This is one of the most common questions we get asked here at ISL and there is no right or wrong answer. You can pick whatever options you please. However, for those students wanting to undertake the more higher paid, demanding and complex assignments such as the Police and Courts, there are certain options that we would recommend to increase your opportunities.
Our Level 6 Diploma in Community Interpreting (DCI) is a vocational qualification which means you are assessed continuously throughout your studies via written and practical assessments. Your course and assessments are an all-in-one approach rather than a one off pass or fail exam; as long as you complete all the work involved to the specified criteria, you get your certificate, period.
Within the DCI, you have to complete six mandatory modules, including Consecutive Interpreting and Simultaneous Interpreting. You then have the opportunity to select up to four specialist units ranging from Financial and Business Interpreting to Court and Police Interpreting. Our students get the chance to mix and match their qualification to their specific needs and wants. For example, if you want to be an Interpreter in the Mental Health settings but also want to explore Conference Interpreting, you can pick the optional units that support these goals.
We often get questions from our students asking what optional units they should pick if they want to get the most out of their Interpreting career. The answer to this would be the Law options. This consists of:
- Interpreting in Police Settings
- Interpreting in Court Settings
- Interpreting in the Prison/Probation Service
- Supporting Interpreting through Draft Written Translations From and Into English
Completing these modules will allow you to work on the MoJ register at the highest level, become a member on the NRPSI register and work on all available Interpreting assignments within the UK. If you want to work on NHS, Mental Health Interpreting or any other assignments, these optional modules will allow you to do so, however, if you do not study the modules above(say you took health interpreting instead of police) you WILL NOT be able to work within law settings. Worth thinking about.
For these reasons, when students ask us which optional units are the best ones to pick we usually advise students to undertake the Law options, even if they plan on doing other Interpreting work, so they can fulfil their potential within their Interpreting career.
If you would like to view our Level 6 Diploma in Community Interpreting (DCI), please click here.
If you have any questions or wish to speak to the team please contact us on [email protected] or 08007573475.