CONSECUTIVE INTERPRETATION
SIGHT TRANSLATIONS
SIMULTANEOUS INTERPRETATION

1. Consecutive Interpretation

   The consecutive interpreting component simulates actual situations typically encountered on the job. It is a hearing/medical interview setting where information is exchanged in the two languages and must be interpreted by the candidate. It is a dramatization in which all of the roles, e.g., Doctor, Nurse, Administrative Law Judge, Attorney, etc., are recorded for you. The roles may be recorded in a masculine or feminine voice. Your function is to act as the interpreter. Everything you hear in English must be interpreted into Spanish, and everything you hear in Spanish must be interpreted into English.

   Statements are up to 40 words in length for the Administrative Hearing Interpreter exam and up to 30 words in length for the Medical Interpreter exam. When interpreting, remember that accuracy is your key to success.

2. Sight Translations

   In this exercise, you will be presented with two documents, one written in English and the other in Spanish. You will have two minutes to review the English document and five minutes to render your translation into Spanish. Upon completion, you will have the same amount of time for the other document.

3. Simultaneous Interpretation

   The instructions for the simultaneous interpretation component have been recorded for you in English. You will interpret the exam material into Spanish as it is conveyed to you through headphones.

• Knowledge of proper Spanish grammar (e.g., verb tense, subjunctive mood, agreement, reflexive pronouns, prepositions, articles, syntax, etc.)
• Knowledge of proper English grammar (e.g., verb tense, passive voice, agreement, singular/plural forms, prepositions, syntax, etc.)
• Knowledge of Spanish vocabulary sufficient to provide interpreter services (e.g., formal, informal, colloquial, idiosyncratic, regional, etc.)
• Knowledge of English vocabulary sufficient to provide interpreter services (e.g., formal, informal, colloquial, idiosyncratic, regional, etc.)
• Knowledge of the names of common illnesses and terms related to injury and physical symptoms in both English and Spanish
• Knowledge of terms related to general administrative hearing procedures in both English and Spanish
• Knowledge of anatomical terms in both English and Spanish
• Knowledge of the techniques of interpreting (consecutive and simultaneous)
• Knowledge of the techniques of sight translation
• Skill in consecutive interpreting – listening to utterance in source language, processing content, finding equivalent in target language, rendering utterance accurately into target language within an acceptable time frame
• Skill in simultaneous interpreting – simultaneously listening to utterance in source language, processing content, finding equivalent in target language, rendering utterance accurately into target language
• Skill in speaking Spanish (fluently, with correct pronunciation, inflection, etc.)
• Skill in speaking English (fluently, with correct pronunciation, inflection, etc.)
• Skill in listening to Spanish (comprehending spoken language)
• Skill in listening to English (comprehending spoken language)
• Skill in reading Spanish (comprehending written language)
• Skill in reading English (comprehending written language)
• Skill in sight translation (using KSA’s identified for written examination)
• Skill in following oral instructions
• Ability to recognize linguistic incompatibilities (e.g., phrases that don’t translate literally, concepts that are not present in other cultures, idiomatic expressions, etc.)
• Ability to develop effective solutions when interpreting linguistic incompatibilities
• Ability to recognize cultural variations in the interpretation of phrases and words
• Ability to keep up with the pace of the speaker during simultaneous interpretation
• Ability to remember 15 seconds of oral dialogue (about 40 words)
• Ability to remember 10 seconds of oral dialogue (about 26 words)
• Ability to speak in different registers in both English and Spanish
• Ability to render precise, accurate interpretations (avoiding hedging, backtracking, summarizing, omitting, inappropriate paraphrasing, etc.)
• Ability to focus on the task at hand