Training Video 1: What Is Public Service Interpreting and What Is It Not

The following training video on public service interpreting was produced by students at the Ionian University in Greece. The postgraduate students approach various topics such as professionalism, cultural awareness, and key qualities of public service interpreters from an entertaining perspective. The training video is followed by detailed instructions for group discussions and hypothetical scenarios.

This insightful 5-minute training video titled "What is Public Service Interpreting and What It Is Not" starts with a definition of PSI and explicates the various modes and settings where PSI plays a crucial role. It then outlines the do's and don'ts when engaging in public service interpreting, emphasizing the importance of ethical conduct and professionalism. The video also features a simulated interpreting session, featuring a public servant, an interpreter, and a foreigner. In this scenario, critical issues such as confidentiality, impartiality, and professionalism are addressed, providing viewers with a real-world understanding of the challenges and responsibilities faced by interpreters in public service settings.

Training video 1: “What Is Public Service Interpreting and What Is It Not”

Please answer the questions below. Feel free to talk about the issues and circumstances that influence your answers.

  • 1) Can you think of other contexts in which public service interpreters work?
  • 2) “Public service interpreters should not omit or alter anything being said during the process.” Do you agree with this statement? Why do you (dis)agree?
  • 3) Can public service interpreters always remain impartial? What ethical challenges can arise from the principle of impartiality? Please give some examples.
  • 4) What are some of the ethical challenges faced by public service interpreters in the asylum process?

Credits:
Chatzistefanou Nefeli, Gkonopoulou Olina, Valantasi-
Kanellou Maria – Students from the Ionian University, Department of Foreign Languages, Translation and Interpreting

Suggested citiation: Chatzistefanou Nefeli, Gkonopoulou Olina, Valantasi-Kanellou Maria (2023) “ReTrans Student Video: What Is Public Service Interpreting and What Is It Not”. Produced by students from the Ionian University, Department of Foreign Languages, Translation and Interpreting, Greece. Available at https://youtu.be/zaMUm7R2BoU