Exam Information
General Information and Fees
Sponsorships Announcing NAJIT’s 31st Annual Conference in Orlando, FL
Registration is now open for NAJIT’s 31st Annual Conference at the Rosen Centre Hotel in Orlando, FL. Please check out our Conference Website for more detailed information.
Preliminary Session Descriptions are below:
Pre- Conference Workshops:
Friday, May 14
SPANISH SKILLS TRAINING FOR COURT INTERPRETERS
(Language: Spanish)
Instructor: TBA
This six-hour skills tune-up is designed to prepare participants to take the Consortium Oral Performance Test in Spanish. This session will review the basic concepts surrounding the use of the three modes of interpretation. Participants will practice sight translation, consecutive interpretation, and simultaneous interpretation, with attention to the appropriate protocol for each.
HAITIAN CREOLE SKILLS TRAINING FOR INTERPRETERS
(Language: Haitian Creole)
Instructor: Joelle Haspil
WEIGHTLIFTING FOR COURT INTERPRETERS: A TRAINING PRIMER
(Language: English, LOTS-Focused)
Instructor: AgustÃn de la Mora
This 6-hour workshop will focus on the three modes of interpretation. Instruction will be directed at developing the skills needed to interpret effectively in a judicial environment. Interpretation, memory and listening techniques will be presented and discussed. This hands-on course, which utilizes an "out of the box" approach to training, will allow participants to identify, through objective evaluations, their current level of knowledge and abilities in each of the three modes of interpretation as well as develop their skills by actively interpreting during class.
WORKSHOP ON MEANING DISCRIMINATION IN BILINGUAL DICTIONARIES WITH EXAMPLES IN SPANISH AND ENGLISH – The Technique for Evaluation of Dictionaries for Translation Purposes
(Language: English and Spanish)
Instructor: Michael D. Powers
This is a practical workshop in which various bilingual groups are formed in order to rate different bilingual dictionaries according to their treatment of polysemy.
One of the perennial debates concerning Machine Translation is the fact that words that are high in polysemy, that is, that have several different meanings, even in the same context, cannot be coded to accurately translate the intended meaning.
A case in point is the adjective "hot" in English. Even in the criminal law context: "She has a hot car" can mean a "stolen car," or a "fast car," or even a "popular car." Moreover, there are so many different meanings with the adjective "hot," such as "hot air" or "hot food" meaning either "spicy" or physically "hot," that inevitably if these expressions are not included, some translators will mistranslate these phrases.
Hence, for purposes of this workshop, twenty of the words from the English language that are high in polysemy, based on three of the most respected monolingual English dictionaries, are analyzed in the different bilingual dictionaries the participants bring to the workshop, in order to determine how many of the different senses are actually discriminated in the target language.
In the workshop, after showing the methodology to be used through its application, participants are going to apply it to the dictionaries present in the different language pairs and they will be rank ordered.
ETHICS AND REALITY IN COURT AND MEDICAL PROCEEDINGS – CANONS AND REAL LIFE SITUATIONS
(Language: English)
Instructor: Alexander Rainof
A survey of basic canons of Ethics shall be introduced and discussed, with an emphasis on specific situations relating to the canons. Problems that have emerged in the course of real life proceedings, and their relationship to expert testimony, shall be analyzed. Audio and audio-visual materials shall be integrated into this interactive workshop.
SOUTHWEST BORDER TALK
(Language: English and Spanish)
Instructor: Rogelio Camacho
In this highly interactive, empowering and entertaining workshop, participants will become familiar with, use, discuss, review and translate relevant Spanish vocabulary currently being used on both sides of the border. Everybody is welcome. Don’t miss out.
FROM LISTENING TO INTERPRETING
(Language: English)
Instructor: Mike McMillion
Effective listening strategies are preliminary to an equivalent interpretation. This workshop proposes that equivalence in the interpreting process begins with LISTENING or what Cokely and Lee call "message reception." The foundational skills of message reception in these two models of processing will be presented and the focus will be on what happens mentally before processing begins, before meaning is recognized, processed, and the interpretation is produced. This hands-on workshop will offer practice opportunities and activities to integrate listening, conceptual accuracy, semantic equivalence skill building and auditory/mental text analysis. Activities for individual, small group and large group practice will be offered throughout the presentation.
