Design and development parameters for a rapid automatic screening test for prospective simultaneous interpreters

Interpreting ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 221-238
Author(s):  
Jared Bernstein ◽  
Isabella Barbier
Keyword(s):  
Training Programs ◽  
Testing Procedure ◽  
Spoken Language ◽  
Item Selection ◽  
Testing System ◽  
Automatic Instrument ◽  
Simultaneous Interpreting ◽  
Certification Exams ◽  
On Demand ◽  
Reasonable Cost

It would be convenient if a candidate interested in a career in simultaneous interpreting could take a test that would accurately indicate whether or not that person has the aptitude and skills required to start a course in simultaneous interpreting with a reasonable chance of success. This paper suggests that a reliable and efficient testing procedure valid for this use, taking less than an hour to administer and score, could be delivered on demand at a reasonable cost. The paper first proposes such a testing procedure, building on existing techniques in spoken language testing, then outlines the development steps and material needed to build, calibrate, and validate such a testing system. The development of this testing procedure would result in a completely automatic instrument for selecting candidates for admission to interpretation training programs. Other potential uses for the procedure would include both monitoring student progress during training and screening candidates for certification exams, although details of the item selection and scoring might differ across the three uses.

scholarly journals Impact of a training program on the performance of graduating Canadian residents on a national urology exam: Results of the last 20 years

2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Naji J. Touma ◽  
Darren T. Beiko ◽  
Andrew E. MacNeily ◽  
Michael J. Leveridge
Keyword(s):  
Training Program ◽  
Training Programs ◽  
Certification Exams ◽  
Certification Exam ◽  
Individual Program ◽  
The Mean ◽  
And Performance ◽  
The Individual ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Oral Component

Introduction: Many factors impact the performance of graduating residents on certification exams. It is thought that most factors are related to the individual candidate’s ability, motivation, and work ethic. Less understood, however, is whether a training program has any impact on the preparation and performance of its graduates on certification exams. We present 20 years of results of a national preparatory exam that all graduating residents complete about three months before the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) qualifying urology exam. This exam, known colloquially as QUEST, aims to simulate the RCPSC exam with written and oral components. We aimed to analyze the impact of a training program on the performance of its residents. Methods: A retrospective review of exam results from 1997–2016 was conducted. During that time, 495 candidates from all 12 Canadian urology training programs undertook the exam. The performance of graduating residents from each individual program was grouped together for any given year. The different programs were anonymized, as the aim of this study is to assess the impact of a training program and not to rate the different programs. Statistical analysis using one-way ANOVA was conducted. Results: All training programs fall within one standard deviation of the mean for the written component, the oral component, and the overall score. The residents of four training programs had statistically better scores than the overall mean of the written component. The residents of three out of these four training programs also had statistically better scores than the overall mean of the oral component and the overall results of the exam. Conclusions: Most Canadian training programs prepare their residents adequately for this simulated certification exam in urology. However, there are some training programs that consistently prepare graduating residents to outperform their peers.

Study on the Intelligent Software Testing Systems for Axles

2013 ◽  
Vol 423-426 ◽  
pp. 2363-2366
Author(s):  
Zhi Hong Ma ◽  
Shan Le Cai ◽  
Fu Fang Luo
Keyword(s):  
Software Testing ◽  
Testing Procedure ◽  
Testing System ◽  
Intelligent Software ◽  
Software Structure

The intelligent software testing system for axles based on Visual C++ is introduced. The method is simple, efficient and economical and can meet the needs for axle intelligent testing at present. The testing procedure of this system is described. The software structure and its function are given.

scholarly journals AVT AS MEANS FOR INTERCULTURAL COMPETENCE DEVELOPMENT IN TRANSLATOR TRAINING

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 095
Author(s):  
Jolita Horbacauskiene ◽  
Gintas Bartaskevicius
Keyword(s):  
Intercultural Communication ◽  
Intercultural Competence ◽  
Training Programs ◽  
Effective Means ◽  
Spoken Language ◽  
Competence Development ◽  
Translator Training ◽  
Audiovisual Translation

Translation is becoming one of the most effective means in intercultural communication. Translator training programs are considered to be successful only when they provide background to develop and foster intercultural competence among others. The paper presents the discussion on the challenges and possibilities of audiovisual translation in subtitled and dubbed modes as well as the results of the analysis of spoken language elements translation.

