Description: 

Interpreter trainers are dedicated to teaching their students the skills they will need in order to be successful in their professional role. For many interpreters, these skills include test-taking skills. Both aspiring and long-time interpreters are put to the test when they are required to take an exam administered by a potential employer, sit for an interpreter certification exam, or complete a final exam in a training program. In addition to the skills needed to interpret well, there is a growing need for interpreters to also have strong test-taking skills so that they can effectively demonstrate the interpreting knowledge and skills.

How do trainers prepare interpreters to take computer-based certification exams? How do trainers know where to focus their attention?

This presentation addresses these questions and provides an overview of the presenter's experience preparing interpreters for written and oral certification exams for spoken language interpreters. 

Learning Objectives:

• Distinguish the differences between skills for interpreting practice and skills for test taking
• Define elements and areas of focus of test prep sessions
• Identify resources for test prep session

Webinar handouts:

Handout 1

Handout 2

Handout 3

About the presenter:

Liz Essary began working as a healthcare interpreter in 2002 and in 2012, she earned national the CERTIFIED HEALTHCARE INTERPRETER™ credential. In 2013, she was sworn in as a certified interpreter through the Indiana State Supreme Court. In 2016, she completed a Master’s of Conference Interpreting at the Glendon School of Translation at York University in Toronto.  From 2011 to 2015, she served as Supervisor of Language Services at Indiana University Health, where she prepared staff interpreters for certification exams, and developed and delivered continuing education sessions for interpreters. She currently works as a freelance Spanish interpreter and interpreter trainer and coach in Indianapolis.