A study on community interpreter training

NAITO Minoru

The aim of this paper is to explore the diversifying status of community interpreter training in Japan. Aside from local municipalities and international associations that have thus far taken a major role in nurturing community interpreters, higher educational institutions are now strengthening social collaborations with external organizations and providing hands-on trainings aimed not only for their undergraduate and graduate students but also for their alumni.

At Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, along with the Community Interpreting Internship class offered for the third- and fourth-year students, the Language and Culture Supporter System was established so as to provide ample training opportunities for the graduate students and alumni in part through partnerships with outside organizations. While the community interpreting ToT (Training of Trainers) was organized for the Language and Culture Supporters, the university has made an agreement with Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office and offered a variety of training programs for those who wish to get a better understanding of how interpreting at the places of investigation should be. That includes a mock trial event joined by interpreters. This event was made public for the general audience as well.

While community interpreter training is becoming increasingly diverse, it should be noted that at the core is ensuring the quality of interpreters. And nurturing interpreters in a mid- and long-term through social collaborations for that purpose of quality assurance should be further expected.