Interpreting Courses - America

To become an Axis Translations approved Interpreter you must be a qualified interpreter, together with relevant interpreting experience. There is much more to being a interpreter (as you will discover) then simply speaking a second language.

On this basis, please find the following list of interpreting courses:

Translation and interpretation are intercultural communication specialties: different ways of taking words and ideas expressed in one language and putting them into another. Translators work with written text, interpreters with the spoken word.

In partnership with the Translation and Interpretation Institute and with the input of experienced and working professionals, BCC offers up-to-date training for aspiring and practicing translators and interpreters. In the core courses (taught in English) you will get a solid overview of the field. You’ll also learn how to master new vocabulary quickly and how to use the latest technological tools effectively. Small-group advanced classes are taught in the students’ target or dominant language. One of the few in the U.S., BCC’s translation and interpretation program gives you balanced, comprehensive and rigorous professional training.

Potential Job and Salary Opportunities
Interpreters are in demand in a variety of medical, legal, social-service and government settings. Translators and interpreters usually work on a freelance basis, sometimes through an agency. Others are employed by international businesses. The rates of pay vary. A state court interpreter may earn up to $50 per hour and an experienced translator may earn up to $50,000 per year. Freelance translators are paid by the word. Translators and interpreters with specialized expertise can command higher rates. “Software localization,” for example, is a rapidly-expanding specialty. A software localizer adapts computer files, websites and other documentation for users in another country.

Is This Program for You?
You’re a good match for this field if you have excellent fluency in English and at least one other language and if you enjoy challenge and change, are flexible and can learn new material quickly. Translators need excellent writing and editing skills in the target language as well as the ability to work independently. Interpreters need strong oral communication skills. Responsibility and a sense of professional ethics are essential characteristics for both branches of the field.

How is the Program Structured?
Most students take the basic “Introduction to Translation and Interpreting” course before applying for the certificate program and deciding between the two tracks. You may start the program during any quarter of the academic year. Most classes are offered during evening or weekend hours and provide 30 hours of instruction. You can usually complete the program in 1 – 2 years.

Certificates are language-specific and are offered in various languages according to student demand. To apply for acceptance into the certificate program, you must submit written and oral (taped) work in both English and your other language.

Upon earning the Translation and/or Interpretation Certificate, you may consider taking professional certification or accreditation tests such as the state court interpreter certification exam. BCC offers non-credit workshops in preparation for these exams.

The Masters of Arts in Bilingual Legal Interpreting for English-Spanish is the only graduate program in the United States which offers the opportunity to receive the education and training required and expected of a professional degree-holding legal interpreter. The program is a comprehensive, sequenced, and integrated series of courses designed to provide the student with the theoretical foundation, performance competencies, and research skills required of a graduate entering this growing profession. The curriculum consists of 14 courses (42 credits) which can be completed over a two-year period.

Components of the Program

Graduate students will normally take 9 credit hours per semester.

2006-2007 course information coming soon.

6 credits off campus:

Practicum in Legal Interpreting (Taken during academic year one) Observation and analysis of various monolingual and interpreted court proceedings including trials (60 hours). Interviews to be conducted with various members of the court setting. Submission of reports based on questionnaires for all observations and interviews. Graded on a pass/fail basis. Prerequisite: INTR 502.

Internship in Legal Interpreting (Taken year two) Ten weeks of legal interpreting with a minimum of 300 contact hours of attendance and participation in a legal setting at which interpreter services are employed. Setting must be approved by the internship advisor. Submission of reports of the internship experience by both the student and designated individual in the given legal setting are required. Graded on a pass/fail basis.

The certificate program comprised of existing courses within the present master degree curriculum enables students to obtain the basic skills of legal interpreting in an abbreviated time frame. This program is especially valuable for students who are enrolled in other language oriented graduate programs, professional translators and individuals who wish to learn about the profession in general and be exposed to some of the needed skills.

The Certificate Program normally consists of 12 credit hours.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: April 15, 2006

Program Schedule:

2006-2007 course information coming soon.

Application Requirements

Prerequisites:

Students holding a baccalaureate degree and/or students currently enrolled in a graduate program in a related field.

Demonstrated fluency in both English and Spanish, to be determined by the scores attained on an entrance interpreting aptitude examination.

Students must maintain a Grade Point Average of 3.0 (B) in order to receive the certificate.

Admission to the certificate program does not pertain to any admission or other criteria regarding the Master of Arts Program in Bilingual legal Interpreting

Translation involves transferring a written message from one language to another. The text to be translated may be a treaty, a law, or a press release; a user manual, bidding specifications, or engineering plans; a novel, a poem, or a play; a handwritten letter, a medical textbook, or a historical document‹in short, anything that is written is a potential translation assignment.

The United States, unlike many other countries, does not require any licensing or certification of translators and interpreters. In the absence of licensing and certification, the Monterey Institute GSTI degree attests to the high quality of graduates.