COMPLIANCE TO THE CODE OF ETHICS AND PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND ITS APPLICABILITY TO ESTABLISHED GUIDELINES
(Language: English)
Instructors: Thelma Ferry and Bonnie Rangel
Interpreters are required to render the message from the source language into the target language and convey the linguistic message by mastering intricacies such as cognitive flexibility, self-monitoring, reformulating and managing sensitive situations among others. As the interpreter provides professional linguistic assistance and demonstrates a high level of proficiency and knowledge of linguistic idioms and regional phrasing by accurately conveying the speaker’s meaning as well as the style or register of speech; the interpreter must also comply with the Code of Ethics and Personal Responsibilities.
This interactive seminar will review statutes, rules of law, and policies related to an interpreter’s professional responsibilities and ethical standing, while ensuring adherence to regulatory and judicial guidelines. We will examine the degree of trust placed on interpreters and the magnitude of this responsibility, which requires strict compliance to ethical standards. Based on cooperative learning concepts, training techniques and the analytical skills that interpreters use, we will review established standards and their applicability to complex cases discuss the dilemmas and the challenges that interpreters face. Vital updated information related to compliance to guidelines, comparative analysis and the required applicability to the Code of Ethics will be provided. Attendees will participate in exercises utilizing scripted material and will receive helpful handouts and glossaries.
NOTE-TAKING: SYMBOLS AND TIME-SAVING TECHNIQUES
(Language: English)
Instructor: Virginia Valencia
Consecutive interpretation demands a skill that no other mode requires: efficient note-taking. Relying only on memory can lead interpreters to leave out very important details. Good notes allow the interpreter to render longer messages with fewer interruptions and more precision. Interpreters can greatly improve their delivery in the consecutive mode by learning symbols and techniques and by using notes to support their listening skills.
The workshop consists of theoretical and practical activities. Gilles’ and Rozan’s techniques are presented to the participants one by one, the symbols are presented 5 at a time. After devoting 5-10 minutes to each theoretical presentation, 20 to 30 minutes are devoted to competitive games that put the theory into practice. Through fun, playful, and competitive experiences the participants become familiar with these techniques and symbols and begin the process of making their use automatic.
Educational Conference Sessions:
Saturday, May 15 & Sunday, May 16
DOJ UPDATE
(Language: English)
Instructor: Nancy McCloskey
This session will summarize recent DOJ Civil Rights Division/Coordination and Review Section (COR) enforcement of protections for limited English proficient (LEP) individuals, with a particular focus on federally-funded state court systems, as well as intra-agency coordination on LEP issues. Topics to be covered will include COR investigations of language access in courts, prisons and law enforcement, as well as enforcement activities and technical assistance projects for courts highlighting community-based agency and professional interpreter involvement. Also covered will be the recent activities of the Federal Interagency Working Group on Limited English Proficiency.
NATIONAL CODE OF ETHICS AND STANDARDS OF PRACTICE IN COMMUNITY INTERPRETING
(Language: English)
Instructors: Thelma Ferry and Bonnie Rangel
Ensuring equal access to services and adequate language proficiency as we transcend cultural barriers, this presentation will focus on the magnitude of the responsibility of the community interpreter, the degree of trust placed on interpreters and the challenges faced by the interpreters to include discussion of implication, applicability to the code of ethics to ensure compliance to community, local, state and federal laws. Participants will acquire an in-depth understanding regarding the dynamics of interpreting in different settings (i.e. health care, public service, social, judiciary, etc.) In addition, we will discuss the need to incorporate an effective training development program to include message retention techniques, note-taking, register and role shifting, consecutive interpreting, ethical decision making and awareness of cross-cultural differences in order to adequately develop community interpreting competence. A review of current standards which guide the practice of professional community interpreters will be conducted. The types and modes of interpreting and an assessment of cultural competence Attendees will participate role play and group exercises utilizing scripted material and hands-on electronic interpreting equipment.
