NAJIT's 29th Annual Convention

Advance Program

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Keynote Speaker

The Hon. Ida Chen,
Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia, PA

PRE-CONFERENCE WORKSHOPS
FRIDAY MAY 16, 2008

9:00 AM - 5:00 PM	KOREAN SKILLS TRAINING FOR COURT INTERPRETERS (Language: Korean) Instructor: Young Lee This six-hour skills tune-up on Friday, May 16 is designed to prepare interpreters to take the Consortium for State Court Interpreter Certification oral performance test in Korean on Sunday, May 18, 2008, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This hands-on language-specific test preparation workshop offers participants ample opportunity to go through their paces in consecutive interpreting, simultaneous interpreting, and sight translation. Take advantage of this chance to stretch your muscles before the Consortium exam so that you are at the top of your game.
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM	RUSSIAN SKILLS TRAINING FOR COURT INTERPRETERS (Language: Russian) Instructor: Elena Bogdanovich-Werner, Ph.D. This six-hour skills tune-up is designed to prepare participants to take the Consortium for State Court Interpreter Certification oral performance test in Russian, on Sunday, May 18, 2008, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The workshops will provide preparation in simultaneous interpretation, consecutive interpretation, and sight translation in Russian. After warm-up exercises, participants will be able to work on each mode of interpreting for 30 minutes, for a total of 1.5 hours. At the end of each 1.5-hour period, participants will be offered a series of exercises designed to build vocabulary, to increase mental agility, to sharpen problem-solving skills, and to improve short-term memory.
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM	SPANISH SKILLS TRAINING FOR COURT INTERPRETERS (Language: Spanish) Instructor: Susana Stettri Sawry This six-hour skills tune-up is designed to prepare participants to take the Consortium Oral Performance Test in Spanish, to be offered during May 18, 2008, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This session will review the basic concepts surrounding the use of the three modes of interpretation. Participants will practice sight translation, consecutive interpretation, and simultaneous interpretation, with attention to the appropriate protocol for each.
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM	VIETNAMESE SKILLS TRAINING FOR COURT INTERPRETERS (Language: Vietnamese) Instructor: Joseph Pham This six-hour skills tune-up is designed to prepare participants to take the Consortium Oral Performance Test in Vietnamese, to be offered during May 18, 2008, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This session is a good opportunity to polish skills in preparation for court interpreter certification examinations. This hands-on language-specific workshop offers participants ample opportunity to go through their paces in consecutive interpreting, simultaneous interpreting, and sight translation. Take advantage of this chance to stretch your mental muscles before the Consortium exam so that you are at the top of your game.
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM	TRANSLATION TECHNIQUES FROM THEORY TO PRACTICE (Language: English, all languages) Instructors: Dr. Dagoberto Orrantia, Dr. Gladys González Matthews This pre-conference workshop will analyze the strategies that translators use to render a text from one language into another. We will define, discuss, and practice techniques such as borrowing, calque, and literal translation. In addition, we will explore the dynamic translation approach of transposition, modulation, equivalence, adaptation, and compensation. We will also discuss the comparative study of parallel texts in order to better understand the source text, identify terms and structures, and define the expectations of the target text reader. Participants will apply these techniques to the translation of short English/Spanish texts. The focus of this workshop will be on legal texts.
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM	CONSECUTIVE INTERPRETING: NOTE-TAKING SKILLS (Language: English, all languages) Instructor: Agustin de la Mora Mnemonics and other tricks of the trade will be discussed during this very interactive workshop. Participants will be challenged to improve their memory and learn how to apply non-traditional methods to their consecutive technique, using mnemonics to encode and retrieve difficult-to-remember information. The session will also discuss the AIM method to improve overall performance when interpreting witness testimony. Participants are encouraged to bring tape recorders and participate actively.

