Course Title: Interpret in complex dialogue settings (LOTE-English)

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2023

Course Code: LANG5840C

Course Title: Interpret in complex dialogue settings (LOTE-English)

Important Information:

Please note that this course may have compulsory in-person attendance requirements for some teaching activities.  

To participate in any RMIT course in-person activities or assessment, you will need to comply with RMIT vaccination requirements which are applicable during the duration of the course. This RMIT requirement includes being vaccinated against COVID-19 or holding a valid medical exemption.  

Please read this RMIT Enrolment Procedure as it has important information regarding COVID vaccination and your study at RMIT: https://policies.rmit.edu.au/document/view.php?id=209.  

Please read the Student website for additional requirements of in-person attendance: https://www.rmit.edu.au/covid/coming-to-campus  

  

Please check your Canvas course shell closer to when the course starts to see if this course requires mandatory in-person attendance. The delivery method of the course might have to change quickly in response to changes in the local state/national directive regarding in-person course attendance.  

 

School: 535T Social Care and Health

Campus: City Campus

Program: C6154 - Advanced Diploma of Interpreting (LOTE-English)

Course Contact: Ya-Ping Kuo

Course Contact Phone: +(61 3) 9925 3771

Course Contact Email: ya-ping.kuo@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Combined Lectures Teacher:

Steph Palomares

steph.palomares@rmit.edu.au

Nominal Hours: 100

Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites

None.

Course Description

This unit describes the skills required to interpret from a source language to a target language in complex dialogue settings, preserving the communicative intent of the source language. The unit requires the ability to use a range of techniques to assist in the message transfer process and to address problems in delivery.


An interpreter in the dialogue setting is required to interpret between two languages in both directions. The physical elements of the setting, or the number of parties involved, limit the interpreter from managing the discourse. The interpreter may be required to switch modes in a challenging environment, where there is a range of participant interests and personal welfare and safety issues that need to be considered.


Interpreting in this setting typically requires high levels of accuracy and accountability and assignments involving formality, or participants with high status and accountability. The content may involve specialised subjects requiring a high level of subject knowledge, or intense assignment-specific preparation. The content of communication may not easily be predicted or planned for, and there are limited opportunities for error correction. The consequences of errors in communicative intent can have significant implications.


This unit applies to those working as interpreters working in consecutive and Auslan simultaneous modes, either alone, collaboratively in tandem, relay, or as part of a team.

This unit is delivered in a cluster as follows:

Interpreting Cluster (Spoken languages)

  • LANG5840C Interpret complex dialogues setting
  • LANG5844C Sight Translate
  • LANG5845C Use complex subject area terminology in interpreting
  • LANG5841C Interpret in complex monologue settings
  • LANG5847C Use note taking to recall and reproduce source messages
  • LANG5846C Use chuchotage (whispered simultaneous) to interpret       



National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

PSPTIS080 Interpret in complex dialogue settings (LOTE-English)

Element:

1.Receive and analyse source message

Performance Criteria:

1.1 Establish dialogue protocols with participants to facilitate communication dynamics and outcomes, and provide clarification where required.   1.2 Attend actively to source utterance, applying strategies to support retention and recall and adjusting physical position to optimise sound reception and visual cues.   1.3 Determine linguistic and non-linguistic elements of utterances and structure and complexities of discourse and analyse factors affecting meaning.   1.4 Identify and address issues of understanding or recall in a manner that does not compromise effective delivery.  

Element:

2.Transfer message to target language

Performance Criteria:

2.1 Use a range of advanced strategies to retain and recall messages, recalling information from notes or other mnemonic devices as appropriate to source language.   2.2 Use a range of strategies and techniques to effectively transfer communicative intent of utterance into target language and maintain impartiality.   2.3 Identify and address issues in message transfer promptly and according to established techniques.   2.4 Maintain flow of communication and manage discourse in a professional and culturally appropriate manner.   2.5 Identify circumstances requiring a switch in interpreting mode and manage mode switch.   2.6 Monitor interpreting process to identify when it is necessary to seek assistance or withdraw from assignment.

Element:

3.Evaluate interpreting performance

Performance Criteria:

3.1 Evaluate performance in line with issues encountered, assignment requirements and code of ethics.   3.2 Determine personal impact of assignment and identify need for debriefing and counselling.   3.3 Implement strategies to improve future work practices.