DECISION LATITUDE IN LEGAL INTERPRETING: THE CONTRIBUTION OF RELATIONAL AUTONOMY
(Language: English)
Instructor: Anna Witter-Merithew and Dr. Leilani Johnson
Professional autonomy is the right-in fact the ethical responsibility-of members of the interpreting profession to act according to shared standards of the profession. Professional autonomy implies the right to exercise professional judgment in the face of pressures from institutional authorities, disagreement with members of the legal profession, or other demands. However, adhering to this paradigm is challenging. Our autonomy is in fact relational as a result of the very social structures upon which it depends for its existence-legislative mandates, system-based policies and procedures, and a unique bond to the language communities we serve.
These factors create unique and complex conditions impacting our decision latitude. On one hand we are afforded the standing of ‘officers of the court’, and yet we often find ourselves at the center of serious social injustices imposed on language minorities confronting the legal system. How are we to reconcile these factors?
This presentation will focus on a framework for ethical decision-making that views interpreting through the lens of relational autonomy and delineates the conditions that enhance or restrict decision latitude of legal interpreters, and the consequences of each. This framework will assist practitioners in discussing their work and decision-making in a manner that can be understood, appreciated and valued by those within the legal system, leading to increased respect and professional standing for interpreters and enhanced ethical decision-making.
PROPOSAL: A TRAINING PROGRAM FOR INTERPRETERS IN MEXICAN INDIAN LANGUAGES FOR THE U.S. COURT SYSTEM
(Language: English)
Instructor: Georgeanne Weller
The growing need for interpreters in the U.S. court system is well documented (Feuerle, Festinger, Mikkelson, Orrantia, Teleki & Varela, and Weller), but little progress has been made to date on implementing a training program aimed to solving the problem, which has become acute in several parts of the country.
The reasons are many fold: in addition to the "invisibility" or undocumented status of potential trainees, the word "lack of" or "insufficient" precedes the following nouns: funding, political will, a well-designed program, materials and facilities, trained trainers with the right language combination and others.
This paper outlines and discusses the content of a generic curriculum for a certificate program which can be adapted to any language combination between English and/or Spanish and selected Mexican Indian languages.
COURTROOM RUSSIAN: FROM LEGALESE TO RUGLISH
(Language: English, Russian)
Instructors: Jinny Bromberg and Irina Jesionowsky
Legalese is legalese is legalese regardless the language it is spoken in. Familiarity with formulaic language of courts and developing an arsenal of ready-to-use pat equivalents are among legal interpreters’ tricks of the trade. Such sources as the U.S. Penal Code and Federal Rules of Evidence along with the Penal Code of the Russian Federation, Procedural Code of the Russian Federation, texts of judicial decisions and court transcripts in both languages have proved to be invaluable to Russian court interpreters. Jinny Bromberg and Irina Jesionowski offer a comparative analysis of legal language used in U.S. and Russian courts: definitions of different types of crimes and various legal concepts, jury charge texts, opening and closing arguments, and commonly used expressions.
Another challenge of legal interpretation is dealing with a quirky language hybrid created by Russian-speaking immigrant community. How to interpret from Ruglish into English? Which equivalents are appropriate? How to preserve the register? The presenters will offer solutions to the linguistic puzzles they have encountered in their practice and invite Russian colleagues to share their experience in deciphering Ruglish.
TEAM INTERPRETING IN THE COURTROOM, THE CODE OF ETHICS, AND PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITIES
(Language: English)
Instructors: Thelma Ferry and Bonnie Rangel
This interactive seminar will review statutes, rules of law, and policies related to an interpreter’s professional responsibilities and ethical standing. Working in teams during trials and lengthy proceedings is recommended, allowing interpreters to provide effective communication, and to preserve the accuracy, quality, and uniformity of the interpreting task. Team interpreting prevents burnout and fatigue, while ensuring adherence to regulatory and judicial guidelines. This seminar will examine the degree of trust placed on interpreters and the magnitude of this responsibility, which requires strict compliance to ethical standards. Attendees will participate in live exercises utilizing scripted material and hands-on electronic interpreting equipment.
