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This page contains a number of tips for those of you taking
final
exams in conference interpreting. They will of course also apply to the
accreditation tests at international institutions. They have been
kindly volunteered by a number of colleagues, including several who
regularly sit on the juries of these exams and compiled here into a
three (and a half)sections, before the exam, consecutive and simultaneous
(and after the exam).
There are a lot of ideas here. Don't get to hung up on trying
to
remember them all.
A big thank you to, amongst others, Guy Laycock and Anna
Grzybowska
from the European Commission and Parliament respectively.
The illustration is kindly provided by Benoit Cliquet from
his book
of cartoons, Interpreters. To
see more click here.
Before the exam
On the day of your exam do a little practice
interpreting before you go in. If your test is early in the morning get
up a bit earlier and, using a cassette or a colleague as source
material, interpret one five minute speech each in consecutive and
simultaneous. The idea is just to wake you up and warm you up. Don't
get up at 5 am and practise for two hours! If your test is in the
afternoon you could do two speeches each in consecutive and
simultaneous, but DON'T practise all morning. You will wear yourself
out. Your peak for interpreting performance will be in that period when
you have warmed up sufficiently but not yet got tired.
Bring not ONE pencil, but several, and
probably a
well-checked biro or 2 would be better, pencils are known to break
under duress.
Dress smartly AND comfortably if at all
possible.
Urm... How shall I put this? Ladies, don't overdo it...
Introduction
If you have to talk about yourself as a warm
up to
the actual interpreting tests then be modest and truthful.
Consecutive
Don't wait to be asked to start your consec,
and
don't keep the jury (the examiners) waiting while you pore over your
notes. Start straightaway.
Take a deep breath just before you start
speaking.
This may sound funny, but make sure you
start the
consec in the right language! Many candidates (usually those who work
into a foreign language) will start off in the wrong language. Even if
it only gets a smile from the jury rather than outright disapproval it
will throw you off balance.
Make sure you are clearly audible to all.
That
means speaking clearly and loudly (without deafening anyone).
Look at the examiners, eye contact is
crucial.
Keep an even pace through out. Don't rush
when the
end is in sight.
Put on a good show.
Get a move on, don't bore the jury, aim to
make
your consec shorter than the original. As a rule of thumb your version
should be about 20% shorter in terms of time than the original.
Keep it concise and tidy.
Avoid any unnecessary rephrasing and/or
repetition.
Be businesslike and professional. Think of a
swan
on a lake. Above the water it looks majestic, in total control,
underneath the feet are paddling away furiously.
Even if you are not enjoying a difficult
technical
speech DON'T sigh, and don't look like you are not enjoying it. You
will only get sympathy for your professionalism, not for your
suffering! The jury will know that the text is difficult and you will
be rewarded for your attempts to deal with it in a professional manner.
Remember it is the message that is important.
Register. Is the speech a dry technical on,
or a
jokey story? Get the right register but don't over do it. If in doubt
keep it formal, avoid slipping into the colloquial.
If at the end you ask a question, make sure
you
understand the answer and don't ignore it or forget it. Don't ask more
than two questions, and make them clear and specific. (ie. "Could you
please repeat the name of the Mayor of X " and NOT "What was that bit
about the factory, I didn't catch that". )
Take care to note down the ending if you can!
The
last words of a speech will often contain some important message that
the speech has been working towards. Don't miss it! You may even want
to note it in longhand.
When you've said you bit, get up and leave.
Don't
hang around, you will be asked to leave anyway so the jury can consult.
Leave with a polite smile.
Simultanaeous
Water... have some ready poured, don't pour on
mike.
Make sure the conditions are as they should
be... can
you hear the speaker, can you see the speaker. Ask the jury, "can you
hear me" before you start.
Make sure you have several pens or pencils and
some
paper in the booth.
Only turn the mike on for the actual
interpreting,
not for the intro to the speech if the speaker gives one.
Keep some distance from the microphone so your
breathing cannot be heard.
Sound relaxed but interested. You want to know
what
is coming next.
Don't umm and err.
Don't swear! (Sounds obvious but it happens).
Your smile should be audible to the jury, not
your
struggling with the speech.
Look up at the jury and the speaker. You are
engaged
in a communicative activity and eye contact will help you and your
listeners.
Avoid monotonous intonation but don't be
theatrical
either. Beware of sounding patronizing.
You are like an actor who has been given his
lines at
the last minute but still has to put on a good show.
Beware the purity of your mother tongue. Do a
bit of
warming up, read some good mother tongue prose on your way into the
exam or while you are waiting - it will get you into the right language
frame.
Be businesslike...and professional... Don't
stop! You
will say things that are less than ideal, you may miss something out.
Don't dwell on it, move on and keep going...
...as a very last resort... it is clearly too
fast
for you rather than stuff it up say "the interpreter would ask the
speaker to slow down".
Microphones are very sensitive these days. Use
your
pencil to take down info, not for scribbling. If you are prone to
scribbling while you work, you should definitely use something that
does not make a noise.
Take down notes on loose sheets of paper that
can be
moved without too much rustling. If you can, note everything on one
single sheet.
Use the cough button if you need to clear your
throat, it is what the ..
Switch off the microphone at the end.
Afterwards
Behave professionally at all times. If you
pass you
can of course smile and look relieved, but punching the air and
shouting hooray are definitely out.
Likewise if you are unlucky enough fail be
graceful... you may wish to come back and be tested again soon so
bitter, impolite or caustic remarks, withering looks and expressions of
disbelief should be avoided.
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