TIFR501– Introduction to Interpretation ( general )

The course introduces students to conference interpretation in general and consecutive interpretation in particular. Lays a foundation for the development of professional skills in consecutive interpretation, emphasizing the ability to understand and analyze a message in the source language (SL) and convey it in the target language (TL) in a straightforward and clear manner. The course develops students’ ability to identify, analyze and paraphrase the meaning in the SL and establish logical relations between its components. Its emphasis is placed on active listening and concentration skills, memory, the ability to abstract information for subsequent recall, and the development of a personal system of note-taking that supports these skills. Additional modes of interpretation are introduced at the end of the first semester.

In language-specific sessions and joint sessions with other language programs, students are introduced to the skill of consecutive interpreting in both theory and practice. They practice listening to and repeating the content of passages of increasing length and difficulty. Students practice their public-speaking skills by developing and delivering speeches.

Content is interpreted on topics from daily life, current events and the media, and general areas of personal interest to students. Course assignments include readings and research on class topics, presentations, practice, graded exercises and peer and self-assessment.

At the end of the course, students are able to interpret extemporaneous passages that are on topics familiar to them and are between three and five minutes in length.

Course prerequisites: Admission to the GSTILE degree program.

Introduction, French to English

Consecutive interpretation consists of three moments: listening, writing and delivery. In the first semester course, primary emphasis will be placed on the development of active listening and concentration skills. Towards the middle of the first semester and throughout the second semester note-taking techniques will be introduced and practiced. Good delivery is the natural result of proper listening, concentration and note-taking techniques. Once students have grasped the "method" of consecutive, they usually only require a bit of polishing in the area of delivery. Thus, delivery will not be emphasized until later in the program.

It is sometimes said that one can tell a good interpreter by their consecutive. Although many professionals may not necessarily agree with this view, most concur that consecutive lays the foundation for simultaneous. Indeed, as consecutive is slower than simultaneous, it provides the perfect opportunity to learn the necessary concentration, analytical and active listening skills to be a good interpreter. Thus, most exercises will be geared towards the development of these skills. Note-taking will be introduced once students have demonstrated that they have grasped the principals of active listening.

I. Course objectives

The primary objective of this course is to introduce students to interpretation in general, and to consecutive more particularly. Students will become aware of some of the ethical issues in the field as well as different schools of thought regarding the teaching and practice of interpretation.

As to consecutive in particular, the primary objective is to teach students how to listen, how to concentrate and thus remember simple speeches of up to three or four minutes without ever focusing on "memory." Once this goal is achieved, students will be ready to start learning note-taking techniques. Other objectives include: learning about one's own memory and concentration skills, understanding how one listens and learns; application of this self-knowledge to develop the skill of active listening; development of effective practice sessions.

II. Basic Skills and Active Listening

How to practice (oralization, brainstorming, preparing the topic, practice-group organization)

Study skills

Listening to understand

Developing the habit of critical thinking

Getting the big picture (the outline, working backwards, working back to main idea from a detail)

Anticipation

Learning about one's thinking, listening and memory patterns

Visualization

Tone of the speech

Categorizing types of speeches in terms of discourse

III. Note-taking

Drawing

Symbols

Diagonalization

Linear dynamics technique

Grammatical analysis and Subject/Verb/Object technique

IV. Public Speaking Skills and Presentation

Professionalism

Transparency

Convincing the audience

Maintaining attention

“Oralization”

V. Materials and Organization

Students will be asked to give presentations with a view to improving language level, public speaking skills, and to obtain an overview of some of the basic patterns of speeches in this language combination. These presentations will serve as material for interpretation. In this first semester, more emphasis will be placed on type or category of speech (i.e., informative, visual, descriptive, emotional...) and the interpreting process rather than on subject content (i.e. international organizations, U.S. institutions, etc.). The in-class presentations will be recorded and posted to the class site on Moodle. Students are expected to use those recording so reinforce work done in class and otherwise practice and strengthen their sills. Content will be stressed in the second semester.

Students must organize practice groups and practice on a regular basis.

Background reading on Interpretation will also be required.

At least one joint session will be held with another class or language division.

This is a practicum by nature. Those not actually interpreting in front of the class will have follow attentively as if they too were interpreting. Students do not need laptops to practice in class. In fact, they distract from the concentration and active language skills this course seeks to develop, and their use will be allowed only with the instructor’s permission.

• Teacher: Joe Harvin