Certificate in Interpretation: English/Spanish – Spanish/English (CII)
The curriculum for the Certificate in Interpretation (CII) is designed to address three of the principal environments where interpretation (English-Spanish and Spanish-English) is currently needed and will be more intensely needed in the future: that is, legal, healthcare and business environments. In addition, governing interpretation principles are also studied for application to language environments covered and not covered by the program.
The program consists of 7 courses (3 credits each) to be taken in a predetermined fashion. Therefore, a total of 21 credits are required to complete the certificate.
The order of the courses is prescribed only at the beginning and the end of the program. The additional courses may be taken in the order desired by the student.
Goals and Objectives of the Program:
- To acquaint participants with the relatively new concept of Interpretation Studies by reading informed criticism in the theoretical field, thereby contextualizing the discipline in general terms.
- To fine tune participants’ working languages, so as to bring them up to the same level of proficiency as educated native speakers, and progressively train them to transfer messages from one language to another accurately and fluently.
- To provide training in consecutive and simultaneous interpreting and sight translation, from beginning to advanced levels, in the legal, healthcare and business fields. This training will allow them to perform to the standards of court, healthcare, or conference interpreters, as established by nationally-recognized associations in those fields. This includes a foundation in the standards of ethics and practice in the respective areas.
- To develop awareness of current issues in interpreting studies and practice, and of the importance of professionalizing this occupation as well as educating the public on the importance of and methods for using professional interpreters.
- To introduce participants to real-life working environments through guest speakers, possible on-site visits, and in-class simulations.
- To equip students to continue learning on their own, by teaching self-assessment techniques and reflective practice skills. Participants will also receive guidance on how to further their professional development.
- To enhance their linguistic competence and cultural awareness.
- To offer credits symbolizing academic achievement as well as a marketing tool.
- To create a new standard for interpreters in this geographic area.
- To train individuals for multi-competency employment.
- To keep pace with the need for linguistic specialists.
- To add Philadelphia to the national educational context of Interpretation Studies.
