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Oral Interpreters Training
MCS fulfills a critical need in the Washington DC area by training oral interpreters in the field of language interpretation. About 7% of Washington DC’s population speak English less than “very well” and require interpretation services to participate meaningfully in their communities and to have access to critical services. Without effective interpretation, these community members struggle with isolation and the inability to easily complete daily activities, from participating in their children’s school to obtaining quality medical care. Untrained interpreters capture and can interpret only 60% to 80% of any given conversation. Trained interpreters, on the other hand, capture between 90% and 100% of the meaning in any given conversation and are aware of the ethical demands for accuracy as outlined in the National Code of Ethics for Language Interpretation and Translation.
To learn more about MCS' upcoming Community Interpreter Training click here.
To apply for the Interpreter Training click here.
Many bilingual members of the community provide interpretation services when they see a need. Professional interpretation, however, is a sought after and highly-paid skill, and bilingual community members who provide the service as a civic courtesy should have the opportunity to build upon that skill with training, gaining a lucrative career or source of supplemental income. The MCS Oral Interpreters Training provides that opportunity, which MCS extends to all members of its local community, actively recruiting those of lower socioeconomic status, including high-risk youth. Criteria for enrolling in the training include linguistic talent, untrained (and often unrecognized) bilingual capacity, and concern about social justice issues related to cultural segregation and information access.
MCS Interpreter Training Course -– Length and Certification Requirements
- 60 hours of intensive classes in community interpretation
- 40 hours of intensive classes in simultaneous interpretation
- 10 hours of required assigned internship to build learned skills under the guidance of a Master Interpreter
- Certificate of Completion for 70 hours of training in Community Consecutive Interpreting
- Certificate of Completion for 40 hours of training in Simultaneous Interpretation
MCS Interpreter Training Course –- Coursework
The training on Oral Consecutive and Simultaneous Interpretation is extensive and integrates learning about cultural diversity and both verbal and non-verbal communication. The course work includes:- Techniques of Oral Interpretation
- National Code of Ethics
- Preparing for an Oral Interpretation Session
- Disclosure
- Accuracy and Completeness
- Communication Registry
- Intervention
- Clarification of Meaning
- Closing an Oral Interpretation Session
- Reporting and Skills Development
- Impact of Culture in Meaning
- Body Language and Meaning
- Types of Equipment, including Portable Equipment and the Interpreter’s Booth
Participants of the training engage in role-playing scenarios and small group exercises, and examine case studies during class time.