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Course Catalog 2009/2010

Berkana Language Center of Texas is proud and pleased to announce it is partnering with well-known instructors, Yasmin Wurts Metivier and Mike Metivier of Panoltia, Inc., of North Carolina (see www.panoltia.com/Training for the classes they offer on line - some of which Berkana has ceased to teach separately). If you are interested in Community Interpreting or in Interpreting in School Settings, please sign up with Panoltia directly, as Panoltia and Berkana will each be sending out its own informational e-mails.

Berkana is now offering classes on line, through webinars and “virtual classrooms” for up to 30 people per class. This will allow more people from all over the U.S. (and other countries, as well) to participate in translation and interpretation classes than was possible before with the in-person classes only. There will still be occasional in-person classes for very specific situations, but in general, most classes will be on-line from now on.

You will need a webcam with microphone and earphones/earbuds. If your webcam does not have a built-in microphone, you will need a separate one to be able to speak during class. Once you sign up for a given class, you will be given further instructions on how to test your computer and its visual/voice/hearing components and how to sign on with your information and the password for each day of class. All class times will be central time U.S.A.

As from May 2009 onwards, anyone who wishes to participate in a written translation course or in any of the Court/Judiciary Interpreters courses, must take the Language Proficiency Tests (English and Spanish – see exceptions paragraph below) prior to being allowed to participate. Depending on the test results, you will be accepted or suggestions will be made that you improve your language skills enough to where taking a future Berkana course will be worthwhile the time, money and effort you will have to put in to studying. Please go to Testing, on the Berkana website to purchase the tests. The tests will be sent to you via e-mail and upon completion, please return via e-mail to berkanalanguage@aol.com for grading and results.

The only exceptions are the non-language specific courses and all the ATA and TDLR continuing education credit classes.

Translation Classes (Written)

The English-Spanish translations classes must be taken in order. Starting with Level 1, then Level 2, and so on. Certificates of participation will be provided to show that the course has been completed. These certificates will be send out by regular mail. The actual class materials will be sent out electronically to each paid participant, who must return them completed by a given deadline date. A few days later, Berkana will hold a virtual classroom one evening for 2 hours to go over all the participant’s translations, and explain errors or other fine points of translation. These classes will be recorded, and if you miss the session, you can listen to the recording for a short time, until it is removed.

Module 4a
Fundamentals of English-Spanish Translation - On-line Course, Level 1 – 11 Weeks

Translation exercises with verb forms in short and long complex sentences; translation exercises in capitalization, false cognates, idioms, adjectives and pronouns, proverbs/colloquialisms, prepositions, punctuation, numbers and conversions, abbreviations and acronyms, prosodic accents and hyphenation. Translation of short and long paragraphs on various subjects, some into English, some into Spanish. This will allow participants to see if they are more comfortable going into English or into Spanish. This is the first class in a series of classes that increase in difficulty level.

Mandatory book: Fundamentals of English and Spanish Translation (Click here to view textbook information on our Products page)

Module 4b
English-Spanish Translation – On-line course – Level 2 – 7 weeks

Translation of specific texts, some in English, some in Spanish, will be provided to participants. Subjects will change as well, to show the variety of subjects in translation. The level of difficulty will be somewhat higher than Level 1.

Subsequent translation levels will be added, as participants move from one level to the next.

Interpretation Classes (Spoken)

If you are interested in “How to become a licensed/certified court interpreter,” please see the appropriate article on the Berkana web site under Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).

New “webinar” classes
Due to the webinar and virtual classroom capabilities that Berkana now has, many of the classes have been reshuffled and broken down into modules (that move from the general to the specific) so that everyone may select which modules are most useful for the kind of preparation they are looking for. Certificates of completion will be mailed to each paid participant.

Module 1 a, b, c –
Introduction to Interpretation Techniques in General – English only (divided into three 3-hr modules – Total of 9 hours ). Handouts will be electronically provided. Some practice exercises will be given.

Brief overview of the history of interpreting
Modes of interpretation: (1) Consecutive interpretation; (2) Sight translation; (3) Simultaneous interpretation
Techniques: (1) Listening/Visualizing; (2) Concentration; (3) Note-Taking; (4) Memory Development; (5) Reading for sight-translation
How to keep practicing on your own until you become very proficient

Module 2
Introduction to Codes of Professional Ethics for Interpreters in General –English only (3 hours).

Differentiate between community, court, telephone, conference, and business interpreting ethics.

