Friday Pre-Conference Workshops

** This session was specifically designed for medical interpreters interested in entering the judiciary field. This session will only offer CCHI and IMIA continuing education credits if approved by each organization.

LEVEL: ALL
LANGUAGE: LANGUAGE NEUTRAL
PRESENTER: AGUSTÍN SERVIN DE LA MORA

This advanced curriculum was developed jointly by experienced medical and legal interpreters working in tandem to explore the commonalities and skill sets needed for success. Medical interpreters are uniquely positioned to enter the realm of court interpretation because of their existing background in professional language access, strong command of the consecutive mode, and clear familiarity with core interpreting principles such as accuracy, confidentiality, and use of the first person. Likewise, medical interpreters will find a lot of overlap in the code of professional conduct for legal interpreters compared to that of medical interpreters. This curriculum is ideal for experienced medical interpreters looking to understand how they can best apply their skills to the field of legal interpretation. Medical interpreters should attend this event to broaden their horizons and engage with new opportunities in the world of language access.

Objectives: Following a baseline assessment of skills, this workshop will provide an overview of interpreting in the legal profession: what’s the same, what’s new to medical interpreters? Participants will discuss differences in the roles of the legal and medical interpreter (adversarial vs. collaborative, conduit vs. culture broker) and review the code of professional ethics for legal interpreters and how it differs from guidelines for medical interpreters. Participants will learn to transition easily from existing sight translation skills to the simultaneous mode of interpreting and will participate in self-assessment exercises to develop a long-term strategy for personal improvement. There will be a review of the format and procedure of the NCSC oral exam, including all information provided to oral exam candidates.

Instructions to Register: To register for this session only, click the register today link at the top of the page. On the second page select “Friday only” and use the drop-down box next to the name of the of session to select it.

LEVEL: INTERMEDIATE/ADVANCED
LANGUAGE: LANGUAGE NEUTRAL
PRESENTER: PROF. KAREN BORGENHEIMER

This advanced skill building clinic seeks to help the professional interpreter improve his/her Consecutive Interpreting Skills through hands-on, guided consecutive interpreting practice in: Note-taking, Memory, Visualization, Proper Register (formal and informal), Intonation and Expression. These elements will be combined to achieve consecutive ACCURACY.  Participants will polish these skills through intense practice with CI materials created from authentic legal proceedings in both the Civil and Criminal arenas. During the workshop, the instructor will employ the communicative teaching method, acting as a coach by challenging and guiding participants through a series of original practice materials aimed to POLISH interpreting techniques. Using a Power Point presentation, the instructor will explain consecutive interpreting theory and proper technique. The workshop is approximately 30% lecture and 70% guided exercises designed to polish skills.

Objectives: Consecutive Interpreting is challenging. Participants will improve their overall Consecutive Interpreting skills through a series of original, innovative exercises focused on: 1) Memory, 2) Visualization, 3) Note-taking, 4) Proper Register (formal – informal), and 5) intonation. This workshop aims to reinforce CORRECT consecutive interpreting technique through intense classroom practice to obtain Consecutive Interpreting ACCURACY.  During the workshop, the instructor will employ the communicative teaching method, acting as a coach by challenging and guiding participants through a series of original practice materials aimed to POLISH interpreting techniques.

LEVEL: ADVANCE
LANGUAGE: LANGUAGE NEUTRAL
PRESENTER: ESTHER HERMIDA

Interpreters contracted by private firms or language services providers are called upon to either interpret at a legal proceeding or act as a check (monitor) interpreter. Most of the time interpreters hired to interpret at a legal proceeding are unaware of the presence of a check interpreter, which causes anxiety and undue stress. The instructor will attempt to explain the dynamics and answer the following questions throughout the presentation while explaining the pitfalls of an unprepared check interpreter and active interpreter: Why do parties hire check interpreters? Could a second court interpreter act as a check interpreter in a courtroom setting? How to handle problems with the interpretation? How to explain to counsel your first and foremost duty as a certified court interpreter? What does the active interpreter do when challenged by the check interpreter? We’ll review ethical issues and how to best handle corrections on the record in order to protect the accuracy of the record.

Objectives: In this workshop, new and seasoned interpreters will learn what to expect and how best to respond in courtroom proceedings and depositions when the active interpreter does not agree with the check interpreter’s challenge, and the best way to correct the record in such situations. Participants will learn the proper introduction of parties and the best way to introduce the check interpreter on the record so that the transcript will be clear and easy to read. They will gain confidence by learning the skills to handle errors and discrepancies in a professional manner, and learn to analyze and synthesize the answers in a foreign language to be sure that they are conveyed accurately in English. Participants will also discuss possible ways to standardize a practice that is often overlooked in regular classroom instruction.