As with other professions, computers are an essential tool for translators. Not only does the professional translator rely on the personal computer for word processing, desktop publishing, and glossary databases, but in-house translators work on networks that feature computer aids such as glossary management and translation software. Translators who work with machine translation software must become adept at the pre- and post-editing that such programs require. In addition, many translators become involved in the design and engineering of translation software, performing tasks such as building dictionaries and writing rules for parsing. Another aspect of the software industry that relies heavily on translators is localization ‹ the adaptation of programs and user manuals to other linguistic and cultural environments.

Translators work as full-time employees or as freelancers for international organizations such as the United Nations and the Organization of American States; they are employed by government agencies including the Department of State and the National Security Agency and work for nonprofit organizations like the Red Cross and church organizations; private companies, such as software developers, pharmaceutical manufacturers, international corporations and law firms, as well as translation agencies.

Although interpretation and translation have much in common, the practice of each profession differs in the same way that written language differs from spoken. Thus, both translation and interpretation involve careful analysis of meaning in context and attention to extra-linguistic aspects of communication. Interpreters must be good public speakers who are adept at grasping meaning and solving complex linguistic problems quickly, whereas translators must be able to conduct thorough and meticulous research and produce accurate, camera-ready documents while adhering to tight deadlines.

Translation and interpretation are indeed complementary pursuits: The research conducted for a translation project can enhance in-depth knowledge of a given subject and ease preparation for a subsequent interpreting assignment, while the spontaneity necessary for interpretation can increase the speed with which translation assignments can be completed. By the same token, the training received in the MATI program is complementary in that students reinforce their mastery of the written and oral aspects of their working languages by performing both translation and interpretation of related texts. Recent technological innovations blur the distinction between the two.

Many clients, unaware of the distinction between the two aspects of the profession, expect the same person to be able to perform both tasks. As a result, more than 60 percent of GSTI students choose to pursue an MATI degree. Graduates have found that being able to provide both translation and interpretation services gives them a significant edge in today's competitive job market.

Conference interpretation enables participants in a multinational meeting to communicate with each other in a seamless fashion, making the language barrier almost imperceptible. Such interpreting is generally performed in two modes: consecutive and simultaneous.

In consecutive interpretation, the interpreter usually sits with conference delegates while a speech is being made, listens to the speech, and takes notes. When the speaker pauses or finishes, the interpreter renders the speech in the first person in the target language. Speech and interpretation generally occur in segments no longer than 10-15 minutes.

In simultaneous interpretation, interpreters sit in soundproof booths (one booth for each language), where they listen to the speech from the meeting room through headsets. As the speaker talks, each interpreter interprets at the same time into his or her native or A language. The interpreter's words are spoken into a microphone and transmitted via headset to meeting participants. In this manner, the same speech can be interpreted into several languages at once with very little time lag. In each booth, interpreters work as a team, sharing the workload at regular intervals.

Many conference interpreters work on a freelance basis, since staff positions at organizations that require the services of conference interpreters, such as the United Nations, the European Union, and the US State Department, are limited. Both freelance and staff conference interpreters are eligible for membership in the Association Internationale des Interprètes de Conférence (AIIC), based in Geneva. As the only worldwide organization of conference interpreters, it maintains high admissions standards in order to guarantee the professional expertise of its members and their respect for professional ethics.

This program is designed for individuals with a mastery of both Spanish and English. As a prerequisite to entering the program, all prospective students must pass an oral entrance exam in both languages to determine linguistic competence and general cultural preparation. The exam consists of a telephone interview. Please contact the department for an appointment. The exam fee is $10, nonrefundable. Certificate Requirements Admission: Satisfactory rating in Spanish and English on an oral entrance exam. Results are valid for one year. Students are formally admitted to the program only upon successful completion of Fundamentals of Court Interpreting/X279601 with a grade of B or better. Course of Study: Certificates are awarded to students who successfully complete the six courses listed below with an average grade of B or better.

Offered only at the Imperial Valley Campus

The Imperial Valley Campus offers a Certificate in Court Interpreting. The certificate requires 15 units in Spanish dealing with problems of court interpreting and includes interpreting from Spanish to English and from English to Spanish.

This program prepares its graduates to become court interpreters. Fluency in both English and at least one other language is required for admission to the program. Students will develop their interpreting ability with courses that focus on consecutive interpreting, simultaneous interpreting, and sight translation. Students will also be prepared to enter the workforce as freelance interpreters by learning about how to succeed in the field of professional interpreting and translating. Ethical issues and the responsibilities of the interpreter are also taught.

