The freelance accreditation test: part 2 - jury member tips

EU Interpreters

9 Jun 202307:49

Summary

TLDRThis video, part two in a series on the inter-institutional accreditation test for interpreters, features an interview with Anna Economedes and Andy Hartley, experienced jury panel members. They discuss what the jury looks for in candidates, emphasizing professional competence and readiness to work alongside experienced interpreters. Candidates are advised not to aim for perfection but to demonstrate their ability to communicate clearly and coherently. Common reasons for test failure include poor technique, lack of experience, and nervousness. To prepare, candidates should practice, stay informed about current affairs, and familiarize themselves with the EU. During the test, they should not stop speaking, avoid nonsensical statements, and ensure they do not add to the original content. If a candidate fails, they are encouraged not to give up but to return with more experience. The video also explains the composition of the jury panel and the importance of consecutive interpreting as a diagnostic tool. The final advice is to manage nerves, show the jury what the candidate can do, and return if unsuccessful to improve on the experience.

Takeaways

🔍 **Professional Competence:** Jurors are looking for candidates who can communicate clearly and coherently in their mother tongue, even under various circumstances.
🚫 **No Perfection Required:** The expectation is not for perfection but for interpreters ready to work alongside experienced professionals from the next day.
📉 **Common Failure Reasons:** Candidates often fail due to poor consecutive technique, lack of experience in simultaneous interpreting, or weak second language skills.
🤔 **Managing Nerves:** Candidates should view the test as an opportunity to showcase their skills rather than an exam, and remember that the setup aims to recruit talent.
📚 **Preparation Tips:** Extensive practice, especially in consecutive interpreting, staying updated with current affairs, and understanding the EU are recommended for preparation.
🙅 **Don'ts During the Test:** Candidates should avoid stopping completely, saying anything nonsensical, or adding information not present in the original text.
🔄 **Retrying the Test:** If a candidate fails, they are encouraged not to give up but to gain more experience and return for a second attempt.
👥 **Jury Composition:** The panel consists of members from various institutions and language experts to ensure a well-rounded evaluation and consensus.
🎓 **Diagnostic Tool:** Consecutive interpreting is still tested as it serves as a good diagnostic tool for the jury to assess a candidate's communication skills.
🗣️ **Customer Perspective:** One jury member acts as a layperson, providing feedback without prior knowledge of the original speech to gauge clarity and comprehension.
💡 **Final Advice:** Prospective candidates are urged to demonstrate their abilities confidently, and if unsuccessful, to use the experience to better prepare for a subsequent attempt.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the inter-institutional accreditation test for interpreters?
-The test focuses on evaluating the professional competence of candidates, ensuring they can communicate clearly and coherently in their mother tongue under various circumstances, and are ready to work alongside experienced interpreters from the next day.
What are the jurors not looking for in candidates during the test?
-Jurors are not looking for perfection. They understand candidates have had interpreter training and are looking for someone who can work effectively from the start, with skills that will be further honed on the job.
Why do candidates often fail the consecutive interpreting part of the test?
-Candidates tend to fail due to poor technique, lack of recent practice, and sometimes a weak second language. It is rare to see issues with the mother tongue.
How can candidates manage their nerves during the test?
-Candidates should remember that the setup is designed to recruit freelance interpreters, and not treat it as a competition. They should view it as an opportunity to show their normal work style and capabilities.
What is the importance of practicing for the accreditation test?
-Practice is crucial, especially for honing consecutive technique and ensuring the ability to perform sustained simultaneous interpreting. Keeping up with current affairs and knowing about the EU is also important.
What should candidates avoid doing during the test?
-Candidates should avoid stopping completely, saying anything nonsensical, adding information not in the original text, and losing control of their output. They should always strive to recover from difficult situations.
What advice is given to candidates who fail the accreditation test?
-The advice is to not give up, gain more experience, and come back for a second attempt. Many people pass on their second try, and the institutions in Brussels are a significant employer for interpreters.
Why is consecutive interpreting still tested at the EU despite some saying it's not used much?
-Consecutive interpreting is still used unexpectedly in bilateral settings and is a job requirement. It serves as a good diagnostic tool for the panel to observe a candidate's communication skills more effectively than in simultaneous interpreting.
Why are there so many people on the jury panel?
-The panel is inter-institutional, requiring representation from all institutions. It needs enough members to cover all languages, including those less commonly spoken, and to provide a range of opinions to reach a consensus.
What role does the 'pure customer' member of the jury play?
-The 'pure customer' member has not heard the original speech and does not understand the original language, allowing them to provide genuine feedback on the interpretation's clarity and usefulness.
What final advice is given to prospective candidates?
-The final advice is to come and show what they can do, ensuring nerves do not hinder their performance. If they do not pass the first time, they should use the experience to better prepare for the next attempt.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Understanding the Accreditation Test Process

This paragraph introduces the inter-institutional accreditation test for interpreters and addresses common questions about the evaluation process, jury decision-making, and what is expected from freelance interpreters. The video features an interview with experienced jury members Anna Economedes and Andy Hartley. They discuss the importance of professional competence, clear communication, and the ability to work under various circumstances. The paragraph also touches on common reasons for test failure, such as poor consecutive technique, lack of experience, weak second language skills, and nervousness. Advice is given on managing nerves and the importance of practice, particularly in consecutive interpreting and staying informed about current affairs and the EU, which are often the topics of the test.

