CoURt InTeRpREtER CaNdIDaTe TraInInG Lessons Learned!

Challenges of Interpreter Training Demanding exams Candidates with limited re$ource$ AOC limited human resources AOC limited $$ No AOC $$ for scholarships

“Court Interpreter Orientation” Kansas “Court Interpreter Orientation” Kansas is partnering with a community college to create and host a 4-hour (8-unit) online court interpreter orientation.

7 Month Shadowing Program Pennsylvania 7 Month Shadowing Program It’s FREE Requires Application Process No skills assessment Preference to LOTS 2018 – 21 participants (17 in 2017)

Pennsylvania Shadowing Program 1x/ month participants: Shadow staff interpreters Attend lectures & by invitation only*attend 4 sessions of simultaneous exam prep Shadow ½ day, professional and legal lectures, invitations to those who’ve attended orientation & passed WE *(completed orientation and passed written exam)

Language of Justice Institute Pennsylvania Language of Justice Institute Partnership: Philadelphia Courts & Delaware Law School - Widener University SJI Curriculum Grant $ Private donor: $10,000 for scholarships Scholarship: $500 per student

Language of Justice Institute Pennsylvania Language of Justice Institute 3 Academic Credits Certificate of completion 9 Saturdays: 4 days & 5, ½ days Tuition: $1,497 ($499 per credit) 2018: 18 registered

Pennsylvania Surveys all oral examinees about their preparation strategies immediately prior to their exams…

Oregon LOTS Scholarships By invitation only (10 candidates) 10-month-Oral Exam prep program 10 hours of in-person oral exam prep 16 hours on-line oral exam prep 3 Mock Exams Conference attendance (3+ sessions) Oral Examination Fees LOTS - Pass Written Exam Expert Witness Testimony, Ethics, Note Taking

SJI Curriculum Adaptation Grant OJD In-Kind Donations: Oregon Scholarships Funded by SJI Curriculum Adaptation Grant OJD In-Kind Donations: Proctors Materials & Equipment Coordinator’s time Forgoing collection of self-supporting fees

Oregon Surveys all oral examinees about their preparation strategies immediately prior to their exams…

ClAcKeRS Quiz Show!!!

What is the national oral exam pass rate ?* Question #1 What is the national oral exam pass rate ?* *Some administer all 3 sections in 1 sitting -- Some administer 3 separate sections 42 % 10% 70%

Survey Says….. B. 10%

(3 parts taken in one sitting) Question #2 What is the Oral Exam Pass Rate in Oregon?* (3 parts taken in one sitting) 18 % 11% 42%

Survey Says….. A. 18 %

Question #3 What is the Oral Exam Pass Rate in Pennsylvania?* A. 23% 3 parts taken in one year cycle A. 23% 12% 41%

Survey Says….. A. 12%

Question #4 After attending the Pennsylvania Shadowing Program, what % of participants' oral exam scores were almost passing (60%-69%)? 40% 62% 80%

Survey Says….. A. 40%

Question #5 What percent of Oregon scholarship recipients completed the program & took the oral exam?   A. 100% B. 90% C. 50%

Survey Says….. B. 90% 9 out of 10 participants

Question #6 What was the correlation between attending Oregon oral exam training and passing the oral exam? Weak: 0.1 to 0.3 Medium 0.3 to 0.5 Strong: 0.5 to 1.0

Survey Says….. Weak .232878539

If you like dogs… Please stand up If you like cats… Please stand up

Question #7 What is the correlation coefficient to predict who in a room will be a cat lover or a dog lover? Weak: 0.1 to 1.3 Medium 0.3 to 0.5 Strong: 0.5 to 1.0

Survey Says….. A. Weak

What percent of Pennsylvania’s Question #8 What percent of Pennsylvania’s Language of Justice Institute participants completed the Program?   A. 100% B. 89% C. 76%

Survey Says….. B. 89% 16 out of 18 participants

Question #9 What percent of Pennsylvania’s Invited* Shadowing Program Participants took the oral exam?   A. 100% B. 34% C. 56%

Survey Says….. 56% 5 out of 9 participants

Question #10 According to Pennsylvania pre-oral examinee surveys, interpreters who do not pass (or almost pass) have not done the following:   A. Recorded themselves B. Practiced under test conditions C. Attended any training prep events D. Trained to improve note taking skills E. Any or all of the above

Survey Says….. E. Any/All the above

What are some reasons interpreters don’t take the oral exam? Question #11 What are some reasons interpreters don’t take the oral exam? Costs too much. Don’t have time to prepare for the exam. Exam prep training costs too much. Exam prep course doesn’t fit into schedule All of the above

Survey Says….. E. Any/All the above

Lessons Learned!

Kansas Judicial Branch Court Interpreter Orientation What, How, and Why? – Lessons Learned What? Online; free to interpreters Hosted and tracked by Johnson County Community College Eight, 30-minute units with "conditional advancement" Course content

Kansas Judicial Branch Court Interpreter Orientation What, How, and Why? – Lessons Learned How? Kansas Supreme Court Language Access Committee Facilitated brainstorming session Johnson County Community College Instructors subject matter experts Contract/Service agreement (how developed?)

Kansas Judicial Branch Court Interpreter Orientation What, How, and Why? – Lessons Learned Why? Benefits for interpreters Benefits for Judicial Branch

Oregon Lessons Learned Lesson 1 – The Cost is Substantial $11,648 Individual scholarships: $1456 - $1165

Oregon Lessons Learned Lesson 2: Free is too free. For years, we heard from LOTS interpreters-- Do you have any scholarships? Any waiver of fees? I can't participate unless I get a reduction in price. We always said no until we got grant money.

Oregon Lessons Learned Lesson 3: Evidence is Not there (yet) Pennsylvania, Other states? Private companies, De La Mora ??

Oregon Lessons Learned Lesson 4: Focus Efforts Put training online Offer mock exams More LOTS prep materials Pennsylvania, Other states? Private companies, De La Mora ??

Pennsylvania Judicial Branch Oral Exam Prep What, How, and Why? – Lessons Learned What? Language of Justice Institute Shadowing Program

Pennsylvania Judicial Branch Oral Exam Prep What, How, and Why? – Lessons Learned How? Language of Justice Institute – Partnerships, SJI grant, private donor Scholarships Shadowing Program – Voluntary contributors; free oral prep training.

Pennsylvania Judicial Branch Lessons Learned Lesson 1: More effort needed for LOTS examinees In spite of interpreter skills training, many LOTS candidates lack language skills

Pennsylvania Judicial Branch Lessons Learned Lesson 2: Prepping under test conditions improves results

Pennsylvania Judicial Branch Lessons Learned Lesson 3: Charging for training = improved commitment

Pennsylvania Judicial Branch Lessons Learned Lesson 4: Observing staff interpreters does not improve language skills

Questions and Answers

YOU WIN!!! Thanks for Playing