Module 3
Code of Professional Ethics for Court/Judiciary Interpreters – English only (4 hours). Handouts will be electronically provided. Specifically for court/judiciary situations. The nine cannons will be explained in detail. Some examples of “What would you do if...” will be brought up and commented on.

Module 5. a, b, & c,
Introduction for court/judiciary interpreters to the legal system –– English only (broken up in three 3-hour modules – Total of 9 hours.)

Mandatory text book: Introduction to Court Interpreting, $40, plus sales tax and shipping and handling. (See the Products section of Berkana’s web site.)

Protocol for judiciary interpreters and how they interact with the U.S. legal system
An overview of the U.S. Legal System: the federal/state/local/municipal authorities in charge of law enforcement; the federal/state/local/municipal court systems; the federal/state/local/municipal corrections systems; criminal, civil, juvenile, drugs, mental health and domestic state and county courts; and municipal and Justice of the Peace courts. Administrative courts. Other law enforcement agencies.
Oaths or affirmations, bail and bonds, four burdens of proof
Where the jobs are for licensed/certified court interpreters
Procedures for oral depositions – mostly civil, occasionally criminal
Will comment in generalities, as there are sometimes considerable variations between one state and another, as each state is autonomous. The federal system is the same anywhere in the country.

Module 6a
How a person moves through the criminal justice system – non-language specific – English only (4 hours) ; learn the necessary terminology so as to have an overview of what is going on in which court and at what stage of the process

Module 6b
How a person moves through the criminal justice system – English – Spanish (5 hours) ; learn the necessary terminology in English and Spanish so as to have an overview of what is going on in which court and at what stage of the process.

Module 7, a, b & c
Practice sessions for consecutive interpretation, terminology and sight translation for municipal and JP courts – English – Spanish –

(broken up into five 3-hr. virtual classes – 15 hours in all)

Training materials will be placed on the PowerPoint screen for all to take turns sight-translating. Training materials will be read out loud for consecutive interpretation practice.

Module 8, a, b & c
Practice sessions for consecutive interpretation, terminology and sight translation for state/county courts – English – Spanish –

(broken up into five 3-hr. virtual classes – 15 hours in all)

Training materials will be placed on the PowerPoint screen for all to take turns sight-translating. Training materials will be read out loud for consecutive interpretation practice.

Module 9
Simultaneous interpretation techniques for general interpreting – (one 5-hour session) – English only

Techniques can be applied to conferences, medical, business meetings and courts – non-language specific, how to practice on your own; chunking, visualizing, simplification of meanings. In-person classes may also be held for those who can attend.

Module 10
Illegal drugs terminology and detailed information – English only –further information is provided on where to find Spanish terminology. One 5-hour session.

This is not only for interpreters but for all parents with children in elementary, junior high and senior high schools. You need to know what your children are exposed to and what they can buy at school. If you don’t know what to look for, you won’t know what they are up to.

Module 11, a, b, c, d, e, f & g

Anatomy-Physiology for Interpreters in Healthcare - Spanish/English – Divided into 7 working days in 3-hour sessions – 21 hours total)

Not only for medical interpreters, but also for judiciary interpreters, as there are so many personal injury cases at depositions for civil courts or abuse cases in family/juvenile courts.

Required textbook: Anatomy – Physiology for Interpreters in Healthcare – English-Spanish

Course covers the various systems of the human body, divided into the following sections: Bones, Skeleton, Joints, Bone and Joint Disorders; Muscles, Tendons, Muscle Injuries and Disorders; Skin, Skin Disorders; Urinary System, Urinary Tract Disorders; Digestive System, Digestion of Food, Components of Foods; Teeth, Some Digestive Tract Disorders; Respiratory System, Respiratory Infections, Diseases and Disorders; Cardiovascular System, Heart, Blood, Blood Groups, Blood Diseases, Heart Diseases; Lymphatic or Immune System, Infectious Organisms, Lymphatic and Immune System Disorders; Nervous System, Brain, Some Neurological Disorders, Some Neurological Tumors, Infections and Injuries; Five Senses, Tongue, Eye, Visual Problems, Ear, Hearing or Ear Disorders; Endocrine System; Reproductive System, Some Reproductive Disorders; Fertilization and Ovulation, Labor, Delivery; Infertility; Family Planning (Click here to view textbook information on our Products page)

Important! Test your language skills with our Language Proficiency Tests. Click here to learn more about these tests and how to order them. You can also click the button below to order them online.