadic. Full certification tests for the federal courts have been developed for Navajo and Haitian Creole; however, funds were withdrawn in 1993 to continue the administration of those exams. Funding to develop and administer examinations in eight other languages was also abandoned in 1995.
Courts often look for other credentials, such as advanced degrees, as laid out by the Administrative Office of the United States Courts Otherwise Qualified guidelines. Certification opportunities also exist through the National Center for State Courts and the State Department, as well as training opportunities.
|
What about American Sign Language?
There is a long-standing tradition of ASL/English interpretation. Interested parties should explore the website for the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf"
|
Is there money available to help me receive training and education or to pay for test registration fees?
A number of students who have attended training programs or sat for certification exams have successfully secured funds from their employers or agencies in support of those endeavors. In addition, others have been successful in securing funds from private and public foundations committed to language and social justice causes.
|
Who can I contact regarding questions or suggestions I may have for improving interpreter services?
We recommend that you buy Fundamentals for an overview of the entire field and best practices regarding the use of interpreters. Second, attending the Agnese Haury Institute or another reputable language training schools even for a week helps administrators who wish to improve services understand how the management and use of interpreters better so that services can be improved. Join a professional organization such as ATA, CCIA or NAJIT or a state organization.
If none of your questions have been answered here, or to follow up on any information offered here, please e-mail careers@telelanguage.net or call 503.535.2176 and leave a message that details your request for further information.
|
|
|
