CAS Interpreting for Public Authorities and Courts ("CAS Behörden- und Gerichtsdolmetschen")

Interpreting is becoming ever more important in today’s increasingly globalised world. The Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) course in Interpreting for Public Authorities and Courts ("CAS Behörden- und Gerichtsdolmetschen", the language of instruction is German) is interdisciplinary in structure and qualifies those successfully completing it to work as interpreters in a number of fields.

Objectives

Participants gain knowledge of the law and state institutions, develop the interpreting techniques which work in this context requires, are able to act as interpreters and acquire the confidence needed to deal with the demanding situations arising in the day-to-day work of the police, public attorney’s offices, courts and social services.

Target audience

This language independent course is intended for interpreters and translators wishing to qualify as public service and court interpreters.

Prior knowledge required

All participants must have a knowledge of German at C2 level (equivalent to the Goethe Institut’s Zentrale Oberstufenprüfung (ZOP) or the Goethe Institut’s Kleines Deutsches Sprachdiplom (KDS)). They must also either have passed the relevant Course of Further Studies in Interpreting for Public Authorities and Courts ("Aufbaukurs Behörden und Gerichtsdolmetschen", in German only) examination or hold a university or university of applied sciences degree in translation or interpreting.

Contents

• Interpreting training exercises
• Intepreting techniques
• Note-taking techniques
• Breathing and speaking techniques
• Research techniques
• Terminology
• Language (general and specialist)
• Specialist knowledge in criminal law, law of criminal procedure, civil law, aliens law, adult and child protection law
• Specialised translation (e.g. legal documents, expert appraisals)
• Translation theory

Interpreters working in the healthcare environment also have the option of attending an additional voluntary continuing education course in "Health care interpreting - communication in demanding situations" (in German only), at a cost of CHF 720), as a means of acquiring sound specialist knowledge in that area, to complement the skills they will acquire during this CAS course.

Language of instruction

The language of instruction is German. Practical exercises will use texts in the various working languages concerned.

Final examination

The course concludes with a final written and a final oral examination.

Course duration and scheduling of lessons

The course schedule comprises a total of 160 on-campus lessons. Lessons are generally held on Friday afternoons and Saturday mornings. The course commences in October 2010 and ends in June 2011.

Course credits

Participants successfully completing the course receive a ZHAW Certificate of Advanced Studies and 15 European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits.

Faculty

The specialist knowledge modules are taught by experienced practitioners from the relevant fields of the justice system. The practical part of the course (interpreting and translation) is taught by Zurich University of Applies Sciences  faculty and external teachers and practitioners.

Course director

Malgorzata Stanek, Diploma in Translation, court certified translator

Head of Continuing Education courses in Community, Court and Hospital Interpreting*

Venue

ZHAW, Theaterstrasse 15c, 8401 Winterthur (5 minutes’ walk from Winterthur main station)

Fees

CHF 3,100 for participants permanently resident in the canton of Zurich (subsidised by Kantonale Beauftragte für Integrationsfragen Zürich)
CHF 3,500 for other participants
plus an examination fee of CHF 480

Enrolment

Completed application forms should be submitted by August 31, 2011. Requests for applications forms may be made by e-mail (weiterbildung.linguistik(at)zhaw.ch) or telephone (+41 58 934 6161). The number of course participants is limited and applications will be processed in the sequence in which they are received.

Cancellation

All cancellations must be made in writing. Cancellations made before the enrolment deadline incur no costs. If cancellation is made after the enrolment deadline, participants who do not put forward replacement attendees will be required to pay half the course fees, and a minimum cancellation fee of 5% will apply for all cancellations received after the enrolment deadline. Participants cancelling after the course has commenced, failing to attend the course or ceasing to attend during the duration of the course will be required to pay the full course fees.

Further information on the general terms and conditions is available here.

* The CAS is part of the "Interpreting Studies" research area, headed by Professor Michaela Albl-Mikasa.