THE TEAM APPROACH TO SPECIALIST TRAINING IN PUBLIC SERVICE INTERPRETING AND TRANSLATING AT HERIOT-WATT UNIVERSITY Department of Languages & Intercultural Studies (LINCS) Centre for Translation & Interpreting Studies in Scotland (CTISS) Isabelle Perez & Christine Wilson

RATIONALE  Postgraduate provision  Legislation and policies  Market demand

Liaison interpreting is a profession where, like medicine, teaching and the law, the client’s welfare is usually affected directly. This is not only because most liaison interpreting takes place in the context of other professions such as medicine, teaching and the law, but also because interpreting has its own particular kinds of knowledge, skills and practices which require particular ethical considerations. Gentile et al, 1996

 Core provision (Translation)  Dedicated modules (Interpreting)  Practical activities  Theory (Ethics) Course Structure and Theoretical Underpinning

METHODOLOGY - DELIVERY  Interactive lectures  In-house simulations inc Mock Trial  Interactive seminars led by PS professionals  Input on procedures  Field visits  Applied practice

TEAM APPROACH  Internal: work across language groups, self and peer assessment, students as users…  External: PS professionals as real users, debriefing sessions involving all participants…

ADVANTAGES Students « believe » it, …they are able to challenge and discuss … but there is still a role for the tutor … and the PS professional feeds good practice back into their profession…

RESULTS AND FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS Enhancing employability Widening access VLE – Distance Learning

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REFERENCE Perez, IA & Wilson, CWL et al (2006). Translating, Interpreting & Communication Support: A Review of Provision in Public Services in Scotland. Edinburgh: Scottish Executive. [ISBN ]