DEFINING SPECIALIST COMPETENCE AND BEST PRACTICES FOR AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS WORKING IN THE LEGAL SETTING
(Language: English)
Instructors: Anna Witter Merithew and Carla Mathers
A national project was undertaken to define the competencies and best practices of American Sign Language (ASL)-English interpreters working in the legal setting. The project was funded through federal grant funds. This presentation will focus on the process of 1) distinguishing generalist from specialist competence, 2) defining standard, best and effective practice of ASL interpreters in the legal setting, and 3) strategies for building consensus around both standards of competence and best practice within the field of ASL-English interpreter practitioners and educators. The lessons learned from this national project are widely applicable to both sign and spoken language interpreters and educators. Of particular interest are the findings from a series of focus groups and a national survey that indicate disconnect between what practitioners believe is best practice and what they actually apply in their day-to-day work. The factors impacting this disconnect include philosophical perspectives on decision latitude of interpreters, system constraints, and a lack of mastery of specific competencies. The implications of these findings for both practice and education of interpreters to work in the legal setting will be discussed.
THE "BUSINESS" OF INTERPRETING AND TRANSLATING
(Language: English)
Instructor: Rob Cruz
This session will discuss how to develop an "owner’s perspective" toward your language services business, and how basic small-business concepts relate to the field of translation and interpreting. This will include the need for and the ways to create legal entities to organize your business such as sub-chapter S corporations, LLC’s, etc. as well as other strategies to successfully run an interpreter or translation business.
Freelance translators and interpreters need to start thinking of themselves as business owners as well as professional language service providers. Many times, however, translators and interpreters only consider themselves business owners when they operate an agency or employ other individuals. As a result, freelancers can find themselves in a competitive business environment without having learned the proper mindset to be as successful as possible. As you will learn from this session, thinking like a business owner requires skills that are quite separate from those necessary to translate or interpret.
ADVOCACY/GOVERNMENT AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS UPDATE
(Language: English)
Speakers: John Estill and Isabel Framer
Join the chairs of the Advocacy Committee and the Community and Government Relations Committee to discuss the advocacy activities of last year, and the plans for the future.
QUALITY IN TRANSLATION: WHAT DOES IT MEAN AND HOW DO WE GET THERE?
(Language: English)
Instructor: Alejandra Franks
Translation providers constantly strive to deliver products of quality to their clients. Clients, as well, expect and demand that from them. Translation providers deliver products of quality not only to meet client requirements and assure they will retain their services again, but also to attend to other important issues (reputation, commitment to society, legal and financial implications, etc.) This is indeed such an important aspect of translation; it must be given special attention. What does quality in translation mean and how do we get there? First of all, there are basic quality standards that should be met in every translation product. Therefore, there should be a separate step to address quality in the translation process and, when possible, two separate individuals to perform translation and quality tasks. Additionally, there are many tools that range from CAT or TenT to style guides and checklists that help achieve this goal. Finally, quality is an ongoing process that starts from the first contact between translation provider and client, it continues to when the product is delivered and should end with a follow-up to measure satisfaction and obtain feedback. Even when time constraints or the availability of linguists are an issue, certain techniques can be used to assure the best quality product is delivered. Independently of where you stand in the process, quality should be looked at as a goal that can only be achieved when a team effort is made.
LEGAL TRANSLATION-A SCIENCE AND AN ART-RESEARCH, IMAGINATION, AND TEXTUAL INTERPRETATION
(Language: English)
Instructor: Alexander Rainof
Legal translation is both a science and an art. The method of the presentation shall be inductive. Starting with legal texts in English and Spanish representative of specific translation problems (Enumeration of almost synonymous terms separated only by shades of meaning, terms that might and might not be cognates, choice of equivalents based on the internal evidence of the text, visualization of abstract language as concrete situations, etc.). A methodology for dealing with syntactically complex legal texts, based on textual analysis techniques, will be outlined, as well as fundamental references resources and their step by step use in reaching a final version in the target language.
BI-CULTURAL COMPETENCE AND THE COURT INTERPRETER: IS THERE A PLACE FOR CULTURAL BROKERAGE?