Learning Outcomes



Details of Learning Activities

This unit is delivered as part of the interpreting cluster comprising of: 

 

LANG5840C Interpret complex dialogues setting
LANG5844C Sight Translate
LANG5845C Use complex subject area terminology in interpreting
LANG5841C Interpret in complex monologue settings
LANG5847C Use note taking to recall and reproduce source messages 
LANG5846C Use chuchotage (whispered simultaneous) to interpret 

 

 

Activities may include comprehension and transfer exercises, note-taking practice, memory retention exercises, role play exercises, dialogue, monologue and chuchotage interpreting exercises using appropriate terminology in English and LOTE, discourse management practice in common domains where certified interpreters may expect to work including education, health, legal, immigration, business, welfare services, and in different settings such as face-to-face or over telephone.

 


Teaching Schedule

Please refer to the Canvas - Syllabus for the weekly teaching schedule. All tutorials and lectures are delivered face to face on campus. 

 

 


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts


References


Other Resources

The unit is supported online using CANVAS. CANVAS gives access to important announcements, staff contacts details, the teaching schedule, assessment timelines and a variety of important teaching and learning materials. Access to CANVAS can be found on RMIT website:  https://www.rmit.edu.au/students


Overview of Assessment

Assessment will be ongoing during the semester and you will be asked a variety of assessment tasks and activities to assess your level of competence against key performance criteria.

These assessment tasks/activities may include, but are not limited to:

- Practical demonstrations

- Role plays

- Observation checklists

- Real or simulated interpreting assignments (live or recorded)

- Action Learning Tasks


Assessment Tasks

Assessment Task 1

Pre-demonstration Knowledge Task

This knowledge assessment will allow you to demonstrate your:

  • general knowledge of sight translation and comprehension of written text language and its structure,
  • understanding and use of subject-specific terminology which supports interpreting in complex settings, and
  • cultural knowledge and understanding of theories that have influenced current interpreting practice.

 

  • This is a knowledge-based task with a series of short-answer questions. There are 15 questions, each with sub-questions.
  • There are three parts for the task, each relating specifically to the different units in this cluster:
    • Part A: Interpret in complex dialogue settings (LOTE/English)
    • Part B: Use complex subject area terminology in interpreting (LOTE-English)
    • Part C: Sight translate (LOTE/English)

 

Assessment Task 2

Dialogue Interpreting and Sight Translation Demonstrations

This practical assessment will allow you to demonstrate your skills and knowledge to successfully:

  • interpret from a source language to a target language in complex dialogue settings,
  • understand and use terminology from specific subject areas in English and a LOTE, and
  • produce sight translations from a written source text in its entirety and with a high degree of accuracy.

You will participate in two dialogue interpreting demonstrations and two sight translations.

These four demonstrations will occur in the following order:

    • Part A: Dialogue 1 – Telephone (remote, except for Auslan<>English Interpreters)
    • Part B: Sight Translation 1 (topic related to Part A: Dialogue 1)
    • Part C: Dialogue 2 – Face-to-face
    • Part D: Sight Translation 2 (topic related to Part C: Dialogue 2)

 

Assessment Task 3

Post-demonstration Reflection Report

This assessment will allow you to demonstrate your capacity to reflect on your skills and knowledge related to your interpreting and sight translation during Assessment Task 2: Dialogue Interpreting and Sight Translation Demonstrations.

  • This is a task with a series of short-answer questions.
  • You will be assessed on your answers provided in the template below.
  • You are encouraged to read the marking guide at the bottom of every question to ensure you have answered the question to the required standard.

 

 


Assessment Matrix

 

Element

Performance criteria

Task 1

Task 2

Task 3

1. Receive and analyse source message

1.1  Establish dialogue protocols with participants to facilitate communication dynamics and outcomes, and provide clarification where required.

 

A3

 

1.2  Attend actively to source utterance, applying strategies to support retention and recall and adjusting physical position to optimise sound reception and visual cues.

 

A1, 2, 7

 

1.3  Determine linguistic and non-linguistic elements of utterances and structure and complexities of discourse and analyse factors affecting meaning.

 

A4, 7

 

1.4  Identify and address issues of understanding or recall in a manner that does not compromise effective delivery.

 

A11

 

2. Transfer message to target language

2.1  Use a range of advanced strategies to retain and recall messages, recalling information from notes or other mnemonic devices as appropriate to source language.

 

A1, 7

R1

2.2  Use a range of strategies and techniques to effectively transfer communicative intent of utterance into target language and maintain impartiality.

