Professional Interpreter

2300 Lakeview Parkway, Suite 700

Alpharetta, Georgia, 30009

Phone: 1-800-433-0427

ONLINE COURSES

College and University Systems
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College and University Systems
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Distance Learning Classes
to Fit Your Schedule

Begin a career as a Professional Interpreter

This course will enable you to develop the skills necessary to use your knowledge of languages to help other people communicate. You'll start by gaining a clear understanding of what interpreting is; the different interpreting techniques, settings, and delivery modes; and the differences between a career in public services interpreting and other language-related fields. In addition, you'll learn how to control the communication flow of an interpreting encounter to ensure that all parties are recognized and heard during the meeting.

What you will learn

Become an effective communicator
Master listening skills
Learn how to transfer information in multicultural situations
Develop interpreting-specific skills such as short-term memory retention, shadowing, note-taking, sight-translation, consecutive interpreting, and more

How you will benefit

Complete the course and be listed for free in an employer-searchable directory
Make a difference in the lives of people in need of communication/translation services
Spend time in rewarding multicultural situations
Gain the confidence and skills needed to kick off your career as a public services interpreter

Prerequisites

Must have a high school education (or equivalent) and be bilingual.

Hardware Requirements

This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.
Headphones or speakers.

Registration and Enrollment

This course is 100% online. Start anytime.

Professional Interpreter FAQs

DOES THIS COURSE PREPARE FOR A CERTIFICATION?

You will not be certified, but you will have a Certificate of Completion. This means that you can begin working as a professional interpreter, but you cannot say that you are certified. You can say that you are a "trained" interpreter. (The situation is similar to someone who has a degree in accounting: The person could work as a bookkeeper, but is not an accountant until passing the CPA exam.) This course gives you the foundation for future specialized coursework in medical and judicial interpreting (certification exams exist in these disciplines in some countries). The difference is, this course will enable you to become a general interpreter just as soon as you complete it.

WHAT KIND OF SUPPORT WILL I RECEIVE?

The course instructor will be available by email to answer any questions and provide feedback on your performance. Occasionally, your course may be supported by a team of industry experts. You will also receive support from the student advising team.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I COMPLETE THE COURSE?

Upon successful completion of the course, you will be awarded a Certificate of Completion.

AM I GUARANTEED A JOB?

This course will provide you with the skills you need to obtain an entry-level position in most cases. Potential students should always do research on the job market in their area before registering.

WHAT ARE THE LANGUAGE COMBINATIONS?

English plus any other language.

HOW MUCH CAN I EARN WHEN I FINISH THE COURSE?

Immediately after you finish the course, you can begin accepting interpreting assignments. The average hourly rate for new interpreters is $20 per hour. Simply follow the instructions in the career module of the Professional Interpreter course and you will be on your way to accepting interpreting assignments right away.

IS THERE A LANGUAGE TEST?

Yes. As part of your course, you will be required to take a spoken language fluency assessment in both your "A" Language (native language) and your "B" Language (second language). These tests are included in your tuition cost and are conducted over the phone. Certified testers will have a conversation with you in your languages, designed to assess your level of fluency on a 1-5 scale. You must have a fluency level of at least 3 in that scale in both languages to pass. If you do not obtain a level 3 fluency qualification in both languages, you will not pass the course. In order to be an interpreter, you must have full verbal fluency in two (or more) languages. The final fluency assessment is offered in 88 languages. If your language is not offered, this program is still recommended as you will gain the knowledge and skills necessary to be a functioning interpreter.

COURSE: Professional Interpreter

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