(Language: English)
Instructors: Bethany Korp Edwards and Michael Kagan
Court interpreters serve as the Court’s expert in matters of language. But in order to perform the language function at the highest level, they must also become experts in culture … not only the cultures of those who speak the interpreter’s non-English language, but also the many cultures that speak English: national, regional, ethnic, religious, and socio-economic, among others. We will first discuss how to become culturally competent in the cultures of both of an interpreter’s working languages, and then move on to the question: Now that we have this knowledge, how do we apply it to our work? How does cultural competence inform our interpretations? Can we, and should we, ever serve as experts in cultural issues as well as linguistic ones? Is there any room in a court interpreter’s ethical standards and best practices for cultural brokerage, either in or outside the courtroom? If our first duty is to the message, can a message be completely and accurately transmitted when the parties involved do not understand each other’s culture, and what responsibility, if any, does the court interpreter have to convey culture along with words?
LESSONS FROM THE FIELD: TIPS ON WORKING WITH ATTORNEYS AND ADDRESSING VICARIOUS TRAUMA BASED ON FOCUS GROUP WITH INTERPRETERS
(Language: English)
Instructor: Purvi Shah
The aim of this session will be to share information culled from focus groups with interpreters, including one conducted at the 2009 NAJIT conference. In particular, the session will focus on providing information related to addressing vicarious trauma as well as go through a tip sheet developed from the interpreter focus groups on how attorneys can best work with interpreters to serve their clients effectively. This presentation will build on the groundbreaking research I have conducted on interpretation, domestic violence, and developing best practices for the court systems across the United States. The goal of this session is to provide an opportunity for interpreters to hear the concerns and ideas of their colleagues and to brainstorm new directions for the field as well as their own particular careers.
The session will include handouts, time for discussion, and an opportunity to develop next steps. This session is designed to enable interpreters to see their work in a larger context and provide valuable time for reflection on how to enhance their efficacy.
BEST INTERPRETING PRACTICES/ BUREAU SOURCING CRITERIA
(Language: English)
Instructor: Maria Cristina de la Vega
This is a relevant topic that should be of primary interest not only to practitioners but also to the agencies that hire them. My basic premise is that to be successful, a professional interpreter must embody three qualities: experience/knowledge, a good and flexible attitude as well as a firm code of ethics. In order to implement same an interpreter must have both goals and a system in place to achieve them.
The cited qualities are the three legs of the stool. Each is as important as the other two because you can be the most pedantic storehouse of knowledge and not have the requisite people skills to get along with your co-workers, employers/audience. Likewise, if those you interact with do not perceive you to have the moral integrity to treat them fairly, the other two attributes alone will not allow you to be successful.
Experience is easily quantifiable employing specific verbal tests that incorporate the type of language/subject matter in question for the position to be filled. (Samples will be provided) Applicable certifications and references from colleagues are also considered. Time permitting, there will be a brief online demonstration on how to conduct research on the internet and to build a glossary to prepare for specific assignments. A handout on sites that can be employed to aid in the research as well as recommendations of dictionaries, will be supplied. Reference will be made to internships as a tool to gain experience.
The attitude and ethics pieces are gleaned from a behavioral interview structured to prompt probable outcomes when faced with certain situations and geared to elicit how past experiences were dealt with and how they have affected and hopefully improved present practices. (Samples will be provided). Specific mention will be made as to stress management, timeliness, flexibility and camaraderie, linking them as well as the knowledge piece, to membership in professional associations and internships as valuable resources.
The goal is to standout as individuals and collective organizations and to raise the bar for the whole industry to gain the professional recognition it deserves.
INTERPRETER SERVICES IN CALIFORNIA: STATE OF THE PROFESSION
(Language: English)
Instructor: Mary Lou Aranguren
This presentation will provide a status report of the profession in California as it has developed over the past seven years, since the implementation of the Trial Court Interpreter Employment and Labor Relations Act. An overview of the profession today in California, the presentation will cover supply and demand for interpreters in the court system, the languages subject to certification, the numbers of employees and contractors, and the structure of the employment system and collective bargaining. The presenter will describe the general conditions of employment, including pay, benefits, working conditions, and the types of employment positions available.
Specific contract provisions will be discussed, including how they assist interpreters in maintaining standards will be discussed and the limitations encountered in trying to address professional issues such as team interpreting. We’ll look at current issues facing the profession in California, including a Judicial Council review and possible redesign of the certification exams, and the push by legislators to expand services into the civil sector.
Ample time will be provided for questions and discussion.