 

A7, 9

 

2.3  Identify and address issues in message transfer promptly and according to established techniques.

 

A10, 11

 

2.4  Maintain flow of communication and manage discourse in a professional and culturally appropriate manner.

 

A10

 

2.5  Identify circumstances requiring a switch in interpreting mode and manage mode switch.

Q4

 

 

2.6  Monitor interpreting process to identify when it is necessary to seek assistance or withdraw from assignment.

 

A10

R5

3. Evaluate interpreting performance

3.1  Evaluate performance in line with issues encountered, assignment requirements and code of ethics.

 

 

R2

3.2  Determine personal impact of assignment and identify need for debriefing and counselling.

 

 

R4

3.3  Implement strategies to improve future work practices.

 

 

R3

Performance Evidence 

Evidence required to demonstrate competence must satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria.

If not otherwise specified, the candidate must demonstrate evidence of performance of the following on at least two occasions.

Task 1

Task 2

Task 3

  • applying educated native speaker language proficiency in the first and near native speaker language proficiency in the second language

 

A5

 
  • applying LOTE and English language skills required to achieve message transfer and performance in complex settings, including:

 

A4

 
    • conceptualising and coherently expressing complex and specialised information in the target language using special and context-specific terminology as necessary

 

A4

 
    • recognising and using a broad range of specialised and context-specific registers

 

A6

 
    • reproducing complex language structure and implied meaning

 

A7

 
    • using correct idioms and collocations

 

A7

 
    • using colloquial language as appropriate to context and register of source utterance

 

A5

 
  • including non-verbal cues in message transfer

 

A8

 
  • reflecting voluntary and involuntary pragmatic and prosodic features of utterances

 

A5

 
  • reproducing factual and linguistic content with a high degree of accuracy

 

A4

 
  • solving complex problems of equivalence in message transfer

 

A11

 
  • transferring cultural concepts and cues embedded in utterances

 

A8

 
  • managing sociolinguistic issues in message transfer

 

A5

 
  • using interpersonal and communication skills to interpret in a professional manner appropriate to participants and under challenging conditions

 

A9, A10

 
  • using advanced memory retention strategies, including producing decipherable records of key information for self, or others when team or tandem interpreting, when working in spoken languages

 

A1

 
  • managing the discourse assertively to identify and address complicated group dynamics and barriers to effective communication outcomes.

 

A10

 
  • recognising and resolving transfer problems and transfer errors

 

A11

 
  • applying broad general subject and context knowledge, including:

 

A4

 
    • community, business and diplomatic domains

 

A4

 
    • systems and institutions in Australia, different language communities, countries and relevant terminology

 

A4

 

Knowledge  Evidence 

Evidence required to demonstrate competence must satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria.

If not otherwise specified, the depth of knowledge demonstrated must be appropriate to the job context of the candidate.

Task 1

Task 2

Task 3
  • cultural knowledge, including cross-cultural perspective of communication and behaviour

Q1

 

 
  • modes of interpreting and techniques for managing mode switches

Q4

 

 
  • source language regional differences, dialects and idioms

Q5

 

 
  • theories that have influenced current interpreting practice, including:

Q2-3

 

 
    • effort model

Q3

 

 
    • form based and meaning based transfer

Q2

 

 

 

Other Information

Adjustments to Assessments • If for any reason you have difficulties completing or submitting by the due date, you must contact your coordinator for alternative arrangement:  If you need no more than a week, your coordinator can grant the extension. You must fill in an APPLICATION FOR EXTENSION OF TIME FOR SUBMISSION OF ASSESSABLE WORK (via http://mams.rmit.edu.au/seca86tti4g4z.pdf) and have it signed by your coordinator as proof of granted extension. The completed form must be submitted at least one working day before the official due date of the assessment. Missing any assessment tasks will result in a NOT YET COMPETENT grade for the cluster and is likely to render you ineligible to graduate.  If you need more than a week, you have to apply for University Special Consideration. You must lodge an application online, preferably prior to, but no later than two working days after the official date of assessment. When you apply for Special Consideration for units delivered in a cluster, you must include all units in the cluster in your application. For information about Special Consideration and how to apply, see: https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/student-essentials/assessment-and-exams/assessment/special-consideration   For further information about adjustments to assessments, please see: https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/student-essentials/assessment-and-exams/assessment/adjustments-to-assessment If your performance has been assessed as unsatisfactory, you can appeal the assessment decision according to the RMIT Assessment Policy and Procedures

 

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