Revised 8/2022
INT 130 - Interpreting: An Introduction to the Profession (3 CR.)
Course Description
Introduces basic principles and practices of interpreting, focusing on the history of the profession, logistics of interpreting situations, regulatory and legislative issues, resources, and the Code of Ethics. Describes the state quality assurance screening and national certification exam systems, including test procedures. Lecture 3 hours per week.
General Course Purpose
Provide an overview of the interpreting profession and to prepare students for successful completion of the National Interpreting Certification (NIC) Knowledge exam, and the Virginia Quality Assurance Screening (VQAS) written Exam.
Course Prerequisites/Corequisites
None.
Course Objectives
Upon completing the course, the student will be able to:
- Compare and contrast the difference between a "Transliterator", “Translator” and an "interpreter" by describing at least one characteristic pertaining to each;
- Provide a basic overview of the history of the interpreting profession;
- Compare and contrast the NAD-RID Code of Professional Conduct, RID Code of Ethics, and the EIPA Guidelines of Professional Conduct.
- Identify and outline the salient features of regulatory and legislative issues regarding interpreting; and
- Describe the components of the RID national interpreting certifications, the Virginia Quality Assurance Screening, and the Educational Interpreters’ Performance Assessment.
Major Topics to Be Included
- History of the profession of interpreting
- Professional Codes of Conduct
- Best practices in ethical decision making
- ASL-English interpreter assessment
- Cultural and linguistic mediation
- Models of Interpreting
- Logistics of interpreting
- Regulatory and legislative issues regarding interpreting