Language Competitive Examinations for Interpreters

Summary

The video script addresses the low pass rate for candidates in the United Nations Language Competitive Examination (LCE), despite prior selection and specific training in interpreting. Senior interpreters identify key challenges, including the high speed of UN speeches, complex jargon, and unfamiliarity with the diverse accents of UN member states. To improve success rates, the script proposes a special optional module for graduates focusing on UN topics, terminology, and accents, with exercises that incrementally increase speech speed. Collaboration under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the UN and universities aims to enhance training programs and prepare candidates more effectively for the LCE. The ultimate goal is to increase the number of graduates capable of passing the LCE by addressing these specific challenges through a cumulative approach and mock exams.

Takeaways

• 📉 Low Pass Rate: The pass rate for the UN Language Competitive Examination (LCE) is often below 15%, indicating a significant challenge for candidates.
• 🎓 Training Gaps: Despite prior selection and specific training, candidates still lack certain competencies and skills necessary to succeed in the LCE.
• 🏎️ Speed Challenge: The average speed of a UN speech is 149.12 words per minute, with a range up to 180.85 words per minute, which is a key factor in the low success rate.
• 📚 UN Jargon and Topics: Candidates need to be well-versed in UN-specific jargon and understand the distinctions between different UN committees and topics.
• 🗣️ Foreign Accents: Familiarity with the accents of the 193 UN member nations is crucial for interpreters, which many candidates lack.
• 📝 Marking Criteria: Senior interpreters use criteria such as comprehension, accuracy, grammatical correctness, sentence construction, style, and speed to evaluate candidates.
• 🤝 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU): The UN cooperates with universities through MOUs to develop course modules and teaching materials, and to provide training by UN staff.
• 🏫 University Role: Signatory universities are expected to adapt or create training programs focusing on UN LCE preparation, including a special optional module.
• 🌐 MOU Conferences: The purpose of these conferences is to strengthen cooperation within the MOU network and adapt academic training to the needs of international organizations.
• 📈 Outreach Program: An initiative to expedite the preparation of graduates capable of passing the LCE by introducing a special optional module focusing on UN topics, terminology, accents, and speed.
• 📚 Cumulative Approach: The special module will incrementally increase the speed of speeches, starting from 100 words per minute and ending with 170 words per minute, to help candidates adapt.
• 💡 Mock Exams: Organizing mock exams with speeches from past LCEs will help candidates interpret different accents, cope with varying speeds, and become familiar with UN speech structure and terminology.

Q & A

What is the average speed of a UN speech and what are the extremes?

The average speed of a UN speech is 149.12 words per minute. The highest delivery rate can reach up to 180.85 words per minute, while the lowest is 106.44 words per minute.

What are the two main areas of knowledge that candidates often lack in the UN LCE?

Candidates often lack knowledge in UN jargon and topics, as well as familiarity with foreign accents, including those of the 193 member states.

What are the criteria used by senior interpreters for marking excellent passes in the LCE?

The criteria include comprehension of passive languages, accuracy in interpretation, grammatically correct target language, ability to construct complete sentences, understanding of appropriate style and register, keeping up with speed, intelligent editing, good diction and delivery, and good preparation of UN topics.

What are the main responsibilities of the UN under the MOU with universities?

The UN's responsibilities include assisting in developing course modules and teaching materials, and at the request of the university, assigning United Nations staff to conduct training.

What is the primary responsibility of signatory universities under the MOU?

The main responsibility is to adapt existing training programs or create new ones with an emphasis on preparation for the UN LCEs.

What is the purpose of MOU conferences?

The purpose is to explore and strengthen cooperation within the MOU network and agree on how to adapt the academic training of language professionals to the needs of international organizations through intensive pedagogical assistance.

How can the outreach program help expedite the preparation of graduates for the LCEs?

The outreach program can introduce a special optional module at the end of the curriculum for graduates with UN languages, focusing on UN topics, terminology, accents, and speed.

What does the special optional module focus on?

The special module focuses on three challenges: UN topics and terminology, accents by region, and gradually increasing speed from 100 to 170 words per minute.

How can mock exams help participants prepare for the LCE?

Mock exams require participants to interpret speeches from former LCEs, which helps them learn to deal with different accents, cope with various delivery rates, and become more familiar with the structure and terminology of UN speeches.

Why is the pass rate for the LCE often lower than 15 percent?

The low pass rate is often due to candidates' inability to keep up with the speed of speeches, their lack of knowledge of UN jargon and topics, and unfamiliarity with the wide range of foreign accents.

What is the structure of LCE speeches that candidates need to be aware of?

LCE speeches follow a certain structure that includes the main themes discussed by the General Assembly and the Security Council. Candidates need to know where to find the information and how to analyze and use it for the LCE.

How can graduates become more successful in the LCE?

By applying all the lessons learned from the special optional module, dealing with different accents, coping with different delivery rates, and becoming more acquainted with the structure and terminology of UN speeches, graduates can increase their chances of success in the LCE.