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Interpreter

Last modified: November 07, 2011, 01:25 PM
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This is an ideal career for an intuitive thinker. The aim of interpreting is to enable spoken communication, in contrast to translation which is concerned with written communication. Most interpreters work for themselves and are given assignments by agencies.

Qualifications & leading Universities  

 

You need to be at least bilingual know English and another language really well. There are no formal graduate or post graduate qualification requirements. To work within Australia, you need accreditation or recognition from NAATI (National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters Ltd).  Some university courses and TAFE courses lead to NAATI accreditation or recognition and NAATI holds its own accreditation exams. 

 

The raw materials are language, general knowledge and cultural awareness. Vocabulary range is vital, and tertiary training will extend your vocabulary. Pronunciation and clarity of speech help, and since you are a background service provider, absence of self importance will help too. 

 

University qualifications in the humanities are excellent as general background training for interpreters. Interpreting is however intensely practical, not analytical, and therefore not well suited to academic training. You learn on the job - there is no other way. A degree in interpreting does however confer prestige, and practice in conference interpreting may only be available via a training course. TAFE has diploma courses. There are various university courses in interpreting. The University of Western Sydney has several at Bachelor of Arts and postgraduate level. Macquarie University has a postgraduate diploma, and the University of Queensland is known in particular for Japanese.

 

The field is fluid and courses do change. Check individual institutions for their offerings.

The entry criteria for tertiary institiutions differs from year to year. The above comments are a guide only. To gain specific entry criteria either contact the relevant university or use Hobson's The Good University Guide.

Relevant Universities Colleges & TAFE

Careernav have trolled through all the universities, specialist colleges and TAFE’s across the nation to identify those courses we consider relevant to this career. We have only focussed on the core single degree and its full time period. We acknowledge many combination degrees are available and different students combine different degrees. Course names also differ by university and we have grouped like courses together. We may have missed the odd course being offered, so we recommend for a more detailed guide check with the universities direct or one of the university course guide books such as Hobson’s. Please note Careernav are totally impartial and do not recommend one tertiary institution over another. To view the A to Z of tertiary institutions that offer relevant courses for this career.

 

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Promoting Tertiary Institutions

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About the Author

The author of this occupation profile is a highly respected within industry but due to time commitments has a little more work to do to complete the profile. Please check back over the next two weeks

Did You Know?

Did you know there is no word in the English language that rhymes with month, orange, purple or silver?

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