Abstract
This chapter looks into the major interpreter training models and their representative courses in Europe and China, in order to illustrate how interpreting competence is developed through training. It starts with a general description of the four major types of interpreter training courses in Europe: the Continental model, the Y-shaped and ‘mixed’ models and the European Masters in Conference Interpreting (EMCI), a model endorsed by the International Association of Conference Interpreters and the European Commission. The ESIT programme, as a representative of the EMCI consortium, is explored in more detail. Five key strands in training—admission, curriculum, teaching progression, faculty and evaluation—are discussed, with a focus on curriculum. The intensive curriculum of conference interpretation at ESIT is designed to cover three main pillars of interpreting competencies: skills and techniques, extra-linguistic or encyclopedic knowledge acquisition and professional ethics.
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Notes
- 1.
This information is obtained from my email correspondence and enquiries (dated 10/02/2011) with the (former) MA course coordinator/leader Ms. Adams at Westminster.
- 2.
Source http://www.emcinterpreting.org (accessed 11-07-2013).
- 3.
See http://www.aiic.net/ViewPage.cfm/page_id=372 (accessed 10-02-2011).
- 4.
According to Donovan (2006), students enrolled in ESIT’s Conference Interpreting programme come from a very wide range of backgrounds in terms of the degree of study, work experience and time spent abroad.
- 5.
ECTS stands for European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System, a standard devised to compare student study attainment and performance within the EU.
- 6.
According to Lederer (2008a), there are 11 full-time teachers/researchers at ESIT, compared to about one hundred part-time translator/interpreter trainers who give one or two courses a week.
- 7.
The information on examinations is adapted from the EMCI webpage: http://www.emcinterpreting.org/examinations (Accessed 16-04-2012).
- 8.
http://zhidao.baidu.com/question/375655411.html (accessed 10/03/2014).
- 9.
Full simultaneous interpreting training courses (B-A/A-B) are offered at postgraduate level at Beijing Foreign Studies University, Shanghai International Studies University, University of International Business and Economics, Guangdong University of Foreign Studies and Xiamen University.
- 10.
These two curricula have both been awarded provincial-level quality prizes, in 2005 and 2009, respectively. In 2007, the GDUFS interpreting curriculum was designated a ‘national quality curriculum’ by the Chinese Ministry of Education.
- 11.
Source: http://210.34.12.99/yyky/dagang.htm (accessed 04/09/2013).
- 12.
Source: http://www1.gdufs.edu.cn/jwc/bestcourse/kecheng/2/index5-2.htm (accessed 20/05/2012).
- 13.
Source: http://www.emcinterpreting.org/ (accessed 10/12/2011). The EMCI programme is based on the expectation that the number of class contact hours, group practice hours and self-directed study may total no less than 1000 h.
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Liu, J. (2020). Acquiring Interpreting Competence Through Training: European and Chinese Training Models Explored. In: Interpreter Training in Context. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-8594-4_3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-8594-4_3
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