Our Curriculum
The IKIGAI curriculum is designed to prepare students to succeed in the field of judiciary interpreting. We do not teach students how to pass a test, we teach them how to be the best interpreter they can be by learning the proper techniques, strategies, auxiliary skills, and overall knowledge that will enhance their performance.
​
At IKIGAI we uphold the best practices for the profession of judiciary interpreting.
By teaching excellence in the overall interpreting performance we are also advocating for interpreters to be properly compensated and respected every time they engage with other members of the legal community.
​
Our courses include an overview of the legal systems and procedures in the U.S. and abroad, the protocols and professional best practices standards for judiciary interpreters, text and discourse analysis, terminology research, and the three modes of interpreting used in legal settings: consecutive, simultaneous and sight translation.
IKIGAI has a number of courses available upon request for professional associations, court administrative offices, and other interested entities, either in person or online.
Below is a partial list of courses.
THE LINGUISTIC DEFENSE
Course Description:
Interpreters often make intuitive choices in their target language that may be challenged by a third party (e.g., a lawyer) and find themselves lacking a proper way to explain and defend their choices. In this 3-hour course course participants will learn about the function of syntax, semantics, and pragmatics in the cognitive progression of language input and output during bidirectional (i.e., consecutive) and unidirectional (i.e., simultaneous) information processing. Instruction will be language-specific (Spanish) based on examples from actual interpreting scenarios to demonstrate best interpreting practices and how to articulate a linguistic defense if challenged.
​
LEVEL: ADVANCED
DURATION: 2 HOURS
WHEN ADDITIONS AND OMISSIONS ARE NOT MISTAKES:
EMPOWERING JUDICIARY INTERPRETERS TO USE THEIR BETTER JUDGMENT
Course Description:
This presentation explores the types of omissions and additions interpreters can incorporate into their simultaneous and consecutive renditions while remaining faithful to the source language message in legal settings. In a language-neutral format, the presenter will analyze the structure of discourse in legal settings within various contexts, such as encounters on the record versus off the record, and proceedings inside the courtroom versus outside the courtroom. Attendees will learn how to identify those components of a message that contribute to the speaker’s intended meaning and use their better judgment to deliver a fluid, coherent, and accurate rendition in any language.
​
LEVEL: INTERMEDIATE
DURATION: 2 HOURS
UNDERSTANDING WHAT “UNDERSTANDING” MEANS FOR YOUR LEP CLIENTS
Course Description:
Language is like walking or breathing. We take it for granted because it is something we don’t have to think about in order to do it. We walk, we breathe, we talk. We just assume one foot will move in front of the other and words will come out of our mouths that make sense to someone listening to us. We also assume that the person listening to us will understand exactly what we mean to say. But being able to say something that makes sense to someone else is actually a pretty complex cognitive process. And for us to “get” what someone else means to say also involves a lot of neurons and synapses in our brains. And that’s just in conversation. It gets a lot more complicated when interpreting is involved. So, when we say that the Limited English Proficient (LEP) individual has a right to “understand,” what are we saying exactly? What does “understanding” mean in an interpreting scenario? This presentation will go over some of the basic principles of meaning and communication, and apply those principles to the interpreting function in different domains: healthcare, legal, and educational. At the end of the presentation attendees will have acquired a comprehensive notion of what “understanding” means for the LEP individuals, and will know how to apply this knowledge to improve their interpreting function.
​
LEVEL: INTERMEDIATE/ADVANCED
DURATION: 1 HOUR
RESEARCHING TERMINOLOGY
Course Description:
Terminology research is more than searching for words in a dictionary, or several, and creating a personal glossary. This course introduces participants to the many resources available to conduct terminology research and the preferred methodologies for professional interpreters in any field.
​​
LEVEL: INTRODUCTORY/INTERMEDIATE
DURATION: 1 HOUR
LEGAL SYSTEMS AND PROCEDURES
Course Description:
This is an introductory course for anyone wanting to know more about the way courts are structured, how they operate, who does what in a courtroom, and what are the criminal, civil, and administrative procedures where interpreters are needed most often. The course is open to interpreters already working or potential interpreters starting to explore the field.
​​
LEVEL: INTRODUCTORY
DURATION: 2 HOURS