English-Vietnamese version DVD on interpreting officially launched

15:28 | 25/11/2005

CPV: The official launch of the Interpreting Asia – Interpreting Europe DVD in the

framework of the EU-funded Asialink project was organized by the Hanoi University of

Foreign Studies (HUFS) and its partners, the University of Westminster (UK), the

Dublin City University (Ireland) and the Xiamen University (China), on November

17th, at the head office of HUFS.

The launch was witnessed by the representatives of the Vietnamese Ministry of Education

and Training, the EC Delegation to Vietnam, embassies, international organizations in

Vietnam, interpreters-training institutions, and media agencies at central and local level.

With the total grant of 300,000 Euros for 2 years (2004-2005), the EU-funded Asialink

Interpreting Asia-Interpreting Europe project aims to upgrade the skills of university teaching

staff in general and the teaching staff of HUFS in particular, especially young faculty

members and future professionals.

This English-Vietnamese version DVD contains seven units on interpreting: the role of the

interpreter, public speaking, concentration and memory, note-taking, coping tactics, cultural

awareness, and professionalism.

Each unit is divided into four sections: presenter-highlighting the key issues in each unit and

guiding learners through the other three sections; studio drama-showing some of the dire

consequences of poor interpreting practice; experts-through interviews, leading European and

Vietnamese interpreters share their experience and offer practical advice to trainee liaison

interpreters, and documentaries-screening experienced liaison interpreters working in a

variety of interpreting situations in Vietnam.

“Interpreting Asia-Interpreting Europe” DVD is the product of the successful cooperation

among the four project members from four above-mentioned partner universities, in which

the UK and Ireland transfer interpreters training skills to Vietnam and China.

Further to working sessions and two training workshops in London (April 30th 2004-May 9th

2004) and in Dublin (January 7th 2005-January 16th 2005), the Asialink project team applied

the DVD draft version to the Asialink interpreting course held at HUFS from February 28th

2005 to March 4th 2005 for about 100 trainees coming from various ministries, embassies,

international organizations, universities, Hanoi Department of Foreign Affairs, and media

agencies.

The course was highly appreciated by the learners whose comments have been taken into

consideration for further improvements and completion of this DVD.

“Interpreting Asia-Interpreting Europe” DVD offers an additional source of valuable human

resources development materials for those concerned with training liaison interpreters,

upgrading professionalism and status for interpreting trainers (English-Vietnamese and

Vietnamese-English); contributing to interpreting skills development in Vietnam in the

context of its integration into the global economy; increasing the awareness of the role of the

interpreters for Vietnamese staff working in international organizations and international

relation agencies; and improving awareness of the importance of interpreters for users of

liaison interpreters in Vietnam.

“Interpreting Asia-Interpreting Europe” DVD will work as a bridge helping remove the

language barrier, boost Vietnam's regional and international integration process where

English is the major language of communication.

After this launch, HUFS will continue conducting interpreting courses for those who are

interested. Future courses will focus on developing practical interpreting skills on the basis of

the theory presented in this DVD.

Anh Tuan

http://dangcongsan.vn/cpv/Modules/News_English/News_Detail_E.aspx?CN_ID=6258&CO

_ID=30587

More information:

Hanoi University of Foreign Studies (HUFS) team:

Nguyen Xuan Vang, Le Thanh Dung, Nguyen Quy Tam, Dang Xuan Thu, Pham Ngoc Thach,

Tran Huy Phuong, Ngo Tuyet Mai, Nguyen Thanh Ha, Luong Ngoc Minh, Pham Minh Nguyet

Project Director: Professor Jack Lonergan

University of Westminster

2005