training legal interpreters and translators in response to the new directive
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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. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Training Legal Interpreters and Translators in Response to the New DirectiveGertrud Hofer Zurich University of Applied SciencesCentre for Continuing Professional Education
Eulita, Madrid, 15./16.3.2012Gertrud Hofer, ZHAW
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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./16.3.2012Gertrud Hofer, ZHAW
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Great expectations call for qualification
To guarantee a fair trial interpreters must be qualified!• 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./16.3.2012Gertrud Hofer, ZHAW
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Options of training curricula
• B.A. Curriculum• M.A. Curriculum• Curriculum of Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
Eulita, Madrid, 15./16.3.2012Gertrud Hofer, ZHAW
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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./16.3.2012Gertrud Hofer, ZHAW
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B.A./M.A. programmes: It can be done!
German-speaking countries
B.A. Curriculum • Magdeburg-Stendal (limited range of languages)• Karl-Franzen Universität (limited range of languages)
M.A. Curriculum
Magdeburg-Stendal (limited range of languages)
Eulita, Madrid, 15./16.3.2012Gertrud Hofer, ZHAW
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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./16.3.2012Gertrud Hofer, ZHAW
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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./16.3.2012Gertrud Hofer, ZHAW
INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM «Interpretation Practices and Oral Intercultural Communication», November 20th - 21 st, 2009 – ParisGertrud Hofer, ZHAW
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Wide range of languages
60s70s80s90sAfter 20002011
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Background of participants
• Migrants (first generation)• Bilinguals (second generation)
• Conference Interpreters• Translators• Legal Experts
Eulita, Madrid, 15./16.3.2012Gertrud Hofer, ZHAW
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Background of trainers
• Experienced Conference Interpreters (train the trainers)• Legal Experts• Language Experts (tandem: Language experts and interpreters)
Eulita, Madrid, 15./16.3.2012Gertrud Hofer, ZHAW
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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 of training programme (2 days)
Eulita, Madrid, 15./16.3.2012Gertrud Hofer, ZHAW
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Practical questions arising from
• Trainers- language-independent courses?
- heterogeneity of participants?
- design of exercises?
- language competence?
- bidirectional interpreting?
• Legal experts (Providers/Trainers)- 10 golden rules for interpreters?- number of participants?- testing methods?
• Course participants- compatibility with practice at work?- too much theory taught by conference interpreters?
- note-taking practice?- course length vs. course outcome?
Eulita, Madrid, 15./16.3.2012Gertrud Hofer, ZHAW
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Main points of discussion with legal experts
• Training target
• Training content
• Examinations → registration
Eulita, Madrid, 15./16.3.2012Gertrud Hofer, ZHAW
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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./16.3.2012Gertrud Hofer, ZHAW
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3 levels of training programmes
• Basic Course• Intermediate Course• Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS)
Eulita, Madrid, 15./16.3.2012Gertrud Hofer, ZHAW
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CPD Curriculum Level 1 - 3
Level 1: Basic Course
Special legal knowledge
introduction to criminal law and civil law
Interpreting
introduction to interpreting techniques consecutive interpreting (GE-GE) introduction to note-taking ethical principles professional conduct breathing and voice training
Eulita, Madrid, 15./16.3.2012Gertrud Hofer, ZHAW
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Level 1: Exam
Special legal knowledge
71 questions (multiple choice)
Interpreting consecutive interpreting (GE-GE), 150 words
(newspaper articles with legal background) Questions on ethics, professional conduct
ECTS 1 (16 lessons + 16 hours of self-study + exam)
Eulita, Madrid, 15./16.3.2012Gertrud Hofer, ZHAW
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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 for registration of «new» interpreters after first training
Eulita, Madrid, 15./16.3.2012Gertrud Hofer, ZHAW
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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./16.3.2012Gertrud Hofer, ZHAW
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Promoting Quality management: Test after complaints
Clients of police, prosecution, courts report to the legal experts
Test of 1 hour
•Talk on a legal subject in both languages 20 minutes
•Consecutive interpreting (bidirectional): authentic texts (e. g. protocols, indictments, judgments)20 minutes
•Sight translation (2 versions) 20 minutes: authentic texts
•Results total 17recommended 1
partly recommended 4not recommended 9
special cases 3
Growing interest of clients in test
Eulita, Madrid, 15./16.3.2012Gertrud Hofer, ZHAW
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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./16.3.2012Gertrud Hofer, ZHAW
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Level 2: Intermediate Course (60 lessons + self study)
Concept: consolidation of interpreting skills with all the subcompetencies
Programme for legal interpreters
Interpreting
consecutive interpreting GE/GE note-taking whispering interpreting sight translation ethics breathing techniques and voice training internet research techniques legal terminology Role plays with legal experts (tandem)
Eulita, Madrid, 15./16.3.2012Gertrud Hofer, ZHAW
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Level 2: Oral examination
Interpreting
consecutive interpreting (GE/GE) 200 words sight translation 200 words (A – B) questions on ethics, professional conduct
ETCS3 (60 lessons + 30 hours self-study + admission exam for CAS)
Eulita, Madrid, 15./16.3.2012Gertrud Hofer, ZHAW
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
Programme for legal interpreters
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ModuleInterpreting
- Consolidation of interpreting skills- Consecutive translation (note-taking technique)- Sight translation- Whispering interpreting- role plays with legal experts (tandem)
Module Terminology/Research techniques
- Terminology- Drawing up glossaries- Research techniques
Module (Intercultural) Communication
- Voice training- Conducting negotiations
Module Translation Workshop
- Translation Theory- Guidelines- Translation Practice (legal translation, language-specific)
Eulita, Madrid, 15./16.3.2012Gertrud Hofer, ZHAW
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Introduction- Introduction to legal interpreting
-Legal professions
Module Specialised Knowledge
-General law-Criminal law- Public law- Penal procedures law- Family law
-Alien law- Public welfare law
Eulita, Madrid, 15./16.3.2012Gertrud Hofer, ZHAW
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Level 3: Oral and written examination
Interpreting
consecutive interpreting (GE/GE) 200 wordssight translation 200 words (A – B)questions on ethics, professional conduct
Specialised legal knowledge
20 questions and cases (open-ended)
Written translation
indictmentsummary penalty orderjudgment200 words (B-A)
ECTS 15 (160 lessons + 300 hours self-study + exam)
Eulita, Madrid, 15./16.3.2012Gertrud Hofer, ZHAW
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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./16.3.2012Gertrud Hofer, ZHAW
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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./16.3.2012Gertrud Hofer, ZHAW
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Contributions of and for Eulita
• Accreditation system of Eulita for training programmes for continuing professional development
• Cooperation of training institutes and associations: short courses in interpreting and/or translations for specific languages/training for trainers?
• Cooperation of training institutes within the network of Eulita: establishing training programmes (MAS) for legal interpreting and translation
• Development of e-learning units (authentic data!)
• Collecting/contributing teaching materials for the website of Eulita
• Assistance of trainers from other countries (interpreters, linguists, leegal experts)
Eulita, Madrid, 15./16.3.2012Gertrud Hofer, ZHAW