Content Outline and Competencies:

I. Roles and Responsibilities of Bilingual Interpreters

A. Name and define the major modes of interpreting and translating.

B. Identify and describe major interpreting settings and describe the role and responsibilities of the interpreter in each.

C. Choose the most appropriate interpreting mode for each situation.

D. List the skills and core competencies required of interpreters.

E. Identify the constituent parts of an interpreting session and describe the functions and responsibilities of the interpreter in each.

F. Explain the need for accuracy, completeness and contextual correctness in interpreting.

G. Define and explain the converter, conduit, clarifier, listener, intervener, advocate and mediator functions of interpreters.

H. Identify legal issues, responsibilities and liabilities in interpreting.

II. Ethical Issues Confronting Interpreters

A. Describe ethical issues and obligations surrounding confidentiality and the need to treat all information learned while interpreting as confidential.

B. Explain the importance of maintaining impartiality and refraining from counseling, advising or projecting personal biases or beliefs.

C. Explain commitment to respecting the client’s privacy in all matters relating to the interpreting situation.

D. Explain commitment to maintaining professional distance and refraining from inappropriate relationships with clients.

E. Explain issues of professional integrity and apply them to a variety of workplace scenarios.

F. Develop strategies to deal with issues of discrimination that may arise.

G. Develop techniques to promote mutually respectful interactions among all parties in interpreting relationships.

H. Apply ethical analysis and decision-making when faced with ethical dilemmas and conflicts.

III. Business and Professional Standards of Practice to Be Followed by Interpreters

A. List employment opportunities and job market trends in interpreting.

B. Describe financial costs, business practices and scheduling issues related to freelance interpreting.

C. Apply effective workplace competencies, including time management, record keeping, reporting, accountability and teamwork.

D. Define and discuss field liabilities (eg. injury, burnout, economic risks).

E. Identify uses of computer-related technology in interpreting.

F. Explain the need for continuing education and ongoing professional development in interpreting.

G. Discuss the value and uses of professional portfolios to interpreters.

IV. Cultural Diversity and Cultural Competence in Interpreting Situations

A. Explain broad issues of cross-cultural communication and issues of cultural diversity.

B. Define and discuss the role of culture in interpreting and explain how it impacts the work of interpreters.

C. Recognize the interpreter's own culture and his/her own culturally based assumptions and beliefs.

D. Identify and explain the effects of race, gender and social class on communication in order to comprehend the interaction of language and culture.

E. Describe basic characteristics of Latino/Hispanic and other ethnic cultures.

F. Discuss the concepts of acculturation and culture shock.

G. Explain the role of the interpreter as culture broker.

H. Explain the role of the interpreter as cultural teacher and clarifier.

I. Identify and resolve culturally based communication obstacles in interpreting situations.

V. Basic Concepts of Linguistics

A. Explain the differences between standard languages, regional dialects and accents, and how perception of such variations influences interaction.

B. Display adequate command of interpretation-related vocabulary, terminology and field jargon by compiling a bilingual glossary of terms.

C. Identify common interpreter errors, including code switching, false cognates and inappropriate word substitution.

D. Utilize correct diction, grammar and syntax consistently when interpreting.

E. Apply basic concepts of phonetics to interpreting.

Content Outline and Competencies:

I. Sight Translations Between English and Spanish of Non-Technical Written Texts

A. Define sight translation (translation of a written document into spoken language) and discuss its value and uses.

B. Use skimming, scanning and reading ahead to sight translate texts from English to Spanish and vice versa with little or no prior preparation.

C. Correctly sight translate non-technical written forms, lists and instructions from English into written and oral Spanish and vice versa.

II. Listening and Memory-Retention Skills

A. Employ techniques of paraphrasing, restatement and summarization to spoken messages to improve listening.

B. Use repetition, visualization, association and mnemonics to improve memory.

C. Employ techniques of attentiveness and concentration to shut out distractions and focus full attention on the message to be interpreted.

