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Learn about the eligibility, exam procedures, assessment, and preparation for the South African Translators’ Institute (SATI) accreditation exam in simultaneous interpretation. Find out what happens after passing or failing the exam and how to appeal the result.
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Before we begin … • Thank you for deciding to become accredited! • Read everything on the SATI website about accreditation: https://www.translators.org.za/ – not all of it is repeated here. • The information here relates only to accreditation in SIMULTANEOUS INTERPRETATION.
Who is eligible for the exam? You can apply to be tested if – • you have been a SATI member for at least three months • and you have a minimum of three years’ experience as a simultaneous interpreter. This exam is not available for student members.
SATI offers simultaneous interpreting exams in • Spoken simultaneous interpreting • South African Sign Language (SASL)
Venues where the simultaneous interpreting exams take place • Testing for simultaneous interpreter accreditation takes place once a year on an ad hoc basis in different centres in South Africa as the need arises. • Candidates are required to attend the testing scheduled at a particular time and centre.
Examprocedureforspokensimultaneousinterpretation • The testing involves practical interpreting. • The testing is not done in an interpreting booth, but in a quiet room where the candidate sits at a table. • A source recording is played to the candidate using a laptop computer and the candidate interprets into a microphone, from which a recording is made. • A variety of topics are used for this exam. • The text is 10 to 15 minutes long in each case.
Examprocedurefor SASL • The testing involves practical interpreting. • The testing is done in a quiet room, where the candidate sits at a table or stands to interpret out of or into SASL respectively. • A source recording (voice or video, as the case may be) is played to the candidate using a laptop computer and the candidate interprets into a microphone, from which a recording is made, for SASL-English and is recorded on video for the English-SASL portion of the test. • The text is 10 to 15 minutes long in each case.
Examprocedure • Candidates are informed of the subject of the text for their particular language combination a few days before the exam. • Candidates do not see the text beforehand and are not given any other background information.
Examprocedure • The recordings currently used have been recorded especially for SATI testing purposes and are not taken from live situations. • As the text is non-specialised, all candidates should be able to relate to the content.
Who are the examiners? Professional, experienced, accredited interpreters
Assessement of the exams Once the recording of the candidate’s interpreting has been made, it is integrated with the source recording, copied onto a CD and sent to two or more examiners for assessment.
Spoken simultaneous interpreting exam Spoken simultaneous interpreting exams can be taken in one language combination in one direction OR in both directions, i.e. only English to Zulu, or English to Zulu as well as Zulu to English. Currently we offer spoken simultaneous interpreting testing in:
Criteria for the spoken simultaneous interpreting exam • Accuracy and coherence of message • TL vocabulary and register • TL grammar, idiom and purity • Interpreting technique
South African Sign Language (SASL) • SASL candidates are required to be tested in both directions, i.e. English-SASL and SASL-English. • Should they fail either of the combinations, they fail the whole examination.
Criteria for the South African Sign Language (SASL) exam • Language skills • Content/message • Interpreting technique • Professional conduct
How should I prepare for the exam? Working as a simultaneous interpreter IS your preparation for the exam!
How and when do I receive my result? Marking can take up to eight weeks. You will receive a report from the Accreditation office with a selection of markers’ comments with the result of your exam. Note: Not all errors will be listed in the report. You may not discuss your results with the exams officer.
Whathappensonce I passed the exam? Youwillreceiveanaccreditationcertificate. Youmayuseyouraccreditation status in communicationwithclients, i.e. in youremailsignature. Your name willappearonSATI’slist of accreditedmembers.
What does a ‘fail’ mean and what should I do next? On the day of the exam, you were not able to produce work to the required standard for accreditation. Read the comments carefully to understand whether you are far off the mark. Follow the advice given. Continue to hone your skills. You may reapply for the exam after one year.
What if I am unhappy with the result? There is an appeal process you can follow. Submit an application form and proof of payment within 8 weeks of the result. The exam will be viewed by another examiner. If the ‘Fail’ result is overturned, you will be refunded for the appeal and will be accredited. However, once a ‘Fail” result is confirmed, the candidate will be informed and neither the Accreditation office, nor the SATI Office will communicate further on the issue.
Does accreditation expire? • No – as long as you remain a member of SATI. • If your membership lapses, so will your accreditation. • If you subsequently wish to become re-accredited, you will have to re-apply to do the examination and pass it again.