The specific objectives of this program are that the graduate must be able to demonstrate:

the ability to perform simultaneous interpreting;
the ability to perform consecutive interpreting;
the ability to perform sight translation of legal documents;
the ability to pass the new Jersey State Certification Exam for Court Interpreters on the level of Journeyman;
the knowledge of techniques necessary to maintain and improve one's interpreting skills after graduation;
the ability and the knowledge to enter the workforce as a professional free lance interpreter;
an awareness of the diverse cultural factors which play a crucial role in language interpreting;
an awareness of the ethical principles and responsibilities underlying the role of court interpreter.

The Program in Translation and Interpreting (PTI) at the University of Minnesota is committed to building the capacity of Minnesota institutions, businesses, and public services to communicate with speakers of all languages through written translation and live interpretation of oral interactions. The PTI offers an educational program for interpreters and translators, including a Certificate in Interpreting with Health Care and Legal specializations. In addition, the PTI offers publications and training materials free or for purchase and can provide specialized training in areas related to cross-cultural communication.

The Program in Translation and Interpreting is thus active in two interrelated areas:

course offerings in translation and interpreting, including the Certificate Program in Interpreting;
services and publications.
Curriculum

The Program in Translation and Interpreting offers a series of courses designed for highly proficient bilinguals from various language communities who want to develop their knowledge and skills for professional translation and interpreting. Courses are offered on the Twin Cities campus of the University of Minnesota and at the University Center-Rochester. A Certificate in Interpreting with specializations in legal and health interpreting care is available for students who satisfactorily complete a prescribed program of study.

Courses are offered through the Office of Evening Classes and Summer Session to fit the schedules of working adults, and are available in the Twin Cities and in Rochester. Twin Cities classes generally meet on the East Bank campus of the University of Minnesota. Classes in Rochester meet at the University of Minnesota Rochester Center.

Some courses are taught in English, while others are bilingual in several languages. Spanish-English sections are offered on a regular basis. However, the viability of sections in other languages is dependent on interested participants.

In our seemingly shrinking world and melting-pot communities, building bridges between cultures and fostering accurate communication between speakers of different languages has never been more important. By completing the Certificate Program in Interpreting, you will be able to assist others, as a professional interpreter, in oral communication between different languages.

While academic training is widely available for American Sign Language interpreters, there is no other higher education institution in Minnesota providing professional training for interpreters who intend to work in various spoken language pairs. In fact, there is no comparable program anywhere in the Midwest.

This program consists of two specializations:

Health Care Interpreting
Legal Settings Interpreting
Choose one or both specializations; either way, you'll gain experience in translation and the conversion of written texts from one language to another, with the core emphasis on interpreting. Specifically, you'll develop knowledge and skills in such areas as interaction protocols, ethical issues, specialized terminologies, and consecutive and simultaneous interpreting.

The faculty of this program are subject-matter specialists and interpreters who are recognized leaders in their profession. Many have years of experience as trainers, along with accomplishments in related research and publication. Teaching materials developed in this program are used in other training programs around the United States. The program is offered through Degree and Credit Programs in the College of Continuing Education. At the University of Minnesota, Rochester campus, the curriculum is sponsored by the Department of Health Sciences and Continuing Education.

With this expertise behind it, this program provides an exceptional learning opportunity that enables you to earn valued credentials from the University of Minnesota. Courses are available on the Twin Cities campus of the University of Minnesota and in classrooms at the University Center in Rochester. And, with most courses offered in the late afternoon or evenings, it's easy to fit them into your busy schedule.

We are currently admitting students fluent in Spanish. Other languages such as Russian and Somali are accepted as long as there is sufficient demand.

Requirements to be taken sequentially in this order or at the same time:
- 680 Contrastive Grammar and Stylistics
- 681 Translation - develops advanced translating skills through practice with a strong emphasis in Spanish into English translating, primarily having in mind English speakers as a target public. Some back translation exercises will be offered. Translation is viewed as a multidimensional process- including cognitive, pragmatic and linguistical text analysis. Each subject unit (e.g. computing, technical, medical) offers glossary base creating, in class translating exercises, homework or/and appropriate theory reading.

- 682 Interpreting - Spanish/English Interpreting is an introductory course to the art of oral translation. During the course you will be not acquiring a certain knowledge but rather learning a skill. You will be developing basic strategies useful in community, conference, court and other types of interpreting. Current employment opportunities in the field of interpreting will be also briefly presented.
In class work will focus on learning and practicing interpreting techniques. Individual, at home, preparation – besides the assigned readings and interpreting exercises– will also include a strong terminology enhancement.

- 685 Interpreting - Practice (after 682)
- 684 Internship

Requirements to be taken non-sequentially:
- 622 Spanish Pronunciation and Dialect Variation
- 1 Terminology course (Legal, Medical or other)
- 2 Electives

Electives for GSI:
- Advanced Spanish for Business
- Medical Spanish
- Legal Terminology
- Other Terminology
- 600 level literature course
- Computational Linguistics
- Rise of Spanish

The list of translation courses shown above is not all inclusive and the translation courses shown will be subject to change, addition and removal.

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