THE TEAM APPROACH TO SPECIALIST TRAINING IN PUBLIC SERVICE INTERPRETING AND TRANSLATING AT HERIOT-WATT UNIVERSITY

1
THE TEAM APPROACH TO SPECIALIST TRAINING IN
PUBLIC SERVICE INTERPRETING AND TRANSLATING AT
HERIOT-WATT UNIVERSITY
Isabelle Perez Christine Wilson

• Department of Languages Intercultural Studies
  (LINCS)
• Centre for Translation Interpreting Studies in
  Scotland (CTISS)

2
RATIONALE

• Postgraduate provision
• Legislation and policies
• Market demand

3

• Liaison interpreting is a profession where, like
  medicine, teaching and the law, the clients
  welfare is usually affected directly. This is not
  only because most liaison interpreting takes
  place in the context of other professions such as
  medicine, teaching and the law, but also because
  interpreting has its own particular kinds of
  knowledge, skills and practices which require
  particular ethical considerations.
• Gentile et al, 1996

4
Course Structure and Theoretical Underpinning

• Core provision (Translation)
• Dedicated modules (Interpreting)
• Practical activities
• Theory (Ethics)

5
METHODOLOGY - DELIVERY

• Interactive lectures
• In-house simulations inc Mock Trial
• Interactive seminars led by PS professionals
• Input on procedures
• Field visits
• Applied practice

6
TEAM APPROACH

• Internal work across language groups, self and
  peer assessment, students as users
• External PS professionals as real users,
  debriefing sessions involving all participants

7
ADVANTAGES

• Students  believe  it,
• they are able to challenge and discuss
• but there is still a role for the tutor
• and the PS professional feeds good practice
  back into their profession

8
RESULTS AND FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS

• Enhancing employability
• Widening access
• VLE Distance Learning

9
CONTACT

• I.A.Perez_at_hw.ac.uk
• C.W.L.Wilson_at_hw.ac.uk
• Tel [phone]

10
REFERENCE

• Perez, IA Wilson, CWL et al (2006).
  Translating, Interpreting Communication
  Support A Review of Provision in Public Services
  in Scotland. Edinburgh Scottish Executive.
• ISBN 0 7559 2893 8
• http//www.scotland.gov.uk/socialresearch