Preparing for the Level 6 Diploma in Public Service Interpreting (DPSI) exam can feel a bit overwhelming, but don’t worry – with the right approach, you can go into it feeling confident and prepared. Here’s a breakdown of the key skills you’ll need, along with some practical tips to help you sail through your exam.
Key Skills to Master
1. Consecutive Interpreting
In the weeks leading up to your exam, practise consecutive interpreting as much as possible. Try to recreate real-life situations, taking clear and structured notes to help you remember key details. The more you practise, the easier it’ll become to recall and relay information accurately.
2. Simultaneous Interpreting
You’ll be interpreting during a three-way phone call while still on a Zoom call. The speaker will talk at a steady pace without pauses, and you won’t be able to ask for repetition or clarification. If you get stuck on a term, don’t panic – just paraphrase to keep things flowing smoothly. Practising with fast-paced audio clips can really help sharpen your skills.
3. Sight Translation
You’ll be shown a short text (2-3 paragraphs) and given time to prepare. First, read through the whole text to get the gist of it. Then, look up any unfamiliar words in a printed dictionary and jot them down. When translating out loud, don’t summarise – stick to what’s written, making it sound as natural as possible in your language. And remember, when translating from English, no English words should sneak into your oral rendition!
4. Written Translation
For this part, you’ll have one hour to produce a handwritten translation of a short text. Read the text carefully, look up any tricky words, and then write out your translation, making sure it’s fluent and accurate. Again, don’t summarise or add your own spin – just stick to what’s on the page.
Essential Exam Prep Tips
1. Get Your Tech Sorted
You’ll need two devices – ideally a laptop and a phone (or a tablet if you don’t have a laptop). This is essential for invigilation, so make sure you’re set up properly, otherwise you won’t be able to sit the exam.
2. Have a Pen and Paper Handy
You’ll need to take notes, so make sure you’ve got a pen and paper ready. Jotting down key details like dates, numbers, and longer sentences will help you stay on track.
3. Use a Printed Dictionary
Online dictionaries and translation tools aren’t allowed, so get yourself a good old-fashioned printed dictionary and get used to flicking through it.
4. Don’t Leave Anything Out (or Add Anything In!)
Your job is to interpret exactly what’s said, no more, no less. If someone repeats themselves, you repeat it too. If there’s a long list of documents mentioned, you list every single one. Think of yourself as a mirror, reflecting the conversation exactly as it is. This applies to sight translation and written translation assessments as well.
5. Speak in the First Person
When interpreting, always speak as if you’re the person talking. For example, if a solicitor says, “How are you, Mr Smith?”, you should interpret it as “How are you, Mr Smith?” – not “The solicitor is asking how you are.” It might feel odd at first, but it’s an essential part of the job.
6. Ask for Clarification (the Right Way)
If you mishear something or don’t know a term, don’t just guess – ask for clarification. But make sure you do it in the third person: “The interpreter would like to ask you to repeat that.” Then, relay the same message in the other language so everyone knows what’s going on.
7. No English Allowed!
Don’t throw in English words when speaking to a non-English speaker, even if you think they’ll understand. Assume they don’t know any English at all. If there’s no direct translation for a term like Universal Credit or Child Benefit, explain what it is instead. You can mention the English term, but only alongside a proper explanation in your language.
8. Paraphrase When Needed
If there isn’t a perfect translation for something, or you can’t remember the exact equivalent, paraphrase it. Just don’t overdo it – if you rely too much on paraphrasing, it might show that your vocabulary needs a bit more work.
9. Practise, Practise, Practise!
The best way to build confidence is to keep practising. Check out the practice exam papers on the VLE portal, and if you’ve got a friend who can help, brilliant! If not, record yourself interpreting and play it back – you’ll quickly spot any areas you need to improve. You can even practise with TV news reports, YouTube videos, or leaflets that come through the door. The more you do it, the more natural it’ll feel.
Final Thoughts
This might all sound a bit daunting at first, but trust us – interpreting can be really rewarding. Once you get over the nerves, you’ll start enjoying the challenge of each new assignment. Stick with these tips, put in the effort, and before you know it, you’ll be a fully qualified interpreter!
Good luck – you’ve got this! And if you feel you need any more resources, drop the ISL team an email on in**@is*********.com and we’ll see what else we can suggest.