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Training Legal Interpreters and Translators in Response to the New Directive

Training Legal Interpreters and Translators in Response to the New Directive. Gertrud Hofer Zurich University of Applied Sciences Centre for Continuing Professional Education. Eulita, Madrid, 15./16.3.2012 Gertrud Hofer, ZHAW. Great expectations by legal professionals.

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Training Legal Interpreters and Translators in Response to the New Directive

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  1. Training Legal Interpreters and Translators in Response to the New Directive Gertrud Hofer Zurich University of Applied SciencesCentre for Continuing Professional Education Eulita, Madrid, 15./16.3.2012 Gertrud Hofer, ZHAW

  2. Great expectations by legal professionals Linguistic/interpreting prerequisites Precision as to content (≠ translate word for word!) Completeness of interpreting Linguistic competence in 2 languages Cultural awareness Terminological expertise Specialised knowledge and vocabulary Legal prerequisites No police record No contact to criminal persons Availability Eulita, Madrid, 15./16.3.2012 Gertrud Hofer, ZHAW 2

  3. Great expectations call for qualification Toguarantee a fair trialinterpreters must bequalified! • Qualified interpreters must be in command of all interpreting techniques • Consecutive interpreting • Simultaneous (Whispering) • Sight translation • Specialised legal knowledge • Socio-cultural awareness • Professional ethics Eulita, Madrid, 15./16.3.2012 Gertrud Hofer, ZHAW

  4. Options of training curricula B.A. Curriculum M.A. Curriculum Curriculum ofContinuing Professional Development (CPD) Eulita, Madrid, 15./16.3.2012 Gertrud Hofer, ZHAW 4

  5. B.A./M.A. programmes Advantages • Widely accepted degrees • University trainers → Linguistic competence → Pedagogical experience • Guaranteed length of training (180 ECTS) • Government funding • European Transfer Credits Eulita, Madrid, 15./16.3.2012 Gertrud Hofer, ZHAW

  6. B.A./M.A. programmes: It can be done! German-speaking countries B.A. Curriculum • Magdeburg-Stendal (limited range of languages) • Karl-FranzenUniversität (limited range of languages) M.A. Curriculum Magdeburg-Stendal (limited range of languages) Eulita, Madrid, 15./16.3.2012 Gertrud Hofer, ZHAW

  7. B.A./M.A. programmes for legal interpreting Challenges • Longterm planning • Constant change of languages (due to migration fluxes) • Recruitment of trainers • Background of participants • Admission of students with varying backgrounds • Access to register of authorities/courts Eulita, Madrid, 15./16.3.2012 Gertrud Hofer, ZHAW

  8. Problem areas • Range of languages? Constant changes at short notice? • Background of participants? • Background of trainers? Linguistics, interpreting, specialised (legal) knowledge? → complex demands Eulita, Madrid, 15./16.3.2012 Gertrud Hofer, ZHAW

  9. 60s 70s 80s 90s After 2000 Wide range of languages 2011 INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM «Interpretation Practices and Oral Intercultural Communication», November 20th - 21 st, 2009 – Paris Gertrud Hofer, ZHAW

  10. Background of participants Migrants (first generation) Bilinguals (second generation) Conference Interpreters Translators Legal Experts Eulita, Madrid, 15./16.3.2012 Gertrud Hofer, ZHAW 10

  11. Background of trainers Experienced Conference Interpreters (train the trainers) Legal Experts Language Experts (tandem: Language expertsandinterpreters) Eulita, Madrid, 15./16.3.2012 Gertrud Hofer, ZHAW 11

  12. Continuing Professional Development: Solving some of the Problems Magdeburg-Stendal (unlimited range of languages) University of Hamburg (unlimited range of languages) Zurich University of Applied Sciences (unlimited range of languages) Co-operation with Police, Prosecution, Court: Development oftrainingprogramme (2 days) Eulita, Madrid, 15./16.3.2012 Gertrud Hofer, ZHAW 12

  13. Practical questions arising from • Trainers- language-independent courses? - heterogeneity of participants? - design of exercises? - language competence? - bidirectional interpreting? • Legal experts (Providers/Trainers)- 10 golden rulesforinterpreters?- numberofparticipants?- testingmethods? • Courseparticipants- compatibilitywithpracticeatwork?- toomuchtheorytaughtbyconferenceinterpreters? - note-takingpractice?- courselength vs. courseoutcome? Eulita, Madrid, 15./16.3.2012 Gertrud Hofer, ZHAW

  14. Main points of discussion with legal experts • Training target • Training content • Examinations → registration Eulita, Madrid, 15./16.3.2012 Gertrud Hofer, ZHAW

  15. Training targets • To reinforce background knowledge of law and legal procedure • To improve understanding of interpreting process • To further and fine-tune interpreting skills (language-independent) → Interdisciplinarity (legal strand/interpreting strand) → Introduction of professional standards for legal interpreters Eulita, Madrid, 15./16.3.2012 Gertrud Hofer, ZHAW

  16. 3 levels of training programmes • Basic Course • Intermediate Course • Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) Eulita, Madrid, 15./16.3.2012 Gertrud Hofer, ZHAW