scholarly journals Problems in Interpretation

2002 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 101-103 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Biscaye
Keyword(s):  
Northwest Territories ◽  
Unique Feature ◽  
Training Programs ◽  
Simultaneous Interpreting ◽  
The Government ◽  
Increasing Demand ◽  
Multiple Languages ◽  
Aboriginal Languages

Abstract The Government of the Northwest Territories currently provides interpreting and translating services in French, English and seven northern aboriginal languages. Simultaneous interpreting was, until recently, only delivered in Inuktitut. With increasing demand, and improvements to training programs, it is now provided in the Dene languages as well. Relay interpreting, a unique feature to the NWT interpreting services, plays an important role due to the multiple languages dealt with on a regular basis. This paper will discuss the importance of, and problems encountered with, simultaneous interpreting in the NWT.

Development of a Cost Effective Training System for Roof Bolt Equipment Operators

1980 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 443-443
Author(s):  
L. Bruce McDonald
Keyword(s):  
Human Factors ◽  
Training Programs ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Training System ◽  
Working Environment ◽  
Roof Bolt ◽  
Effective Training ◽  
Reasonable Cost ◽  
And Training ◽  
Safe Working

The objective of this paper is to present two concepts which may assist fellow human factors personnel in selling safety and training programs to hard nosed managers in industry and government. Most often, proposed training and safety programs are presented to management as a means of making employees happy and safe. The justification for the program is that management owes its employees a happy and safe working environment. However, managers are judged by their superiors based on the extent to which they provide a product or service at a reasonable cost.

scholarly journals Low-stakes performance testing in Germany by the VERA assessment: analysis of the mode effects between computer-based testing and paper-pencil testing

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Inga Wagner ◽  
Philipp Loesche ◽  
Steven Bißantz
Keyword(s):  
Academic Achievement ◽  
Test Scores ◽  
Performance Testing ◽  
Spoken Language ◽  
Testing System ◽  
Federal States ◽  
German Federal States ◽  
Mode Effect ◽  
Computer Based ◽  
Computer Based Testing

AbstractThe German school system employs centrally organized performance assessments (some of which are called “VERA”) as a way of promoting lesson development. In recent years, several German federal states introduced a computer-based performance testing system which will replace the paper-pencil testing system in the future. Scores from computer-based testing are required to be equivalent to paper-pencil testing scores so that the new testing medium does not lead to disadvantages for students. Therefore, the current study aimed at investigating the size of the mode effect and the moderating impact of students’ gender, academic achievement and mainly spoken language in everyday life. In addition, the variance of the mode effect across tasks was investigated. The study was conducted in four German federal states in 2019 using a field experimental design. The test scores of 5140 eighth-graders from 165 schools in the subject German were analysed. The results of multi-level modelling revealed that students’ test scores in the computerized version of the VERA test were significantly lower than in the paper-pencil version. Students with a lower academic achievement were more disadvantaged by the VERA computerized test. The results were inconsistent regarding the interactions between testing mode and students’ gender and mainly spoken language in everyday life. The variance of the mode effect across tasks was high. Research into different subjects and in other federal states and countries under different testing conditions might yield further evidence about the generalizability of these results.

Cognitive and motivational contributors to aptitude

Interpreting ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 70-84 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sherry Shaw
Keyword(s):  
Achievement Motivation ◽  
Public Service ◽  
Visual Memory ◽  
Spoken Language ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Neuropsychological Screening ◽  
Simultaneous Interpreting ◽  
Entry Level ◽  
Signed Language ◽  
New Concepts

This article reports the findings of a causal-comparative study with spoken language (primarily conference) and signed language (primarily public service) interpreting students carried out at four institutions in the European Union in 2008. The study was built on two previous investigations of essential characteristics, as reported by interpreting students and their professors, to measure these characteristics with standardized performance and motivation tests. It grouped participants as “entry-level” or “advanced” depending upon their prior experience in simultaneous interpreting coursework. The study documented cognitive and motivational scores of spoken language (SP) and signed language (SL) interpreting students at both levels, using a computerized neuropsychological screening test and an achievement motivation instrument. Significant differences between the SP and SL students were found in the areas of visual memory, concentration, and internality (belief that success is due to internal causes), and between the advanced and entry-level students in the areas of concentration and the eagerness to learn new concepts in the absence of external rewards.

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