LEVEL: INTERMEDIATE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH WITH SPANISH LEXICON
PRESENTER: ATHENA MATILSKY

This workshop is intended for anyone hoping to defeat the odds and pass the FCICE oral exam. Participants will learn about the format of the exam and each of the sections. They will then discover how to build a successful study plan and utilize effective study routines, including rewarding themselves for incremental improvements. Attendees will receive information about existing study groups and how to find their own study partners. Effective resources will also be recommended. Finally, practical hands-on exercises will be provided as time allows, permitting attendees to put what they have just learned into practice and begin improving their skills right away. Whether they are simply curious about the exam, or have tried to pass the test unsuccessfully in the past, participants will come away from this session better prepared to become federally certified.

Objectives: This workshop will provide knowledge of the format of the federal exam and help attendees learn how to make a study plan, use time effectively, identify their strengths and weaknesses, and evaluate their interpreting output in order to improve.

LEVEL: ADVANCED
LANGUAGE: SPANISH
PRESENTER: ERNEST NIÑO-MURCIA

Forensic chemists who identify and grade the controlled substances seized by law enforcement are among the most common witnesses that interpreters will encounter in drug cases. The breadth and depth of terms in disciplines such as chemistry, mathematics and general science presented in a fast-paced question-and-answer format can challenge even experienced, skilled interpreters. This session first aims to give participants a theoretical overview of the underlying scientific principles and concepts covered by forensic chemists in their testimony. Next, participants will work to identify equivalent terms in Spanish before putting their new knowledge into action through a simultaneous interpreting exercise involving direct examination of a forensic chemist, which will be thoroughly analyzed and evaluated. This workshop will be conducted in Spanish.

Objectives: Participants in this workshop will gain a conceptual understanding of the techniques and terms employed by forensic chemists in drug analysis. They will identify appropriate target-language equivalents for technical terms, utilize new vocabulary through an exercise of simultaneously interpreting the direct examination of a forensic chemist, and evaluate their performance with respect to content and technique.

LEVEL: ALL
LANGUAGE: LANGUAGE NEUTRAL
PRESENTER: DR. GLORIA M. RIVERA

As court interpreters, we rely on our short-term memory, our general knowledge of the subject matter, and note-taking skills. Unfortunately, people focus more on developing their short-term memory and learning new terminology and shy away from note-taking. Why? Because people think that note-taking is just shorthand or that it is not a skill that can be learned or developed. This could not be further from the truth. During this 3-hour language neutral workshop participants will familiarize themselves with their own learning style and how it improves their note taking. Also, they will learn about Rozan’s 7 Principles, and how to take notes effectively.  They will leave the workshop with basic symbols, improved techniques, and even their own symbols and techniques!

Objectives: After completing this three-hour workshop, participants will be able to explain Rozan’s note-taking techniques; differentiate different symbols and abbreviations developed by the presenter; develop their own symbols and abbreviations; and apply the techniques taught during exercises in class.

Attendees will enjoy a 1.5-hour tour of the Supreme Court of California, California’s highest court. This tour is limited to 20 attendees. The Supreme Court is .7 miles from the conference hotel. Transportation will be provided to and from the conference hotel provided attendees meet at the designated area. Instructions will be emailed to attendees prior to the conference. Please allow a minimum of 2-hours for the tour and travel time.

LEVEL: ALL
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH WITH SPANISH LEXICON
PRESENTER: BETHANY KORP

Drawing from recent developments in American Sign Language interpreting and interpreter training, this presentation will showcase a revolutionary new way of thinking about interpreting. Any interpreting dilemma, be it ethical or practical, can be solved by answering three questions: “Why are we here?” “What challenges do I face?” “What resources do I have at my disposal?” By framing any interpreting encounter in terms of these three questions, participants can learn to resolve quandaries that don’t fit neatly into existing codes of ethics, increase flexible thinking, and adapt to ever-changing situations. Participants will analyze dilemmas provided by the presenter and each other in terms of these three questions, learning how to quickly come up with a variety of valid solutions and choose the one that best fits with their own professional philosophy and style.

Objectives: Participants in this workshop will learn to differentiate between technical and practice professions and understand why interpreting falls into the latter category; apply teleology (consequentialism) to reframe principles of interpreter ethics and identify the overarching desired outcome of any given interpreting situation. They will apply this new ethical framework during their work by identifying common demands on interpreters — particularly in judicial and quasi-judicial settings — and the controls available to interpreters; they will apply teleological ethics to select a variety of appropriate controls, and will understand how their own comfort level leads them to select a particular control from a variety of appropriate options. Outside of interpreting encounters, they will apply the new ethical framework by discussing the implications of teleological ethics and demand-control schema on how interpreters innovate and learn from each other, by avoiding the phrase “I would never do that!” and learning what to say instead.