Half- Day Sessions, May 16, 2008

9:00 AM - NOON	COURT TOUR (Language: English)
9:00 AM - NOON	BEYOND A REASONABLE DICTIONARY: TRANSLATING CRIMINAL JUSTICE TERMS (Language: Spanish) Instructor: Sandro Tomasi Since legal translation involves translating from one language, as well as from one legal system, to another, it is vital for the court interpreter and legal translator to go beyond the semantic meaning of terms. An understanding of the legal concepts behind those terms is indispensable in order to provide true and accurate translations. This interactive workshop will be divided into four sections: 1) the principles of legal translation; 2) the most authoritative Spanish and English law dictionaries to date; 3) a comparison of U.S. criminal justice terms compared with various Latin-American penal and criminal procedure codes; and 4) exercises, including multiple-choice and error analysis, to help outline the connotative and collocational meaning of legal terms and dictionary-fossilized translation mistakes.
2:00 PM- 5:00 PM	TRANSLATING CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATIVE REPORTS (Language: Spanish) Instructor: Rogelio Camacho In this fast-paced highly interactive workshop, using information taken from actual police documents, participants will become familiar with and translate at least 200 words commonly used in crime scene investigative reports written in Spanish. Bring an extra pen and don't forget your running shoes.
2:00 PM - 5:00 PM	FROM CHILE TO CHIHUAHUA: NEW CRIMINAL PROCEDURE IN LATIN AMERICA (Language: Spanish) Instructors: Katty Kauffman, Rafael Carrillo While much has been written in Spanish, and some in English, about the criminal procedural reforms sweeping Latin America, there is scant published information about the novel process itself. During this session, speakers will review one of the most successful such reforms in the region - the revamped system of criminal prosecution in Chile - and its sister reforms in Oaxaca and Chihuahua, México. Parallels will be drawn with the U.S. system, and an extensive glossary will be provided. The session will be in English and Spanish.
2:00 PM - 5:00 PM	ADVANCED TOPICS IN MEXICAN SPANISH FOR COURT INTERPRETERS (Language: Spanish) Instructor: Dennis McKenna This session is an introduction to Mexican Spanish for court interpreters. Emphasis will be on practical usage, with a brief review of the various ways in which Mexican Spanish differs from the Spanish spoken in other countries. Terminology covered will include slang and euphemisms likely to come up in court. Exercises will develop interpreter skills in language related to cars, drugs, crimes and swearing.

