21 September 2006
Monash University has developed a six-week intensive training course for Chinese speakers who want to work as professional conference interpreters. The course, which will start on 20 November, is the first of its kind in Australia.
The course has been developed to meet the growing demand for people able to interpret from English to Chinese and Chinese to English.
The full-time course, to be conducted by Monash's School of Languages, Cultures and Linguistics at the university's Clayton campus, will give students high-level language and interpreting skills.
It is aimed at Chinese speakers seeking work as professional translators/interpreters for international conferences, government agencies, or international organisations.
Course coordinator Ms Juliet Zhao, an accredited senior conference interpreter and professional translator in Chinese and English, has worked as an interpreter at the United Nations Specialised Agency in Geneva and, in Australia, for ministerial visits and summit meetings between China and Australia, including on the recent Australia-China Free Trade Agreement.
"There is a growing demand for people with simultaneous interpreting skills in Australia and China because China's economy is developing so quickly," Ms Zhao said. "But the availability of conference interpreters trained at the highest levels is still very rare in Australia and more are urgently needed. The Monash course is designed to help meet this demand."
The course is based on International Conference Interpreter's Association (the world's peak body for conference interpreters) requirements.
Students will be taught advanced interpreting skills in English to Chinese and Chinese to English, as well as sight translation and the theory of translation and practice. A general knowledge module will cover international relations, politics, trade relations and the economy.
The Monash course is designed for Chinese speakers already working as interpreters who have the NAATI (National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters) professional accreditation or overseas equivalent, and international students graduating from translation and interpreting studies at other Australian universities, who are seeking to enhance their training.
One of the teachers is interpreter Mr Peter Barker, who has over the past 20 years worked for Australian Prime Ministers Howard, Keating and Hawke during their visits to China or talks with Chinese leaders.
For more information, visit the School of Languages, Cultures and Linguistics website.
For further information, please contact Ms Juliet Zhao on +61 3 9905 5145 or Karen Stichtenoth, Media Communications, on +61 3 9905 1253 or mobile 0408 812 301.
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