Basic Skills of Interpreting

This 12-hour workshop introduces bilingual individuals and beginning interpreters to the roles of the interpreter, interpreter’s code of ethics, interpretation techniques, and other essential basics of interpreting.

Training Outline in Word

Training Outline in PDF

Janice JaffeTrainer:

Janice Jaffe has taught Spanish at the college level since 1980, with a specialization in Latin American literature and translation theory and practice. She lived for two years in Spain, and has traveled widely in Latin America, where she studied translation in Mexico and Cuba. A member of the American Translators Association and American Literary Translators Association, Janice has translated legal documents, literary essays and articles for scholarly journals. Most recently she, and Malvina Gregory, completed the translations for Latino Voices in New England. Janice began interpreting for Central American refugees twenty years ago, and helps coordinate interpreter training for USM’s medical program in the Dominican Republic.

2010 Training Dates & Times:

  • January 20 & 22. Registration deadline: Friday, January 8.
  • April 28 & 30. Registration deadline: Friday, April 16.
  • August 4 & 6. Registration deadline: Friday, July 16.
  • October 20 & 22. Registration deadline: Friday, October 1.

All trainings are on Wednesday and Friday, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm & 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Location: United Way of Greater Portland, One Canal Plaza, Suite 300, Portland

Free parking is not available. For a listing of parking garages, click here.

Training Pre-Requisites:

To show oral proficiency in English, please submit proof of one of the following:

  • Bachelor, Masters, PhD, or any other degree from any U.S. institution of higher education
  • TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score of 570+ on paper; 230+ on computer version; 90+ on iBT
  • ACTFL oral exam rating of "Advanced Low" and above

To show oral proficiency in other language(s), please submit proof of one of the following:

  • Bachelor, Masters, PhD, or any other degree from any institution of higher education in that language(s)
  • ACTFL oral exam rating of "Advanced Low" and above

Upon reviewing the candidate's credentials, LANA reserves the right to require language proficiency testing of any candidate.

Candidates who are unable to meet the above requirements will be scheduled to take the Language Testing International/ACTFL (American Council on Teaching Foreign Languages) oral exam. English, French, Russian, and Spanish speakers will be scheduled for the Oral Proficiency Interview by Computer (OPIc). Other language speakers will take the Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI). The minimum acceptable rating to enroll in this training is "Advanced Low".

Training Fee:

$75 per language test; $135 for actual training;

Limited number of scholarships is available.

How To Register:

Please return the Registration Form and training fee to Dolgormaa Hersom to:

Language Access for New Americans (LANA)
United Way of Greater Portland
One Canal Plaza, Suite 300

P.O. Box 15200
Portland, ME 04112-5200

Phone: 207.874.1000 ext. 2311

Fax: 207.874.1007

E-mail: dhersom@unitedwaygp.org

Credit card payments can be made over the phone. Once you submit the training registration form and the payment, you will be contacted regarding the language test(s).

Cancellation Policy:

Your payment is your commitment that you will take this workshop. If you register and are unable to attend, we must receive at least one-week notice since we have made a committment to our trainers. No refunds for cancellations will be made within a week prior to the class.

If you have any questions, please e-mail or call 207.874.1000 ext. 2311.