D. Employ concepts of contextual listening to improve accuracy of interpreting.

III. Consecutive Interpreting Between English and Spanish in Typical Interpreting Settings

A. Define consecutive interpreting, explaining when and why it is used in interpreting.

B. Define and explain concepts of content, context, affect, register and style in interpreting.

C. Generate linguistically and semantically equivalent messages in the target language that are structurally, contextually and stylistically consistent.

D. Perform monolateral (non-interactive) consecutive interpretation in a mock presentation or speech setting.

E. Perform bilateral (interactive) consecutive interpretation in a mock discussion, conference or negotiation setting.

IV. Communication Strategies to Enhance Interpreting Accuracy

A.  Apply key aspects of communication theory and interpersonal communication, including verbal and non-verbal factors, feedback, perceptions and culture.

B. Utilize appropriate public speaking skills while interpreting, with special attention to vocal characteristics of fluency and inflection.

C. Demonstrate abstracting skills by filtering irrelevant details while summarizing the main ideas of a spoken message.

D. Demonstrate note-taking skills by employing verticalization, finger counting, abbreviations and symbols to record a spoken message.

E. Employ effective feedback-seeking and clarification strategies in interpreting.

V. Organization and Intervention Techniques to Enhance the Success of Interpreting Sessions

A. Describe how to “set the stage” for interpreting in a manner that will put participants at ease and encourage accurate communication.

B. Effectively facilitate the flow of communication in interpreting settings.

C. Appropriately manage the triadic relationship in interpreting interviews.

D. Employ mediation and problem-solving strategies for conflict management during interpreting sessions.

E. Apply effective intervention methods to enhance understanding in interpreting sessions.

F. Utilize effective closure techniques in interpreting situations.

Content Outline and Competencies:

I. Prerequisite Skills Related to Simultaneous Interpreting

A. Exhibit shadowing skills in Spanish and English by repeating verbatim what is heard in the same language.

B. Exhibit paraphrasing skills by rendering the meaning of an oral message presented in Spanish or English into either language using words other than those used in the original message.

C. Demonstrate adequate dual-task performance (e.g., reciting a well-known poem or song while writing numbers backward or forward at the same time).

D. Exhibit proficient lagging skills by repeating messages while maintaining a time interval between each utterance.

II. Simultaneous Interpretation

A. Explain when and why simultaneous interpretation is used.

B. Simultaneously convert oral Spanish and English messages into oral messages accurately and rapidly in the other language.

C. Choose fewer-syllable synonyms to catch up with the speaker during the interpretation performance.

D. Display adequate décalage (time lag) skills.

E. Demonstrate proficiency in use of queuing during peak information situations.

F. Listen attentively to his/her interpreting and make simultaneous corrections as needed.

G. Adjust delivery rate as needed, enunciate clearly, speak fluently and use appropriate vocal expression.

H. Generate grammatically and syntactically correct messages in the target language while maintaining the style and register of the original spoken message.

III. Translation

A. Describe the core skills and competencies required of a good translator.

B. Define key translation concepts, including those related to language, destination, text and equivalency.

C. Explain and apply the four steps in the translation process (text analysis, documentation, actual translation, revision).

D. Apply rules governing the translation of proper names.

E. Compare punctuation in both the source language and the target language and use correct punctuation in translating text.

F. Identify potential meaning, structure and culture-related problems in written texts and apply the general principles of translation to solve them.

G. Demonstrate oblique and direct translation techniques and discuss the uses, value and limitations of each.

H. Describe and utilize computer-assisted translation tools and computer resources to assist in translation.

I. Translate non-technical written documents such as forms, labels, instructions and questionnaires into the target language.

IV. Professional Portfolio of Self-Assessment and Professional Goals

A. Develop a comprehensive portfolio of training, job experiences and professional activities related to interpreting.

B. Prepare a written self-assessment of professional skills, knowledge and limitations as an interpreter.

C. Create a plan for professional growth that builds on the self-assessment.

V. Proficiency in Major Components of Interpreting

A. Perform sight translation from English to Spanish and vice versa with at least 85% accuracy.

B. Perform consecutive interpreting from English to Spanish and vice versa with at least 85% accuracy.

C. Perform simultaneous interpreting from English to Spanish and vice versa with at least 85% accuracy.

D. Perform written translation from English to Spanish and vice versa with at least 85% accuracy.

E. Demonstrate adequate proficiency in conflict management, cultural competence, professional ethics and standards of practice.

