European Course in Conference Interpreting (EMCI)
Charles University (Prague)
Academic year 2011/2012
Organizer
The course is organized by the Institute of Translation Studies, Faculty of Arts, Charles University in Prague, in cooperation with the European Commission and the European Parliament. The Prague centre is member of the European Masters in Conference Interpreting University Consortium.
Course status
The re-qualification course is an accredited training program on a national level designed for Master graduates wishing to acquire the qualification of Conference Interpreter for European Institutions. In the same time it is a certified program on the European level: the successful graduate will obtain the Euromasters in Conference Interpreting Certificate issued by the European Universities Consortium (EMCI).
Course design
Core-course subjects
Theory and history of interpreting, notation technique, pre-conference documentation research techniques
Speech delivery technique
Diplomatic protocol and the interpreter’s ethics
Current trends in the Czech language
Memory exercises
Consecutive interpreting
Sight translation
Simultaneous interpreting
Mock-conferences and video-conferences
Expert lectures on topics from a variety of fields
Teaching philosophy
Classes of interpreting are taught by professional interpreters and native speakers in a team. Student groups (multilingual and monolingual) are small.
Other course requirements
The student must hand in 2 projects:
Empirical or theoretical study on a specific issue concerning the process of interpreting (25–30 pages)
Terminological glossary covering a narrow topic of a specific field
Course schedule and duration
General
The two-semestral course, comprising 26 teaching weeks, begins on 3 October 2011 and ends on 18 May 2012
The working load required is 1,000 hrs, distributed into a minimum of 600 hrs of face-to-face class instruction (ca 400 hrs of interpreting classes plus 100 hrs of lectures) and 400 hrs of autonomous learning, homework, a study period at a partner university
Time schedule
Winter semester
Teaching weeks (13): 3 Oct. 2011 – 16 Dec. 2011; 9 Jan. – 20 Jan. 2012
Mid-course examinations (consecutive and sight): 23 - 24 Jan. 2012
3-day excursion in Brussels (Feb./ March): travel expenses and sustenance are not included in the course fee; students can obtain reimbursement from EC or EP
Jan – Feb: a study period at a partner university (not included in the course fee)
Summer semester
Teaching weeks (13): 20 Feb. – 18 May 2012
Deadline for projects: June 2012
Final examinations: June 2012
Time-table (tentative)
Mo and Wed: 3.00 – 4.30 pm, 4.45 – 6.15 pm, 6.30 – 8.00 pm
Tue and Thur: 3.00 – 4.30 pm, 4.45 – 6.15 pm
Fri (fortnightly): 2.00 – 6.00 (mock conferences, expert lectures, rhetoric skills)
Conditions, applications and entrance requirements
The 2011/2012 course will open for a minimum of 10 up to a maximum of 24 enrolled students with the following language combinations (AIIC denomination: A = native competence, B = proficient active foreign language competence, C = proficient passive foreign language competence):
Czech: A, B or C
English: A, B or C
French: A, B or C
German: B or C
Spanish: B or C
Other C languages: on inquiry (subject to teacher availability)
A minimum of 3 students enrolled for a specific language in a category above (i.e. A, B or C) is a precondition for running instruction in this language. For example for running English as a B language we require at least 3 enrolled students with English as B.
Admission requirements
The course is accessible to any Master-level degree holder with the following prerequisites:
Linguistic and cultural proficiency in the working (A,B,C) languages; the minimum requirements for language combinations are: A-B (required especially if Czech is A) or A-C-C
Interpreting aptitude
Oral, psychological and other relevant dispositions
General knowledge, insight into current international affairs (esp. political and economic in Europe)
Entrance examination
Dates: 15 June 2011 (9.00 am) – Written Test; 16-18 June 2011 - Interview
Test: dictation, A-B-C translations, interlingual summary, knowledge: general, culture specific, EU specific; A-B-C competence in Czech
Interview: linguistic, communicative and culture competences, interpreter aptitude
– exposés in language A and B on specified topics
– memory testing
– interlingual reproduction of spoken discourse in relevant combinations (A-B-C)
– discussion (relevant and current socio-economic and political issues)
Final examination and certificates
On a successful completion of the course (incl. final examination), the student will be awarded:
Re-qualification Certificate in “Konferenční tlumočník pro evropskéstruktury” (Conference interpreter for European institutions) issued by Charles University in Prague)
Euromasters in Conference Interpreting Certificate, issued by the European Universities Consortium (EMCI) in order to foster qualified and high quality interpreting in the European region
Final examination
The student’s professional output level in consecutive and simultaneous interpreting in relevant A-B-C languages is assessed by an international jury composed of EC, EP and EMCI representatives as well as accredited conference interpreters.
Consecutive interpreting: 6-8 minutes
Simultaneous interpreting: min. 12 minutes
Simultaneous with a text support: min. 10 minutes
Two questions examining knowledge in the field of European Union
In viva defense of 2 projects
Course fees
Entrance examination charge: 1,000 CZK
Tuition: 75,000 CZK (payable in two semestral installments)
Final re-take exams charge: 2,000 CZK
Application and deadlines
The filled in application form and required attachment (a copy of your MA diploma) should reach our office by snail mail, fax or e-mail by 10 May 2011 at the following address:
Univerzita Karlova v Praze
Filozofická fakulta
Ústav translatologie
Prof. PhDr. Ivana Čeňková, CSc.
Hybernská 3, 110 00 Praha 1
Czech Republic
Faximile: +420-221 619 528
E-mail: ivana.cenkova@ff.cuni.cz, hurnikov@ff.cuni.cz
Course Director and inquiries
Prof. PhDr. Ivana Čeňková, CSc.
E-mail: ivana.cenkova@ff.cuni.cz
Tel. +420-221 619 512