Interpreter Training
AALS Core Training for New Interpreters
Our core training for new interpreters consists of 70 hours of in-depth practical and theoretical training in community interpreting, with an emphasis on experiential learning. Our curriculum, originally developed by the Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration and supported by the Healthcare Interpretation Network, has been developed and expanded to meet the needs of participants and employers.
To be successful in the program, participants should plan to spend an additional ten hours each week outside of classroom hours completing exercises and assignments at home.
Training Dates: There are currently no training sessions planned for 2011.
Classroom time is devoted to:
- language lab exercises, in which students practice interpreting using audiotapes
- roleplays with a language partner (a participant who speaks the same language)
- practice with sight translation
- lectures by program facilitators
- presentations by guest speakers working in the field.
Classroom exercises are designed to give participants daily practice in the constituent tasks of interpreting, including:
- active listening
- memory retention
- note-taking
- mental transposition
- verbalization in the target language
Frequent tests and quizzes provide participants with constant feedback as their interpretation and sight translation skills develop. Facilitators are available for individual coaching.
Once you have successfully completed the AALS core training and passed the final examinations, you will receive a certificate in Core Training for Spoken Language Interpreting. You will be added to the AALS roster of certified interpreters and you will be contacted on an as-needed basis for interpreting assignments in the Greater Toronto Area. You will also be qualified to work for other interpreting agencies.