Content Outline and Competencies:

I. Roles and Responsibilities of Interpreters in the Healthcare System

A. Identify the major components of the American healthcare system.

B. Define the role and responsibilities of the interpreter in healthcare settings, including pre-encounter, during the encounter and post-encounter protocols.

C. List the skills and core competencies required of healthcare interpreters.

D. Apply issues of ethics and confidentiality to healthcare interpreting situations; discuss the interpreter’s code of ethics as applied to medical interpreting.

E. List the legal rights of patients and the legal obligations of interpreters in healthcare settings.

F. Describe the “incremental intervention” model and explain its application in medical interpreting.

G. Describe the appropriate doctor-interpreter and interpreter-patient relationship in interpreting settings.

H. Explain legal issues, responsibilities and liabilities in medical interpreting.

II. Cultural Competence in Medical Interpreting Situations

A. Explain the biomedical culture in the United States, highlighting similarities and differences between the biomedical culture and the student’s own culture.

B. Identify traditional healthcare issues, practices and beliefs of Hispanic/Latino communities and discuss their implications for medical decision making.

C. Identify and discuss strategies to sensitize healthcare providers to issues of cultural diversity and the impact of culture, poverty and discrimination on medical decision making.

D. Identify and resolve communication stumbling blocks with patients from other cultures.

E. Identify culturally sensitive strategies and approaches for working with diverse cultures.

F. Negotiate culturally effective and appropriate care plans.

III. Spanish Medical Terminology

A. Render into the target language Spanish or English equivalents of anatomical-related terms.

B. Employ in the target language Spanish or English equivalents of physiological and pathological-related terms.

C. Employ in the target language Spanish or English equivalents of diagnostic methods and treatment-related terms.

D. Render into the target language Spanish or English language equivalents of names of symptoms, illnesses and medications.

E. Name and describe common tools and items of equipment found in healthcare settings in Spanish and English.

F. Employ appropriate vocabulary of Spanish and English terms related to common healthcare situations.

IV. Interpreting in a Mental Health Setting

A. Identify basic concepts of mental health and list the major classifications of mental illness.

B. List typical mental health evaluation procedures.

C. Identify basic signs, symptoms and treatment options of mental illness, applying the correct names of common mental illnesses.

D. List the major medications used in the treatment of mental illness.

E. Explain the role of the interpreter in mental health settings.

F. Describe settings and procedures for mental health interpreting, with special attention to specific concerns and cautions surrounding mental health interpreting.

G. Define basic terms used in the mental health profession.

V.  Mock Medical Settings

A. Sight-translate from English into Spanish commonly used medical forms, waivers, reports, doses and manner of administration of medication.

B. Perform accurate consecutive and simultaneous interpreting in a mock medical setting by serving as the medium of communication between the physician and the non-English-speaking patient during medical examinations, health sessions and psychiatric/mental evaluations.

C. Produce accurate written translations of basic medical documents, including surveys and questionnaires, medical histories, medicine-related instructions and labels and other texts requiring special care or awareness.

Content Outline and Competencies:

I. Interpreting Skills

A. Attend assigned field practicum sites and participate actively in interpreting and translating.

B. Practice effective workplace competencies, including time management, record keeping, accountability, teamwork and maintaining professional distance.

C. Attend to patient problems and concerns.

D. Participate in feedback sessions with supervising interpreter at the conclusion of each interpreting session.

E. Prepare and submit written summaries regarding the interpreting process, techniques, standards of practice and professional ethics following each session.

II. Interpreter's Environment

A. Discuss practicum observations and experiences, including issues concerning interpreting problems, cultural influences, ethics, standards of practice and the professional environment.

B. Ask questions about unsure interpreting practices.

C. Discuss and develop a personalized plan for future observation or interpreting sessions.

III. Develop a Personal Philosophy of Interpreting as a Profession.

A. Prepare and submit a written philosophy statement.

B. Participate in a class discussion of interpreting philosophies, values and ethics.