LEVEL: BEGINNER/INTERMEDIATE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH W/ SPANISH LEXICON
PRESENTER: IRENE RADILLO, FCCI, CHI

This workshop will introduce attendees to some of the most common hearings in state courts where interpreter services are needed. The hearings will be explained, terminology equivalents suggested, and followed by an opportunity to practice. Practice for both Criminal and Civil cases will be offered via recorded audio followed by a group discussion. Although hearings may vary by state or court level, in they generally present a similarity in scripted verbiage and steps. Understanding them and being ready for specific terminology makes an interpreter’s work much easier and less stressful. Examples of Criminal hearings will include initial appearances, arraignments, sentencings and motion hearings. Examples of Civil hearings will include Ex parte temporary restraining orders (TROs), emergency protective orders (EPOs), and temporary protective orders (TPOs); orders for custody and visitation, for mediation, etc. The workshop will provide audio recordings to be used in class only, with digital scripts and glossaries for participants to keep. Participants should bring a recording device, such as a cell phone.

Objectives: The goal of this session is to expose interpreters to some of the most common state courtroom proceedings providing scripts that reflect actual common criminal hearings such as initial appearances, preliminary hearings, sentencings, arraignments, motions hearings, etc. For civil court, hearings such as ex parte TROs, EPOs and TPOs; custody and visitation orders, orders for mediation, orders on request to continue hearings, etc. These court hearings and terminology will be provided in a context that clarifies the reasons and possible results for a better global understanding of the situation. In particular, the over-use of acronyms in English and the need to have ready equivalents in one’s language will be discussed.

LEVEL: ALL
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH
PRESENTERS: ROXANE J. KING AND THOMAS E. JOHNSTON

As highly qualified, skilled, trained, certified Judicial interpreters we need to understand the extensive process for executing quality interpreting services during a trial. A rounded and defined approach to trial is geared at driving quality, acceleration, discipline, efficiency and transparency. If executed properly we become a “ghost” in the court room while protecting the record by providing the controls, project management and governance to ensure that it is properly put into practice. Guided by our Ethical and Professional Canons every step of the way. Each major stage of this workshop has a gate: Initiation, Pre Trial Definition, Trial Set Up, Trial Execution, Post-Trial Support. We will work together in this workshop as a team to understand and strengthen our skills.

Objectives: Participants in this workshop will become familiarized with the why, what and how of Team Interpreting for Trials.

LEVEL: ADVANCED
LANGUAGE: SPANISH
PRESENTER: SANDRO TOMASI

The substantive criminal law is divided into two sections: general principles and specific offenses. This workshop will focus on the former, where terms such as felony, mens rea, causation and accessory come from. Over 40 of the English-Spanish law dictionaries that have been published thus far contain disparate and erroneous translations for said terms and many others, which have unfortunately led court interpreters and legal translators astray. In this English-Spanish workshop, attendees will compare American criminal law terms stemming from common law and the Model Penal Code with their actual Spanish and Latin-American counterparts, and identify the accurate legal translations from the pitfalls and the contextual ones.

Objectives: Interpreters and translators will learn how to go beyond the prima-facie meaning of a legal term by using statutes and treatises to identify the full legal semantics thereof.

LEVEL: ALL
LANGUAGE: LANGUAGE NEUTRAL
PRESENTER: DR. JUANITA ULLOA

In this class we handle the frustration of sometimes not being understood or always being identified as a foreigner. We will cover key mispronunciations in certain language pairs in English, Spanish, and, time permitting, other languages presented in class. We will study the top ten words each of you feels is impossible, with tools on how to avoid mispronunciation of key words in English (Yes, like beach vs. bitch and sheet vs. shit!). Dr. Ulloa introduces vowel isolation/intonation, and progresses to build full lines of text. International Phonetic Alphabet symbols are presented as ways to focus on particular sounds. This class is quite interactive and practical with a group vocal warm-up, coverage of common vocal mistakes with instant corrections, and reciting aloud as a group. Anyone wishing to read aloud on their own in (Any language) will benefit from a live ten-minute Diction and/or Accent Reduction lesson. Students will also learn how to achieve gradual accent reduction on their own. Please bring texts you want to improve on as a sample reading for the class, or privately, for solo guidance. All accents, words, and languages welcome.