The role of speeches in interpreter training : exploring the notion of live interaction

Abstract

Student interpreters are introduced into a world that, for the most part, can be very new to them. While most student interpreters are very aware of what the job entails and are ready to face training head on, the training is still a gruelling process for the most part. Training student interpreters requires a pedagogical framework involving many different steps to the process. Part of the process involves practicing speeches coming from online databases such as Speechpool or Speech Repository. Other speeches come from a different source, mainly fellow trainees and the trainers themselves who give speeches about different topics in real time for the students. The aim of this dissertation is to analyse the added value of using live speeches (referring to speeches that are delivered by participants at the training session and presenting a pedagogical element) and/or recorded speeches (their source being speech banks and other online resources), with the aim of answering the research question: “What role do speeches rendered live at an interpreter training session play?” This dissertation will try to mark the different perspectives of current students, past students, and professional interpreters, regarding the use of live and recorded speeches for training purposes, while also attempting to fill a gap in current research.