Preparing for Community Interpreting

To join this course, you must meet the following requirements:

*Successfully completed a Community Interpreting Assessment session

*Be 19 years of age or older

*Have English skills at Entry Level 3 or above

*Be able to read, write, and speak fluently in your community language — most learners are native speakers

*You must also be able to use Microsoft Word to complete your written assignments and send emails with Word attachments.

Please note: Direct enrolment is not available. You must first attend and pass a Community Interpreting Assessment session before joining the course.

This course will give you a recognised qualification you can use to go into work. If you want to work towards another specialist qualification, there are other higher qualifications, for example: the Diploma in Public Service Interpreting (DPSI)

1-How do I get the qualification? You have to complete the Getting into Community Interpreting, preparing for Community Interpreting & Community Interpreting L3 in order to obtain the OCN Community Interpreting L3(Open College Network) units

2-Is there an exam? There is no exam. You build a portfolio with assessments completed online from home and during lesson times, the teacher marks them and at the end of the course, if all is achieved you will be ready to achieve your qualification.

3-If I have past experience as an Interpreter or Translator, can I fast forward and complete Community Interpreting L3 without the Getting Into Community Interpreting? No. all candidates must complete both parts of this course. It takes around 14 weeks to complete the community interpreting units at STC.

4-Can I complete both courses at the same time? Unfortunately, no. The coursework is divided into 2 parts, you must successfully complete first the L2 Preparing for Community Interpreting and after this you can complete the Community Interpreting L3 L2 Getting into Community Interpreting courses are 6 weeks during the day and 8 weeks for evening courses. Community Interpreting L3 courses are 8 weeks during the day and 9-10 weeks during the evening

5-Which qualification do I get? you will obtain 4 Units with the London Open College Network L3 (OCN). There is a qualification fee Qualification fee of £100 that you pay at beginning of the Community Interpreting L3

6-When I finish, where do I work? You work for private Agencies. Agencies will send you to work in Benefits, Health, Social Care, Immigration, Housing and Education cases. Tutors will provide with a list of London Interpreting Agencies. Currently, agencies only sign in Interpreters who hold a L3 qualification.

7-What is the pay rate I will expect to earn? Pay rate goes from £ 12 to £25 p hour. You will work as a free- lancer the agencies call you when they need you.

Please note that this course is delivered online you will be expected to complete 1 or 2 written assessments per week outside of the teaching hours

Assessment will consist of eight written assignments and a final role-play, which together form your portfolio of evidence. You must be able to compile your portfolio as a PDF and submit it to your tutor via email. Additionally, you should be able to write in your mother tongue, as the glossaries you create will involve translating terms from English into your first language.