  17. CPD Curriculum Level 1 - 3 Level 1: Basic Course Eulita, Madrid, 15./16.3.2012 Gertrud Hofer, ZHAW

  18. Level 1: Exam Eulita, Madrid, 15./16.3.2012 Gertrud Hofer, ZHAW

  19. Enforcing compulsory completion of Basic Course in Canton of Zurich Provider’s side • Representatives of Police, Prosecutor and Courts: Favourable opinion on training • Emanation of programme: Top-down process of growing acceptance of need of training • Other Cantons: Support of training Interpreters’ side • Reluctance on the part of «experienced» interpreters (fear of high standards of conference interpreters, aversion to theoretical parts) • Interdisciplinary training framework was appreciated • Overwhelming wish forregistration of «new» interpreters after first training Eulita, Madrid, 15./16.3.2012 Gertrud Hofer, ZHAW

  20. Outcomes of Basic Course • Number of interpreters reduced from 1,000 legal interpreters (2003 – 2007) to 550 • Number of languages reduced from 120 to 80 • Registration by Advisory Panel following examination • Attainment of a minimal quality standard by means of selection • Participants who fail are temporarily or permanently struck off the register Eulita, Madrid, 15./16.3.2012 Gertrud Hofer, ZHAW

  21. Promoting Quality management: Test after complaints Clients ofpolice, prosecution, courtsreporttothe legal experts Test of 1 hour • Talk on a legal subject in bothlanguages 20 minutes • Consecutiveinterpreting (bidirectional): authentictexts (e. g. protocols, indictments, judgments)20 minutes • Sighttranslation (2 versions) 20 minutes: authentictexts • Results total 17recommended 1 partlyrecommended 4 not recommended 9 specialcases 3 Growinginterestofclients in test Eulita, Madrid, 15./16.3.2012 Gertrud Hofer, ZHAW

  22. Results of cooperation Co-operation leads to • higher awareness of all aspects of interpreting and translation among all the stakeholders (interpreters, trainers, legal professionals) • awareness of the need for common aims • trust in another institution Eulita, Madrid, 15./16.3.2012 Gertrud Hofer, ZHAW

  23. Programme for legal interpreters Level 2:Intermediate Course (60 lessons + self study) Concept: consolidation of interpreting skills with all the subcompetencies Eulita, Madrid, 15./16.3.2012 Gertrud Hofer, ZHAW

  24. Level 2: Oral examination Eulita, Madrid, 15./16.3.2012 Gertrud Hofer, ZHAW 24

  25. Programme for legal interpreters Level 3: Certificate Course of Advanced Studies (150 lessons + self study) Concept based on interdisciplinarity • Special knowledge: Criminal Law, Civil Law, Aliens Law, Procedural Law etc. • Interpreting skills (note-taking, consecutive interpreting GE/GE, whispering interpreting, sight translation, ethics, breathing techniques and voice training) • Internet research techniques, written translation • Oral exam interpreting (consecutive interpreting GE/GE, professional conduct, sight translation) • Written exam: special knowledge, translation of a legal document (B language into A language); 70% of interpreters also translate Eulita, Madrid, 15./16.3.2012 Gertrud Hofer, ZHAW 25

  26. Eulita, Madrid, 15./16.3.2012 Gertrud Hofer, ZHAW

  27. Eulita, Madrid, 15./16.3.2012 Gertrud Hofer, ZHAW

  28. Level 3: Oral and written examination Eulita, Madrid, 15./16.3.2012 Gertrud Hofer, ZHAW 28

  29. Outcomes of Intermediate Course and Certificate Course of Advanced Studies • Growing interest of participants • Qualifying examinations (specifically mentioned in register) Pass rates 48 % at Intermediate level (most of them practising legal interpreters) 77 % at Certificate level (international exchange of trainers) Certificate mentioned in register of Panel at High Court of Canton of Zurich Attainment of higher quality standards by means of training Eulita, Madrid, 15./16.3.2012 Gertrud Hofer, ZHAW

  30. Conclusions Weaknesses Wide range of languages is not covered (Somali, Tigrinya, Tamil) Bidirectional interpreting cannot be tested Heterogeneity of participants Need of samples of texts in various languages (sight translation) and (video-)taped data in as many languages as possible (interpreting practice) Strengths Professionalisation leads to Wider acknowledgement of guidelines for legal interpreters More detailed knowledge about legal interpreting as a professional activity Better understanding of the need for training programmes Better qualified interpreters even with less common languages Eulita, Madrid, 15./16.3.2012 Gertrud Hofer, ZHAW 30

  31. Contributions of and for Eulita Accreditation systemofEulitafortrainingprogrammesforcontinuing professional development Cooperationoftraininginstitutesandassociations: shortcourses in interpretingand/ortranslationsforspecificlanguages/trainingfortrainers? CooperationoftraininginstituteswithinthenetworkofEulita: establishingtrainingprogrammes (MAS) for legal interpretingandtranslation Development of e-learningunits (authenticdata!) Collecting/contributingteachingmaterialsforthewebsiteofEulita Assistance oftrainersfromother countries (interpreters, linguists, leegalexperts) Eulita, Madrid, 15./16.3.2012 Gertrud Hofer, ZHAW 31

  32. Thank you for your attention! Eulita, Madrid, 15./16.3.2012 Gertrud Hofer, ZHAW

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