WORKSHOP ON MEANING DISCRIMINATION IN BILINGUAL SPANISH-ENGLISH LEGAL DICTIONARIES AND THEIR APPROPRIATE SELECTION FOR ACCURATE TRANSLATIONS
(Language: English, Spanish)
Instructor: Michael D. Powers
This session is designed to objectively rate some of the thirty bilingual Spanish-English legal dictionaries according to their treatment of polysemy on the most highly differentiated terms in meaning discrimination pursuant to the latest edition of the Black monolingual English legal dictionary.
Whether the word is "suretyship" or a different word within the concept of bonding, or criminal law, or a different aspect of law, the 20 most poly-semantic terms are analyzed as to their coverage in some representative Spanish-English bilingual legal dictionaries in the English-Spanish direction to rate these different dictionaries.
In addition to this rank ordering of bilingual Spanish-English legal dictionaries in the English-Spanish direction, suggestions will be made for similar research in specific domains of law, such as criminal, patents, etc.
RELAXATION TECHNIQUES
(Language: English)
Instructor: Augustin de la Mora
TTaking a test is a nerve-wracking experience; but for some of us, the stress becomes so intense that it affects our performance. This presentation focuses on how to implement a self-study program that includes relaxation exercises as part of the training. Attendees will be invited to participate in a guided relaxation exercise. Suggestopedia and other learning techniques will be discussed.
Note: Due to the nature of this presentation, the group cannot be interrupted during the session. If you are planning to participate, please be there on time. Once the doors are closed, no one will be admitted entry.
A NEW BEGINNING TO AN OLD PROBLEM: MAKING LANGUAGE PART OF THE SOLUTION RATHER THAN PART OF THE PROBLEM
(Language: English)
Moderator: Isabel Framer
Over the last decade, great strides have been made by the courts, law enforcement, emergency response organizations and other service providers in recognizing and addressing the needs of linguistic minorities. However, as is the case of the art of interpreting itself, language assistance planning is a dynamic process. For this reason, as the demographics and specific needs of linguistic communities change over time, so must the strategies and policies necessary to address those needs. Otherwise, the language resources you desperately need may well be different than the language resources you have planned for.
In this panel, led by Isabel Framer, representatives from the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, the National Virtual Translation Center, the judiciary, the American Red Cross and the legal profession will share past experiences and current strategies on addressing tomorrow’s language needs today.
RECORDINGS, TRANSCRIPTS AND TRANSLATIONS AS EVIDENCE: A LAWYER’S PERSPECTIVE
(Language: English)
Instructor: Cliff Fishman
This presentation covers authentication of recordings and transcripts, and all the issues that are likely to arise when a translation and transcript of a non-English conversation is offerd into evidence, including how to deal with unreasonable expectations from the client; what a transcript/translation should, and should not, include; and how to prepare for direct and cross-examination. The presentation works best as an ongoing dialogue between Prof. Fishman and his audience, so please feel free to ask questions!
MARKETING YOUR INTERPRETATION AND TRANSLATION SERVICES
(Language: English)
Instructor: Rebecca Rubenstein
This presentation will discuss how to best market interpreting and translating skills. It will emphasize that the accuracy and quality of the work produced and the professionalism of the interpreter/translator is the best marketing tool. Word of mouth can propel them to success or sink them. Lawyers prefer referrals from other lawyers as a means of vetting their interpreters/translators. Interpreters must be punctual and never ever leave a client hanging. They must always observe their code of ethics, stay abreast of current trends in technology by maintaining memberships in the most respected professional organizations. One severe lapse in any of these areas will cost them their reputation forever. Marketing is designed to find clients and the interpreter/translator must do this by identifying what they do, who they are, and how they can be reached. The presentation will go into several methods for achieving these goals. The presenter will use a Power Point presentation as well as Internet web sites to demonstrate effective and ineffective online advertising. Also, there will be samples of different types of business cards and letters of introduction. We will also discuss dos and don’ts of dressing for an interpreting job, and being prepared when you get there, because you never get a second chance to make a first impression.
