How to become an interpreter.
Short Summary:
This presentation focuses on how to become an interpreter for the European Parliament. Key points include the rigorous training and accreditation required, the diverse language skills needed (with a strong emphasis on the interpreter's native language), the demanding nature of the work (including simultaneous and consecutive interpreting), and the importance of excellent general knowledge and adaptability. The speaker highlights the unique access to political events and influential figures, as well as the ethical responsibility of confidentiality. The process of becoming an interpreter involves postgraduate training and passing accreditation tests. The implications are the maintenance of multilingualism within the European Parliament, ensuring democratic transparency and access for all citizens. Specific examples like interpreting for high-profile figures (Hugh Grant, Hillary Clinton, the Dalai Lama) and dealing with challenging speeches (including those read from prepared texts) are used to illustrate the complexities of the job.
Detailed Summary:
The presentation can be broken down into the following sections:
1. Introduction and Overview: Alison Graves, Head of Unit for Interpreter Training at the European Parliament, introduces herself and the session's purpose: to inform potential interpreters about the profession. She emphasizes the ideal candidate profile: multilingual, talented, interested in the European project, and familiar with EU institutions. The session includes a presentation, a hands-on interpreting exercise using pre-recorded speeches (from François Hollande and Prince Charles), and a Q&A.
2. The European Parliament and Multilingualism: Graves explains the Parliament's commitment to multilingualism (23 soon-to-be 24 official languages), highlighting its democratic importance. She discusses the challenges of interpreting speeches in imperfect English ("despero"), emphasizing the preference for speakers using their native languages. The three main reasons for the Parliament's multilingualism are: direct lawmaking function requiring citizen understanding, democratic transparency through webstreaming, and the preservation of citizen identity.
3. Organization and Work of Interpreters: The speaker details the structure of the interpreting service, including approximately 380 staff interpreters and a large number of freelance interpreters. She describes the variety of work settings: committees (covering diverse topics), political groups (with their inherent dynamics), plenary sessions (fast-paced and challenging), delegations (international contexts), and press conferences. The importance of preparation and confidentiality is stressed. The speaker shares anecdotes illustrating the close interaction with influential figures and the travel opportunities.
4. Requirements and Training: Graves outlines the necessary qualifications: a university degree, postgraduate interpreting training, and excellent language skills (with a strong emphasis on the native language's versatility). She emphasizes the need for excellent general knowledge, the ability to concentrate, teamwork skills, and unwavering motivation. She also discusses the importance of choosing a reputable interpreting course, highlighting the need for instructors with practical conference interpreting experience.
5. Challenges and Rewards: The speaker addresses common misconceptions about interpreting, emphasizing that it's not simply word-for-word translation but requires deep understanding of context, speaker intent, and cultural nuances. She uses the anecdote of interpreting a speech about "cat" (qat, a drug) to illustrate the importance of background knowledge. The immediate nature of quality control and the constant need for self-improvement are highlighted. The presentation concludes with a discussion of training programs and the cost-effectiveness of multilingualism in the EU. A notable quote is her description of the cost of multilingualism as "a cappuccino per person per year."
Throughout the presentation, Graves uses numerous anecdotes and examples to illustrate the challenges and rewards of the profession, emphasizing the unique opportunities and the high standards required. The overall message is that while demanding, the career of a European Parliament interpreter is both rewarding and intellectually stimulating.