The Professional Interpreter in Community Setting

Language is key to communication, culture, and understanding. As a Community Interpreter you can bridge the gap between parties who do not share a language, and make information more accessible to all.

The Professional Interpreter in Community Settings lays the foundations for your skills in interpreting in community settings. Community interpreting contexts relate primarily to the areas of Healthcare, Education, and Social Services.

Your instructor will work with you individually to understand your personal and professional goals and will provide guidance on best pathways towards becoming a professional interpreter.

Course format and dates

This course is eight weeks long and offered synchronously online. The course will run the second half of the Spring 2025 semester, between March 11-May 11. Meeting days and times are TBD.

Cost

The course costs $595 with a $35 processing fee. Full tuition waivers are available for MSU Denver students, staff, and faculty. Please email [email protected] to receive information about tuition waivers.

Prerequisite

Please note that this course requires proof of proficiency in Spanish. A short prerequisite exam must be completed before registration is completed.

This course provides an overview of interpreting in community settings. Community interpreting is an umbrella specialization that includes interpreting primarily in Healthcare, Education, and Social Services. This course offers students opportunities to develop their interpreting skills in the field. It also provides an overview of current national initiatives working to formalize the interpreting profession. Coursework includes theoretical knowledge and practical application of interpreting skills, applying existing codes of ethics and standards of practice from one interpreting specialization to another, glossary development, critical thinking and decision-making process, and role-plays / presentation exercises that simulate different kinds of encounters in community interpreting settings.

Learning outcomes

• Describe common encounters in community interpreting settings (education, healthcare, social services).
• Describe terminology and vocabulary for different settings.
• identify the role(s) of the interpreter in community interpreting encounters.
• Apply interpreter codes of ethics and standards.
• Apply appropriate decision-making strategies for common challenges in community interpreting.
• Employ sight translation, consecutive and simultaneous interpreting skills in community settings.