05:01

🚫 Do's and Don'ts During the Accreditation Test

The second paragraph focuses on strategies for candidates taking the accreditation test and what they should avoid. It emphasizes the importance of continuous effort even when faced with difficulty, avoiding nonsensical mistakes, and not deviating from the original text. The paragraph also discusses the support and encouragement for candidates to retake the test if they fail, highlighting that many people pass on their second attempt after gaining more experience. The necessity of testing consecutive interpreting skills is explained, despite their less frequent use, as they serve as a diagnostic tool for the jury. The composition of the jury panel is described, including the rationale for having multiple members from different institutions and language backgrounds. The role of a 'pure customer' on the panel is introduced to provide genuine feedback from a delegate's perspective. The paragraph concludes with encouragement to prospective candidates to showcase their abilities and to return for another attempt if needed.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Inter-institutional Accreditation Test

The Inter-institutional Accreditation Test is a professional examination for interpreters seeking accreditation to work with various institutions. It assesses their ability to communicate clearly and coherently in their mother tongue. The test is a central theme of the video, as it discusses the evaluation process and what the jury looks for in candidates.

💡Professional Competence

Professional competence refers to the skill set and knowledge required to perform a job effectively. In the context of the video, it is the ability of a candidate to communicate clearly and professionally, which is a key criterion for passing the accreditation test.

💡Consecutive Interpretation

Consecutive interpretation is a mode of oral translation where the interpreter listens to a section of speech and then translates it into the target language. It is mentioned in the video as a part of the test where candidates are expected to demonstrate their skills, and it is also a job requirement for interpreters.

💡Simultaneous Interpretation

Simultaneous interpretation involves the interpreter providing a translation at the same time as the original speech is being delivered, often used in large conferences or multilingual settings. The video discusses the challenges and the lack of experience that candidates might face in this mode of interpretation.

💡Jury Panel

A jury panel in this context refers to a group of experienced professionals who evaluate the performance of candidates during the accreditation test. The video highlights the importance of the panel's role in assessing candidates' readiness to work as freelance interpreters.

💡Current Affairs

Current affairs pertain to recent events and issues of public interest. The video suggests that candidates should keep up with current affairs, especially those related to the European Union, as the test often involves interpreting speeches on EU-related topics.

💡Nerves

Nerves, in the context of the video, refer to the anxiety or stress that candidates may experience during the test. The video advises candidates to manage their nerves and treat the test as a normal work assignment rather than an examination.

💡EU Knowledge

EU Knowledge refers to the understanding of the European Union, its institutions, policies, and related topics. The video emphasizes the importance of having a solid grasp of EU knowledge for candidates, as it is often a subject of the speeches in the accreditation test.

💡Technique

Technique, in the context of the video, refers to the methods and skills used by interpreters to perform their tasks effectively. It is mentioned that poor technique, particularly in consecutive interpretation, is a common reason for candidates failing the test.

💡Experience

Experience is the practical knowledge and skill acquired through involvement in various activities. The video suggests that a lack of experience is a common issue for candidates in simultaneous interpretation and that gaining more experience can improve their chances of passing the test on subsequent attempts.

💡Customer Feedback

Customer feedback is the input received from the end-users or clients regarding a product or service. In the video, it is mentioned that having a jury member who acts as a pure customer can provide genuine feedback on the interpretation, as they have not heard the original speech and can judge the clarity and comprehensibility of the interpretation.

Highlights

The video is part of a series on the inter-institutional accreditation test for freelance interpreters.

The format and sequencing of the test have evolved, but the advice given remains relevant.

Jury members are looking for professional competence and readiness to work alongside them from day one.

Candidates should not expect perfection; the focus is on potential and readiness to work in the field.

Common reasons for failing include poor consecutive technique and lack of experience in simultaneous interpretation.

Second language proficiency issues are often noted, whereas mother tongue proficiency is rarely a problem.

Nerves and not performing to one's ability are also reasons candidates may fail.

Candidates are advised to view the test as an opportunity to demonstrate their skills rather than an exam.

The importance of practicing consecutive technique and keeping up with current affairs is emphasized.

Knowledge of the EU is crucial as many test speeches are EU-related.

During the test, candidates should not stop speaking, even if they encounter difficulties.

Avoid making nonsensical statements that could cause laughter or detract from the interpretation.

Candidates should not add to or deviate from the original content of the speech.

If a candidate fails, they are encouraged not to give up and to return with more experience.

The Brussels institutions are a significant employer for interpreters, even surpassing the United Nations in some aspects.

Consecutive interpretation is still tested because it is a job requirement and a valuable diagnostic tool.

Jury panels are large to represent various institutions and to ensure a range of perspectives and language coverage.

Having a jury member who acts as a pure customer provides genuine feedback on the interpretation's clarity and usefulness.

Final advice to candidates is to show their capabilities, manage nerves, and return better prepared if they don't pass the first time.