"CAN YOU HELP ME GET MY CLIENT TO PLEAD GUILTY?": ISSUES AND STRATEGIES FOR THE DEFENSE INTERPRETER
(Language: English)
Instructor: David Henner
There are significant differences between the roles of the court interpreter and the legal interpreter working on behalf of the defense. The presentation strives to define those differences both from a technical and ethical point of view and to suggest corresponding strategies for the defense interpreter. The presentation will be followed by open discussion and a forum for problem solving of defense interpreter issues.
BREAKING BARRIERS: CHALLENGES FOR RARE LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS
(Language: English)
Instructors: Ana Maria Varela Gill and Virginia Wilkins
This presentation focuses on the growing need for rare language interpreters and highlights stories ripped from national headlines including: "Concord child abduction hearing halted to wait for Mayan interpreter"… "Language Barrier Slows Rapes & Kidnapping Case"…. "Can a Mother Lose Her Child Because She Doesn’t Speak English?" As the need for rare language interpreters becomes more vital for everyday court proceedings the need to locate interpreters for these cases has become an urgent issue nationwide. Depending on rarity of the language request courts are facing extraordinary pressure to locate a qualified interpreter in a timely manner. Support and training have become essential tools to be able to provide qualified rare language interpreters.
The change in demographics in the United States has led to a unique challenge of recruiting qualified interpreters in a growing number of languages. Lack of experienced interpreters has led to the need for innovative solutions such as relay interpretation. This presentation will include snippets from rare language interpreters across the country. Learn about the day-to-day challenges and triumphs of rare language interpreters in the courtroom. Open dialogue will allow attendees to discuss ways of effectively working with rare language interpreters and how providers deal with training and support issues. The presenters are members of a team that successfully fills over 100,000 assignments in over 235 languages annually including indigenous languages from around the world and rare sign languages.
MEMORY DEVELOPING TRICKS FOR CONSECUTIVE INTERPRETING
(Language: English)
Instructor: Virginia Valencia
Consecutive interpreting demands at least the three following skills: listening, note-taking, and/or memory. In this mode of interpretation we must intently listen to the message and then "record" it, so we can deliver it when given our turn. There are two ways to "record" the message: either in our memory, or by taking notes (which can only be read with the help of our memory). Evidently, our memory is crucial in both approaches, so it is of the utmost importance that we develop it as much as possible. This workshop focuses on techniques to aid our memory. Memory can be improved in many effective ways, two of them being visualization techniques and phonic imitation (imitating the "Sing-Song" of the original message). This workshop presents and applies these two techniques and equips participants with memory exercises and simple "tricks" to improve their daily professional practice.
TRANSFORMING THE WAY WE COMMUNICATE: EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION SKILLS TO PREVENT AND SOLVE CONFLICTS
(Language: English)
Instructor: Alejandra Sosa Siroka
Has an attorney who supposedly speaks your language disagreed with your rendition? How did you respond? Were you able to respect the disagreement and maintain your trust in your own expertise? Have you ever been in a situation where a client’s expectations were shaped by their negative experience with another interpreter? Were you able to acknowledge their concerns while keeping your professional integrity intact? Are you satisfied with how agencies, clients and courts prepare you for your assignments? If not, how do you communicate with them? As communication professionals we are constantly interpreting other people’s messages, but are we sure how to convey our own? In this workshop you will be introduced to techniques based on the Non-Violent Communication model developed by Dr. Marshall Rosenberg, PhD which are used throughout the world to prevent and resolve conflicts. By emphasizing clear and compassionate dialogue, this approach to communicating with others will enhance your interpreting skills and give you tools to build and maintain strong professional relationships. The workshop will be presented in English.
AOUSC UPDATE
(Language: English)
Instructors: Javier Soler and Bob Faurot
Representatives from the Administrative Office of the US Courts will give an update on the latest news and initiatives, and will take questions from attendees.
TRANSLATING MEXICAN CERTIFICADOS AND ACTAS DE DEFUNCIÓN
(Language: English, Spanish) Instructor: Rogelio Camacho
In this fast paced presentation, participants will work with approximately 200 Spanish words and phrases taken from official documents. Bring an extra pluma.
