Interpreter Qualify Standard

AUXILIARY INTERPRETER CORPS PROGRAM - QUALIFYING CRITERIA FOR INTERPRETERS

All Applicants must have completed Introduction to Risk Management, ICS 100, ICS 700, be basically qualified or higher (BQ),  and be current in Core Training (AUX-CT) before applying.

All Applicants must fill out the Interpreter Application, and then pass a Personal Qualification Standard which involves (i) approximately 20 min conversation in the target language and in English; (ii) a 20-30 min verbal interpretation exercise involving increasingly complex and multiple sentences heard in the target language and then interpreted back into English - and vice versa; and (iii) a written translation performed on the applicant's own time translating two paragraphs from English to the target language and two paragraphs from the target language to English. As dictionary aides (but no outside help) is allowed, a high quality translation is expected.  

The evaluation and assessment is made at the discretion of the Language Qualification Examiner (LQE)  following the International Language Roundtable scoring system adapted to our Auxiliary needs. A minimum level of "2+" is required  in all tree areas of the assessment to qualify as an AUX  interpreter. The Levels are described in more detail below. A "2+" is generally considered to be a strong intermediate proficiency. No Auxiliary interpreter should be considered to be at a professional or expert level as the tasks perfomed for the USCG and other agencies often  involves not only good language proficiency but technical vocabulary and subject matter expertise.

LEVEL 5 (Not awarded currently)

Translation: Can successfully translate virtually all texts, including those where lack of linguistic and cultural parallelism between the source language and the target language requires precise congruity judgments and the ability to apply a translation methodology. Expression is flawless. Nonetheless, the resulting product may be subject to quality control.

Interpretation: Able to excel consistently at interpreting in the mode (simultaneous, consecutive, and sight) required by the setting and provide accurate renditions of informal, formal, and highly formal discourse. Conveys the meaning of the speaker faithfully and accurately, including all details and nuances, reflecting the style, register, and cultural context of the source language, without omissions, additions or embellishments. Demonstrates superior command of the skills required for interpretation, including mastery of both working languages and their cultural context, and wide-ranging expertise in specialized fields. Outstanding delivery, with pleasant voice quality and without hesitations, unnecessary repetitions, and corrections. Exemplifies the highest standards of professional conduct and ethics.

Oral Communication: Able to produce fully successful translations of audio materials consistently and reliably. Can overcome, to the extent possible, virtually all factors impeding comprehension of the source.

LEVEL 4 

Translation: Can successfully apply a translation methodology to translate a wide variety of complex texts that contain difficult, abstract, idiomatic, highly technical, and colloquial writing. Able to capture subtleties, nuances, and tone and register (such as official, formal, and informal writing. Can translate materials outside the individual’s specialties, but may not reach the absolute subject matter accuracy of the specialist in the given field. The resulting product is a professional translation which may be subject to quality control.

Interpretation: Able to interpret in the mode (simultaneous, consecutive, and sight) required by the setting and provide almost completely accurate renditions of complex, colloquial, and idiomatic speech as well as formal and some highly formal discourse. Conveys the meaning of the speaker faithfully, including many details and nuances, reflecting the style, register, and cultural context of the source language, without omissions, additions or embellishments. Demonstrates mastery of the skills required for interpretation, including command of both working languages and their cultural context, expertise in some specialized fields, and ability to prepare new specialized topics rapidly and routinely. Very good delivery, with pleasant voice quality and only occasional hesitations, repetitions or corrections.Performance reflects the highest standards of professional conduct and ethics.  

Oral Communication: Able to produce full and accurate translations of audio materials, generally reflecting style, register, and cultural context in most respects. Can overcome, to the extent possible, most unfavorable conditions and other factors impeding comprehension of the source. Except for passages that may be particularly unclear, repeated listening of the recording is often not necessary, enabling the individual to proceed at a fast pace and normally meet deadlines. 

LEVEL 3 

Translation: Can translate texts that contain not only facts but also abstract language, showing an emerging ability to capture their intended implications and many nuances. Word choice and expression generally adhere to target language norms and rarely obscure meaning. The resulting product is a draft translation, subject to quality control. 

Interpretation: Able to interpret consistently in the mode (simultaneous, consecutive, and sight) required by the setting, provide renditions of informal as well as some colloquial and formal speech with adequate accuracy, and normally meet unpredictable complications successfully. Can convey many nuances, cultural allusions, and idioms, though expression may not always reflect target language conventions. Adequate delivery, with pleasant voice quality. Hesitations, repetitions or corrections may be noticeable but do not hinder successful communication of the message. Can handle some specialized subject matter with preparation. Performance reflects high standards of professional conduct and ethics.

Oral Communication: Able to produce reasonably accurate translations of conversations that exhibit some complexity and deal with topics outside everyday matters. Can usually render jargon, slang, and speech that is colloquial, substandard, or regional. Able to capture most nuances, idioms, and cultural allusions, reflecting the source register appropriately. Can often, but not always, overcome many unfavorable conditions and other factors impeding comprehension of the source. 

LEVEL 2+  THIS IS THE MINIMUM LEVEL NEEDED FOR QUALIFICATION 

Translation: Can render straightforward texts dealing with everyday matters that include statements of fact as well as some judgments, opinion, or other elements which entail more than direct exposition, but do not contain figurative language, complicated concepts, complex sentence structures, or instances of syntactic or semantic skewing. 

Interpretation: Able to transfer information, not always accurately and completely, during routine, every day, repetitive exchanges in informal settings, but unable to perform adequately in the standard interpretation modes. May falter, stammer, or pause, and often resort to summarizing speech content. Idiomatic or cultural expressions may not be rendered appropriately in most instances. Language may be stilted or awkward.

Oral Communication: Able to render straightforward conversations mostly accurately. Demonstrates emerging ability to transfer slang, colloquial, substandard, regional, or coded language, and can overcome some unfavorable conditions, such as multiple speakers and overlapping exchanges. 

LEVEL 2 

Translation: Able to render into the target language some straightforward, factual texts in the standard variety of the source language. Can typically render accurately uncomplicated prose (such as that used in short identification documents, simple letters, instructions, and some narrative reports) that does not contain figurative language, complex sentence structures, embedding, or instances of syntactic or semantic skewing.

Interpretation: Unable to transfer information reliably in most instances. May communicate some meaning when exchanges are short, involve subject matter that is routine or discourse that is repetitive or predictable, but may typically require repetition or clarification. Expression in the target language is frequently faulty.

Oral Communication: Able to render with some accuracy straight forward everyday conversations on concrete matters, and topic-specific information if familiar with the subject matter. Can sometimes overcome sporadic unfavorable conditions, such as background noise, after listening repeatedly to the recording.