EDUCATIONAL CONFERENCE SESSIONS
SATURDAY, MAY 17, 2008

8:00 - 9:00 AM	SPECIALIZED TOPICS IN MEXICAN SPANISH (Language: Spanish) Instructor Biography: Dennis McKenna The presenter will reveal how to acquire advanced knowledge of Mexican Spanish by actively seeking out terminology in the press, online, in film, TV and radio. One of the topics covered is the lingo of schools and education in Mexico, including colloquial expressions used by students. Narcocorridos and other popular music are also discussed, as well as recently published books that provide a wealth of material on current drug-related expressions and other slang.
8:00 - 9:00 AM	OVERVIEW OF LATIN AMERICAN CRIMINAL PROCEDURES (Language: Spanish) Instructors: Katty Kauffman, Rafael Carrillo The speakers will provide an overview of one of the most successful reforms of the system of criminal prosecution in Chile - and its sister reforms in Oaxaca and Chihuahua, México. In December 2000, Chile's new code of criminal procedure went into effect, replacing system in place since 1907 with an oral, public, adversarial procedure. The new procedures will be described in detail and contrasted with procedures in U.S. federal courts and the new oral procedures in Oaxaca and Chihuahua (which closely follow the Chilean model). Parallels and differences in procedure and terminology will be pointed out.
8:00 - 9:00 AM	TRANSCRIPTION AND TRANSLATION FROM A-Z (Language: English, all languages) Instructor: Liliana Gonzalez This presentation will cover aspects of transcription and translation, including: types of projects and source material, technical equipment, personal tools and requirements, estimating project turnaround, techniques, procedure, errors and pitfalls, self-evaluation, working in teams, reference material and resources, expert witness and advocacy. Appropriate for all levels, from beginner to the seasoned translator. Question and answer period as time allows, plus a status report from the TT Committee & TT Ensemble.
8:00 - 9:00 AM	ADVOCACY AND COMMUNITY LIAISON COMMITTEE BRIEFING (Language: English, all languages) Instructors: Dr. Peter Lindquist, Rob Cruz, John Estill NAJIT's advocacy committee is a standing committee charged with monitoring and analyzing public policies, government initiatives and press coverage of matters pertaining to the profession of judiciary interpretation and translation and recommending responses to the NAJIT Board of Directors for possible action. NAJIT's community liaison committee is an ad hoc committee, charged with reviewing entities that wish to partner with NAJIT and making recommendations to the NAJIT Board. Members of both committees will provide a general overview of committee tasks and actions taken regarding recent legislative matters, and other advocacy requests, as well as current and future partnership objectives. In a question and answer session we will ask for recommendations for future partnerships and request membership input on other subject matters for the committees to consider.
9:15 - 11:30 AM	METHAMPHETAMINE / CLANDESTINE DRUG LAB AWARENESS Sponsored by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation Clandestine Laboratory/Marijuana Eradication Unit, London, Ohio (Language: English, all languages) Instructor: Special Agent Dennis Lowe, Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation Clandestine Laboratory/Marijuana Eradication Unit, London, Ohio) Attendees will receive an overview of the methamphetamine abuse problem as it exists today: how meth affects the user, an overview of the manufacturing process, common terminology used in the methamphetamine underworld, and safety protocols. Glossary handouts as well as links to related websites will be provided.
9:15 - 10:15 AM	APPEALS BASED ON INTERPRETER ISSUES (Language: English, all languages) Instructor: Dr. Virginia Benmaman This presentation discusses appeals based on interpreter issues at both the state and federal levels. It focuses on: (1) the most common problems identified; (2) the grounds for the appeal; and 3) the court rulings as well as the reasoning behind them. The overview will outline the fundamental criteria involved in the process, including the importance of identifying the basis for the appeal in the trial transcript. It is often the case that, even with compelling evidence of a variety of errors, trial court decisions are affirmed.
9:15 - 10:15 AM	PAREMIOLOGY AND INTERPRETING PROVERBS IN THE COURTROOM (Language: English, all languages) Instructor: Dr. Alexander Raïnof
9:15 - 10:15 AM	ETHICS AND STANDARDS OF PRACTICE FOR INTERPRETING IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR (Language: English, all languages) Instructor: Jorge Ungo This interactive session will look at the various codes of ethics and standards of practice for interpreters in a variety of settings. Participants will examine the development of codes of ethics in the judiciary, healthcare, and conference interpreting fields; review codes of ethics from other sectors; and discuss the implications of these codes and their impact on interpreting services in the private sector. Participants will also discuss specific ethical problems and how the implementation of different codes of ethics leads the interpreter toward different outcomes. Participants will gain an in-depth understanding of the relationship of each code of ethics to venue and audience and acquire a broader understanding of the ethical protocols in any given situation.
10:30 - 11:30 AM	HOW THE CONSORTIUM INTERPRETER TESTS ARE GRADED (Language: English, all languages) Instructors: Wanda Romberger, Melinda González-Hibner This session will de-mystify the process of developing and grading the Consortium court interpreter tests. It will describe how the Consortium tests are created: the procedure, selection of subject-matter experts, background, history, and psychometric underpinnings of the tests, as well as the mechanics of the testing process and test security measures. Melinda Gonzalez-Hibner, a federally certified interpreter who has served as a grader both for the Consortium court interpreter tests for a number of states as well as for the federal exam, will provide insights from a grader's perspective. Questions from the audience are encouraged.
10:30 - 11:30 AM	INTERPRETING IN THE DIPLOMATIC ARENA (Language: English, all languages) Instructors: Jacki Noh, Doina Francu Have you ever wondered what is it like to interpret at high level international conferences and diplomatic meetings in far-flung places? Hear about it first hand from two NAJIT veterans who have interpreted at high levels in sensitive situations. What extra stresses and what additional satisfactions do interpreting in these settings offer to interpreters? How does one prepare for these assignments? What tips should one keep in mind? Presenters are Doina Francu, a Romanian interpreter, who has interpreted for several US presidents and at UN-sponsored human rights conferences, and Jacki Noh, who has made multiple trips to North Korea for government talks and was recently in Beijing to interpret for the Six-Party Talks.