LEGAL DOCUMENT AND SIGHT TRANSLATION
(Language: English)
Instructor: Mike McMillion
Information will presented for a general audience regarding Sight Translation Theory and Concepts with comments toward legal documents. Instructor will comment in particular on the following issues:
1. Standardization in document handling by interpreters
2. Instances of use of expansion techniques
3. Issues that influence comprehension (interpreter and consumer)
4. Respect for Consumer level of participation in the process
5. (as time permits) Basic comparison of Interpreters process with Kohlberg’s Moral Stages of Development
6. Theory embedded in an interpreter’s professional Code of Conduct
ONLINE TEACHER TRAINING IN TRANSLATING AND INTERPRETING PEDAGOGY AND PRACTICE
(Language: English)
Instructors: Paul Gatto and Roseann Dueñas González
Latinos are the fastest growing population in the United States but show some of the poorest academic performance largely as a result of an academic culture that has failed to recognize the value of their linguistic and cultural capital. At the same time, the need for professionals with advanced bilingual skills is rapidly increasing in all public and private institutions, particularly in high-stakes areas such as courts, education, and health care.
This presentation will discuss the University of Arizona’s newest project, Preparación Online. This project is designed to aid Latino students in succeeding in high school and postsecondary education. This innovative project is developing an online teacher in-service for translation and interpretation pedagogy, and will provide specialized translation and interpretation curriculum units to high school teachers nationally, with the goal of improving Latino students’ academic performance and engagement, making them more college ready and positioning them to pursue careers in professional language service. The project, its empirical support, and its theoretical foundations will be discussed.
In addition, the structure of the training will be presented with an eye towards its adaptation for use in online training professional interpreters.
ARE WE "COURT INTERPRETERS", "JUDICIARY INTERPRETERS", "COMMUNITY INTERPRETERS"?
ALL OF THE ABOVE? SOME OF THE ABOVE? IS THERE A BETTER NAME FOR OUR PROFESSION
(Language: English)
Instructor: Virginia Benmaman
The broad umbrella that bears the name "community interpreting" covers a variety of settings, including those in which interpreters are needed in matters of legal import for both provider and receiver of such services. Ambiguity and confusion exist with regard to the expected competencies, roles, tasks, and even to the official title given to this category of interpreters. This session will present some of the differences and similarities between interpreting in a trial court and in other legal settings, and offer a broader definition and possible title that more accurately defines who we are. Comments and suggestions from the participants in this session are encouraged.
PANEL DISCUSSION ON THE EMERGING ROLE OF THE INTERPRETER/INVESTIGATOR
(Language: English)
Instructors: Lupe Caballero and Kailey Moran
Judiciary Interpreting is a compendium of language professionals that work in the many different settings of the American legal landscape. Court interpreters, police interpreters, and freelance interpreters are some of the titles that work under the umbrella of Judiciary Interpreting. A smaller group of language professionals are interpreters/investigators. The Federal Defenders Office is the employer of a significant number of interpreter/investigators and we suspect other public defender offices are increasingly procuring the services of language professionals for these dual roles. This emerging model merits detailed analysis. In our presentation we would like to address methodology, techniques, code of ethics, philosophy, etc that are unique to the interpreter/investigator. As part of the presentation, the panel would be comprised of an Assistant Federal Defender, an Investigator, an Interpreter and an Interpreter/Investigator and a Judicial Interpreter to round out the panel. The panel would discuss team approaches to litigation with non-English speaking clients and the dual role an Interpreter/Investigator serves in such a setting as more than a "mouthpiece". We believe this is important information we would like to share with colleagues who work in other settings and also to inform those who may consider working as an interpreter/investigator in the future.
LANGUAGE DICTIONARIES ON THE iPHONE/iPOD TOUCH
(Language: English)
Moderator: John Estill
A previous session (at the Scottsdale conference) examined the use of portable dictionaries on the Palm platform and on the BlackBerry. This session will look at the iPhone / iPod Touch and at the Amazon Kindle.
The Conference will be at the
Rosen Centre Hotel
9840 International Drive
Orlando, Florida 32819
Conference Room Rates:
Single: $159
Double: $159
Triple: $179
Quadruple: $199
For reservations call: (800) 204-7234
and mention NAJIT when you book your room
Visit http://najitroomshare.blogspot.com/ to find the perfect roommate
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