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Interpreter Training Options

Agencies receiving federal funds need to ensure that they have trained, qualified interpreters in order to provide quality services and meet the requirements of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. Individuals who wish to be community interpreters need to obtain training in order to meet their professional responsibilities to clients and agencies. Agencies may contact the trainers identified below in order to arrange for interpretation training for the staff or contracted interpreters they use.

Wisconsin Court Interpreter Training

Orientation
This program covers the fundamentals of court interpreting. It is designed to give participants an overview of the needs and expectations of the court, with emphasis on ethical conduct, legal terminology, court procedure and basic legal interpreting skills. It includes small group practice exercises to develop interpreter skills. It is appropriate for both foreign language and sign language interpreters. The fee is $130 for the two-day training.

Written Exams
After the training, an interpreter can take a multiple choice exam covering, general English proficiency, the interpreter code of ethics, legal terminology, and a translation, which are offered approximately eight weeks after the training.

Oral Certification Exam
When an interpreter passes the written exam, the next step is the Oral Certification Exam. This exam tests the interpreter’s ability to interpreter in the three modes of interpreting, simultaneous, consecutive and sight translation in a legal setting. Only interpreters who successfully complete the orientation, written exam and oral certification exam and meet the character and fitness requirements are eligible for Wisconsin Certification.

For more information regarding training, please visit the Court Interpreter Training Program website or you may contact Carmel Capati at 608-266-8635.

INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF WISCONSIN

The Interpreter and Translator Training Seminar is an intensive ten hour seminar which gives the interpreter an overview of the fundamentals of interpreting and translating and the background to continue working as a professional. None of the courses are language-specific, so all spoken-language interpreters are welcome to apply.

The training is divided into three parts, which consist of the skills and role of the interpreter and the Code of Ethics, legal interpretation, and medical interpretation. Completion of all three parts is mandatory for successful completion of the seminar.

Upon successful screening and course completion, your name will be listed on the International Institute registry of qualified interpreters. You will then have access to the Institute’s own library of resources and receive a periodic newsletter.

The registration fee for the ten-hour seminar including materials and refreshments is $140.* Lunch is not included.

Please contact Klara Gercaliu for more information and seminar prerequisites at 414-225-6220. The International Institute of Wisconsin is located at 1110 N. Old World Third St., Ste. 420, Milwaukee, WI 53203.

Medical Interpreter Training

The quality of healthcare often depends as much on the interpreter as the provider. The Bureau of Migrant Refugee & Labor Services subsidizes the Bridging the Gap training. Bridging the Gap is a medical interpreter training program through non-profit Cross Cultural Health Care Program (CCHCP), which provides a five-day training. It trains participants on ethics, roles and boundaries for interpreters, specialized vocabulary and resources and provides considerable role-playing experience. Roster of Trained Medical Interpreters

*COST OF TRAINING

Agencies are encouraged to contract directly with any of these trainers for sessions in your community. For a limited number of sessions, which have already been established, partial scholarships for the training fees are available for participants who speak refugee languages. Contact the trainer directly concerning these scholarships.

Related Links

• A list of interpreter courses in court and medical interpreting within Wisconsin as well as from other states in foreign and sign language; also self-study materials.  Compiled by the Wisconsin Court Interpreter Training program.
• Oral Interpreter Contract
  This resource may be used by all state agencies and DWD partners to obtain Oral Interpretation services in a wide variety of languages. Each agency which wishes to use this vendor must arrange for payment and correct charging, using a blanket purchase order or other payment method.
• Nebraska Association for Translators and Interpreters
  Listing of activities of Association