Other Modes and Arrangements Exercises
Booth Manners and Team Work (advanced)
DESCRIPTION
This exercise works best in simultaneous. Participants have to work in pairs and are told that they will have to switch turns in the middle of the speech when the speaker gives a specific signal. They therefore have to decide in advance with their partner how they will do this is a seamless manner. Plus, when they are not interpreting, the partner has to note down figures and names for the interpreter and figure out how to show these to them, such that it helps and does not distract.
AIM
Participants learn that they can rely on each other for help. At the same time, they learn how to sound professional and competent on mic, while respecting that they are working with a colleague. Recap booth rules like no eating, typing while the partner is working, leaving the booth silently if needed, resting but being present in case your booth mate needs something.
Relay (advanced)
Relay is usually used in simultaneous but in case equipment is not available, it can also be done in consecutive (though it would be quite time-consuming). You can also consider using mobile phones to create a relay set up – the interpreter calls the listener who is outside the room, and provides the interpretation to them by telephone.
DESCRIPTION
Participants are divided into groups of three, where one stays in the room with the speaker and two leave the room. The speaker gives a 5-minute speech and group member 1 interprets. Group member 2 is listening to this interpretation and provides their interpretation to group member 3, who takes notes. After the speech is over, all three group members get together and group member 3 relays the content in consecutive. The group internally discusses how the relay worked, accuracy of content, what could be improved on, challenges + possible solutions for the same. Repeat till all participants have been group members 1, 2 and 3.
AIM
Participants learn what it is like to use and provide relay. The exercise must definitely be followed by a discussion of the points to be kept in mind when providing relay (short, clear sentences; complete ideas and don’t abandon them mid-way, leaving the other interpreters hanging) as well as using relay (when in doubt, leave it out; finish as soon as possible after the relay to avoid lag). Ask participants if relay was sometimes easier to work with, considering the information has already been processed by an interpreter and thus presented in a clear way.
Liaison interpreting: press conference/interview (advanced)
DESCRIPTION
This exercise is a simulation of a press conference or interview and works best when the interpreter has a bi-active combination. The trainer can either use a transcript of an interview or choose to set up a more improvised arrangement where one person is the interviewee, while the participants are the journalists asking questions. If using a transcript, it can be given to the interviewer/interviewee in advance so that they can prepare the content in the language they will be speaking in for the purposes of the interview. Participants are assigned the roles of interviewer, interviewee and liaison interpreter. To ensure that the interviewer/interviewee/journalists do not hear the original and are truly working on the basis of the interpretation, they must listen to the radio/cover their ears when anyone besides the interpreter is speaking. Repeat till multiple participants have played the respective roles. Follow up with a discussion on how the communication flowed and how this mode represents specific challenges.
AIM
Participants learn to switch quickly between languages and also realise how much of a role they play in facilitating communication. They combine a number of skills like memory, note-taking, text analysis and reformulation to ensure that they are communicating successfully and keeping the conversation flowing. Make sure to tell participants that as the interpreter, they can ask the interviewer/interviewee for quick clarifications in terms of content and also ask them to break up their response into sections if it is too long (let participants know before starting the exercise that they are allowed to do this). Highlight the importance of body language and poise and discuss how the interpreting experience changes now that you are also in the limelight and much more exposed than in the booth.