CONSECUTIVE INTERPRETATION
SIGHT TRANSLATIONS
SIMULTANEOUS INTERPRETATION

1. Consecutive Interpretation

   The consecutive interpreting component simulates actual situations typically encountered on the job. It is a court 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., Judge, Attorney) 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 the foreign language, and everything you hear in the foreign language must be interpreted into English.

   Statements are up to 40 words in length for the Court Interpreter exam. When interpreting, remember that accuracy is your key to success.

   Applicants may take notes but are cautioned that note taking should not interfere with their ability to interpret promptly. Notes must be turned in to the chairperson before leaving the examination room. The applicant must render his or her interpretation immediately after the passage is played.

2. Sight Translations

   In this exercise, you will be presented with two documents, one written in English and the other in the foreign language. You will have one minute to review the English document and four minutes to render your translation into the foreign language. Next, you will have one minute to review the foreign language document and four minutes to render your translation into English.

3. Simultaneous Interpretation

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

   The material is recorded at a rate of 120–140 words per minute. The exercise is approximately three and one-half minutes in length.

• Ability to read the foreign language fluently
• Ability to read English fluently
• Ability to recognize linguistic incompatibilities
• Ability to perform duties under pressure
• Ability to effectively follow oral instructions
• Ability to interpret consecutively
• Ability to speak English fluently
• Ability to communicate complex information in an easily understood manner
• Ability to read and understand technical material written in another language
• Ability to digest a statement of information and relay a summary interpretation
• Ability to speak quickly without hesitation
• Ability to interpret simultaneously
• Ability to comprehend and retain testimony for at least 15 seconds
• Ability to comprehend and retain testimony for at least 30 seconds
• Knowledge of the appropriate role of the interpreter
• Knowledge of skills and techniques of interpreting
• Knowledge of English vocabulary to interpret written documents into English from the foreign language
• Knowledge of proper grammar in the foreign language
• Knowledge of the foreign language vocabulary sufficient to translate written documents into the foreign language from English
• Knowledge of legal vocabulary required by the court