Frequently Asked Questions about The Effective Interpreting Series
For students/ interpreters/ teachers
1. What is The Effective Interpreting Series?
The Effective Interpreting Series is a ten-volume set of interpreter education materials that can be used for classroom study or independent study. The series combines clearly explained topics and research with practical exercises that increase the skills needed to interpret effectively. Each set contains a book, and a DVD with natural language excerpts in either ASL or English.
2. How many of the ten volumes have been released?
In July 2009 the seventh of the ten volumes was released, Cognitive Processing in ASL. The other seven volumes in print are ASL Skills Development, English Skills Development, Cognitive Processing in English, Translating from English, Consecutive Interpreting from English, and Simultaneous Interpreting from English.
3. What is the difference between the Teacher's Guide and the Study Set?
The Teacher's Guide contains all of the information that is in the Study Set plus discussion questions for each unit's topic, and guidance about possible student performance. The DVD that accompanies the Teacher's Guide has the same content as the Study Set DVD.
4. How are the books and DVDs organized?
The sets (book/DVD) are organized in units. Each unit has introductory information about a topic or skill like "multitasking" or "main idea identification." Also in each unit are carefully designed exercises. The source material is on the accompanying DVD. The exercises and study questions guide you through interaction with the DVD.
5. Why do you suggest doing each exercise more than once?
Some people think it is like 'cheating' to practice on warm material, but that's not true! Practice on familiar material allows you to develop better control, and helps improve the various skills and processes used for interpreting.
6. I noticed that the speakers sometimes make mistakes when they talk or sign. Didn't they rehearse their lines?
Effective practice material must focus on naturally occurring discourse, complete with mistakes, repetitions, and fillers. This is the type of discourse interpreters will encounter in the real world. All of the speakers and signers in the series were asked to think about several ideas: A brief introduction, a short personal story, how to do something, and a short lecture. The speakers did not write out their remarks and did not rehearse them.
7. What is a progress tracking sheet?
At the end of each chapter is a place for you to keep track of your work. You may choose to just write a comment (qualitative analysis) or you may assign points to your work (quantitative analysis). Both systems are explained in the study set.
8. How long would it take to study the topics in one study set?
TEACHERS: The study sets are designed to provide enough material for a semester-long 3-credit course, if all exercises, study questions, and follow-up exercises are completed.
INDEPENDENT STUDY: Depending on the agreement made with an RID approved sponsor, times can vary.
9. As a working interpreter, do I use the Study Set or Teacher's Guide? How do I set up my independent study?
Working interpreters would benefit from buying Teacher's Guides. The additional tips and information for teachers will also help working interpreters.
To set up independent study, first you need to locate an approved CMP/ACET sponsor. Do this by going to www.rid.org. Complete a participant initiated non-RID activities (PINRA) or independent studies form and have it approved by your sponsor. You and the sponsor will agree on what work is to be completed and what the timeframe will be as well as the total number of CEU's you can earn.
10. What are some other ways I can use the materials?
A great way to get the most of The Effective Interpreting Series is to "mix and match" video segments and exercises. If you've completed several sets of materials, but still need practice in a particular skill (like "delayed repetition") you can use video selections from any other part of the series, matched with specific exercises to reinforce your practice.
11. I'm an interpreter educator. Our program has not required students to purchase textbooks in the past, especially not workbooks. Why should I require my students to purchase their own study sets?
There are many reasons to require study sets for your students, like having everyone use the same materials, create more in-class time for discussion, and to make your prep work a little easier!
Interpreter education is very labor-intensive for teachers. In order to maximize contact time with your students it is extremely beneficial to have all students studying the same material at the same time. This will help you identify student strengths and weaknesses. In addition, by providing outstanding source material, you save time. Teachers don't have to search for appropriate material and then think up what exercise would best suit that source material since all of this work has been done for you in preparing The Effective Interpreting Series.
Also, by assigning out-of-class study, you teach students to take responsibility for developing their skills on their own time.
Nationwide, we have a shortage of interpreter education graduates who are fully ready to enter the job market. By providing students with study materials they can use in the program and on their own as they enter the field, we improve the supply of well-qualified graduates.
Effective Interpreting Series
Teacher Training Sessions
EIS Overview Training — 2 days
The goal of this training is to give
you an overview of the first seven volumes in The Effective Interpreting
Series (EIS) with an emphasis on improving your teaching.
Individual Volume Training — 2 Days
In a 2-day training session, a more
in-depth treatment of a single volume of EIS is available. These
trainings offer guidance in teaching intralingual skills followed by
interlingual skills.
Comprehensive Training — 6 Days
This allows you to enjoy training in
all 7 volumes. This training may be offered in two 3-day sessions.
Trainings of 3 or 4 days can also
be arranged upon request.
All trainings will cover the following
information about EIS:
- Assumptions behind EIS
- Overview of how to use the
materials in the volumes being discussed more effectively
- How to fit EIS into existing
curricula
- How specific information
and skill building provided in each volume can improve student outcomes
Number of Participants
Language
All trainings are presented in spoken
English. Interpreting services, if needed are the responsibility
of the host site.
(Training Time, Room, Equipment, Texts, Expenses)
Training Time
A minimum of 2 days and a maximum
of 6 days (depending on training content) from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
with an hour and a half break for lunch recommended.
