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13 September 2012: efsli Deaf Interpreters working seminar (more info soon)
17 - 19 September 2012: efsli Trainers' seminar, Graz, Austria
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efsli 2010 AGM & Conference
10 - 12 September in Glasgow, Scotland
This years efsli AGM and Conference was held in Glasgow, Scotland, 10 - 12 September 2010.
The Scottish Association of Sign Language Interpreters (SASLI) was proud to welcome efsli members back to their beautiful country.
The theme of the Conference was 'SYNERGY - Moving Forward Together'
We looked back on the development of the profession of interpreters of signed languages, could we be satisfied that we are fully equipped for the challenges and changes the future would bring? Would the goals and values of interpreter practitioners and educators be shared by providers and service users?
This conference explored the missing links at both a micro and macro level, and encouraged reflection on the skills and knowledge necessary to equip signed language interpreters from all parts of Europe for a constantly evolving environment.
The conference was very informative and stimulating but there was also time to enjoy yourself. We could dance, try the haggis and savour the whisky!
We look forward to seeing you again in Salerno, Italy in 2011
To look back to the efsli2010 conference, please visit the official conference website:
efsli Trainers' Seminar 2010
29 - 30 October in Helsinki, Finland
‘Mission Impossible? Sign to Voice Interpreting’
The efsli trainers’ seminar was hosted by Diak University of Applied Sciences in Helsinki. The efsli trainers’ seminars are held every two year and they are unique events for trainers across Europe to meet and exchange training developments.
Participants
Nearly 50 trainers, interpreters, and researchers from across Europe: Belgium (Flanders), Estonia, Finland, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Rumania, Sweden, Switzerland, UK.
Topic
The topic of the seminar was “Voicing – a mission impossible?”. Feedback from consumers seems to be the same across Europe: interpreters seem to cope (well ) with voice to sign interpreting but their skills in sign to voice interpreting leave a lot to be desired. In the seminar the presenters and participants aimed to find new approaches to train interpreters in sign to voice. Involving the following subjects:
- Why do interpreters struggle with sign to voice interpreting?
- Do we create this struggle in our interpreter training programmes?
- What skills do we need to teach students to be successful sign to voice interpreters?
- How can we change the current state of affairs or can we?
- What kind of means and methods can we apply to better teach voicing?
- What kind of tools can we offer our students to work on their voicing skills during and after their education?
Presenters
Keynote speaker Beppie van den Bogaerde, Utrecht University of Applied Sciences, the Netherlands, gave in her keynote presentation an overview of the research and findings up till date and put questions forward to the audience. The other presenters were from educational programmes from Norway, Belgium (Flanders), and Finland. The one and a half day programme consisted of plenary presentations and interactive workshops.
efsli representation
Marinella Salami, head of the efsli training department, and Maya de Wit, efsli president, held a presentation on the possibilities of future cooperation between all the educational programmes in Europe.
Best practices
Prior to the seminar the hosting institution Diak held a survey collecting all best practices from across Europe on the seminar’s topic. These results were also presented during the seminar to inform the participants of the current status in Europe.
Summary of keys to success:
- First the language, then interpreting
- Good, experiences, professional trainer team
- Include deaf trainers widely
- Enough resources
- Work life connections
- Keep up with the latest research
- Exercise, practicum, real life situations, role play
Conclusion
At the end of the seminar the following recommendations were proposed and approved by the participants:
Research:
- Creating an overview of good practices by starting collaborative research and sharing these results
- Survey of participating programmes across Europe
- Encourage research by collaborative projects
- Investigate the possibility of EU funding for further seminars and projects
Training materials:
- Not language teaching from the start of the programme, but language immersion
- Using a theoretical model as inspiration to practice
- Exchange and develop training material
- Exchange knowledge and skills
Sharing and exchanging:
- Establishing an online sharing point for trainers: investigate if this is possible within the efsli website
Future seminar:
- More workshops: interactive, smaller groups
- Send material to participants prior to the workshop in order to do benefit most during the seminar
- More time for discussions