However, the facilities must be
available at 8:30 a.m. for set up, and until 5:00 p.m. each day. The
final day of training may be scheduled from 8 a. m. to 3:30 p. m.
Room Requirements
Each room must be large enough for participants
(20) to sit comfortably and have a writing surface. Desks should
be arranged in a U-shape. Lighting should have variable control to improve
visibility. There must be doors that close and walls that ensure
noise reduction. Adequate drinking water should be provided for
participants. Break out rooms or spaces are required for practice
sessions. Number of rooms or spaces varies depending on training
selected. The instructor requires a table with nearby access to
an electrical outlet and a stool or chair. The LCD projector should
include an extension cord to ensure that it can be connected to the
instructor's laptop and a remote control.
Equipment Needs
- Chalkboard with chalk, or
whiteboard with markers and dry eraser.
- SMART CLASSROOM or LCD EQUIPMENT
that has a remote control and allows input to be changed for various
sources.
- VIDEO with a remote control,
DVD, AND CD player.
- DVD player and large monitor
with a fully operational remote control
- A copy of teacher's DVD
that corresponds to the topic of the specific training.
- In some cases recording equipment
may be requested for participants to record their work.
- Participants should bring
laptops, audio recorders and in some cases video recorders along with
appropriate recording media.
Required Texts
Each participant is required
to bring his or her own EIS Teacher's Guide that corresponds to the
training being offered.
To order your EIS Teacher's
Guide, contact the publisher:
When placing your orders, explain
these materials are for the EIS Teacher Training and indicate when you
would like to receive them. Please place your order early to avoid
higher shipping costs.
Expenses
- Honorarium for Trainer
— Please send an email to effectiveinterpreting@dawnsign.com for complete information)
- Hotel
— Non-smoking, pet free room that is located away from the ice
machine and the elevator.
- Car
— Rental (1 car) to be picked up & dropped off at the airport.
- Air Fare
— Unless otherwise stated, the preferred point of departure is
BWI (Baltimore/Washington International Airport). (Trainer will
make flight arrangements).
- Mailing Charges
— The site coordinator is responsible to reimburse trainer for
any fees associated with mailing the handouts.
- Meals-
Site Coordinator will reimburse trainer for all meal expenses.
- DawnSignPress Coordinator
Serves as the first point of contact for all training requests.
- Send training information
to the site coordinator
- Communicate the following
information to everyone involved:
- Name of sponsoring agency
(educational institution or organization)
- Name and phone number and
cell phone number of training site coordinator
- Location of training
- Once the training dates are
set with the trainer, and cost for training has been determined by site
coordinator, DawnSignPress will work with the “site” coordinator
to:
- Advertise the training via
email notification list
- Arrange for participants
to buy and receive teacher's sets prior to the training.
- Send proof of attendance
to participants after the training has been completed.
- Make flight arrangements
and coordinate her travel schedule, with site coordinator
- Send copies of handouts to
site coordinator (if needed)
- Send a letter of agreement
or contract to presenter confirming dates and acceptance of all terms
described above. The agreement shall be between Spectrum Concepts,
Inc and the host site institution.
- Please send a copy of the
letter of agreement to:
- Send driving direction from
airport to hotel and hotel to training site via email at least 5 business
days in advance of the training.
- Check with business office
at the site 3- 4 weeks in advance to identify what specific types of
information will be required from trainer and when they will be required
to ensure payment of training fees and expenses. Examples of considerations
follow.
- Will presenter need to submit
a written invoice?
- Resume?
- EIN
- Tax withholding forms
- Other items?
- Make arrangements with DSP
if necessary to have copies of teacher's sets available for purchase
prior to training.
- Reserve hotel room for trainer
(direct billing for hotel room, or advance payment is preferred).
- Make copies of handouts (if
needed) for participants and trainer
- Give trainer a roster listing
the names, email addresses, AND physical addresses of those that will
be attending the training, and retrieve those rosters at the completion
of the training as verification of attendance. The list is then
emailed / faxed to DawnSignPress showing which participants completed
the training.
- Send a list of phone numbers
(including cell phone numbers) to trainer where the site coordinator
can be reached the day of travel and the days of training both during
the day and the evening, also the phone numbers for the hotel, the airline,
car rental agency, and appropriate confirmation numbers.
- The site coordinator (or
designee) is to be available during the entire training should any problems
or emergencies arise pertaining to facilities, equipment, and / or participants.
- Provides explicit information
regarding parking at the training site, including a map if necessary
along with instructions from the parking area to the classroom.
- Arrange refreshments be
provided in the morning and mid-afternoon, i.e. coffee, tea, water,
juice, fruits, vegetables, pastries or donuts.
- Make arrangements for CEU's
to be awarded to the participants.
- Provide interpreting services,
if necessary. Participants may not serve as interpreters.
Cancellation Policy
— Once a contract has been agreed upon by both parties, the following
cancellation policy is in effect.
- All out-of- pocket expenses
refunded at any time of cancellation
- Cancellation 3 months in
advance of booked date is to be paid at 50% of honorarium
- Cancellation 2 months in
advance - 75% of honorarium
- Cancellation 1 month in advance
- full honorarium