10:30 - 11:30 AM	UPDATE FROM THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES COURTS (Language: English, all languages) Instructor Biography: Dr. Carolyn Kinney This session will focus on the major developments in the federal court interpreting program in the last year, including the fee increase for interpreters, initiatives to ensure the use of qualified interpreters in federal courts, recent efforts related to the national court interpreter database, and the continued use of the contract regarding court interpreter services, terms and conditions. The outlook for the future of interpreting in federal courts will also be addressed, including an effort to develop alternative certification or qualification methods. There will be time for questions from the audience.
11:45 AM - 3 PM	ANNUAL MEETING & LUNCHEON Featured Speaker: The Hon. Ida Chen, judge of the Court of Common Please of Philadelphia County.
3:30 - 4:30 PM	TRANSLATING 'PLEA BARGAIN' INTO SPANISH: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE LAWS AND SEMANTICS (Language of session: Spanish) Instructor Biography: Sandro Tomasi A plea bargain is an established process within the American criminal justice system whereby the accused and the prosecutor work out a mutually satisfactory disposition of a case, subject to court approval. Comparatively, there are similar systems found in criminal procedure laws in countries whose official language is Spanish. This information reveals that most English-Spanish legal dictionaries published to date have provided incorrect translations for, not only, plea bargain, but the single term plea as well. In fact, few such publications have provided terms and definitions that offer any substantive assistance in translating this complicated term. This groundbreaking presentation will analyze various Spanish and Latin-American procedural laws that are analogous to the plea bargaining system and offer examples on how to best translate the term into Spanish.
3:30 - 4:30 PM 4:45 - 5:45 pm	COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIPS: A FRAMEWORK FOR SUCCESSFUL LANGUAGE ASSISTANCE PLANNING (Language: English, all languages) Panel Moderator: The Honorable Ronald B. Adrine Panelists: Juliet Choi; Christine Stoneman, Special Legal Counsel Coordination and Review Section, Civil Rights Division United States Department of Justice; Jeffrey S. Robinson, Director, National Virtual Translation Center, Washington, D.C; Rebekah Tosado, Director for Review and Compliance, DHS Civil Rights and Civil Liberties; Les Jin, Executive Director, National Asian Pacific American Bar Association; Nancy McCloskey, Coordination and Review Section, Civil Rights Division, United States Department of Justice All too often, individuals, organizations and governments find themselves on opposite sides of a language chasm. Absent a viable language assistance plan for bridging this gap, the parties are forced to rely upon whatever language resources are available. Viable language assistance plans effectively address the needs and resources of the communities and organizations they are intended to serve, yet they are not fungible "one-size-fits-all" templates applicable to all communities for all purposes. Drawing from experiences in working with interpreters and serving various limited English proficient communities, this panel of judges, lawyers, government, and LEP community advocates will share insights into the best strategies for building collaborative community partnerships that will result in viable, proactive, and competent language-assistance programs for emergency and non-emergency situations.
3:30 - 4:30 PM	THE PENNSYLVANIA STORY: WORKING TOGETHER FOR EQUAL ACCESS (Language: English, all languages) Panel Moderator: Lisette M. McCormick, Esq Panelists: Osvaldo R. Aviles, Janet Fasy In 2005, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania formed the Interbranch Commission for Gender, Racial and Ethnic Fairness, with members appointed by the executive branch, the legislative branch or the judiciary branch. Working with many others throughout the Commonwealth, the members of the Commission have been implementing the recommendations set forth in a lengthy report issued in 2003 by the Committee on Racial & Gender Bias in the Justice System (a prior committee convened by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court which studied certain key issues from 2001-2003). The panelists will present their strategies in developing language access programs through their collective and coordinating efforts in providing equal access to justice to litigants of limited English proficiency, and to the deaf and hard-of-hearing.
3:30 - 4:30 PM	TRAINING INTERPRETERS IN MEXICAN-INDIAN LANGUAGES (Language: English. Knowledge of Spanish is helpful.) Instructors: Dr. Georganne Weller, Guadalupe Ortiz This session will present an operational model developed by the National Institute for Indigenous Languages (INALI) for certification and accreditation in Mexican Indian languages. The legal framework is provided by the National Act for Indigenous Language Rights, which entitles these indigenous language speakers to enjoy the presence of an interpreter and a cultural broker during the legal process both within and outside Mexico's national borders.
4:45 -5:45 PM	GETTING THE MOST OUT OF THE CONSORTIUM TEST PREP KIT (Language: English, all languages ) Instructor: Wanda Romberger In an effort to assist candidates in their goal to become certified, the technical committee of the Consortium of the National Center for State Courts has developed a test preparation kit. Knowing what the exam will be like, with examples of material typical of each section of the exam, helps reduce the candidate's stress, but that is not enough. This session will give guidance and tips on how to actively use the kit to maximize one's chances of passing the exam.
4:45 -5:45 PM	THE LINGUISTIC AND EMOTIONAL CHALLENGES OF INTERPRETING FOUL LANGUAGE (Language: English, with examples in Spanish and English) Instructors: Claudia A'Zar, Verla Viera Court interpreters frequently have to interpret foul language, which may originate in police reports where declarants use such language, or in the emotion-laden speech of a witness or defendant. Interpreter codes of ethics call us to render legally equivalent messages, adding or omitting nothing. This session will explore the meaning of legal equivalence in regard to foul language, and will look at possible renderings of Spanish and English swear words.
4:45 -5:45 PM	FEDERAL INTERPRETER'S ROUNDTABLE (Language: English, all languages) Instructor: Tony Rosado, Esq. This is a follow-up session to very useful sessions conducted during NAJIT's annual conferences in 2006 and 2007. This round table fosters open discussion among staff and freelance interpreters in the federal court system and the USAOC in order to improve conditions and develop common solutions to everyday problems. We will also discuss ways to enhance the professional and ethical standing of federal court interpreters.

SUNDAY, MAY 18, 2008

8:30 - 9:30 AM	WITNESS INTERPRETING (Language: English, all languages) Instructor: Lionel Bajaña Witness interpreting is one the most daunting tasks a court interpreter faces. The dynamics of direct and cross-examination, together with monitoring by bilingual litigants, jury, judge or other participants make witness work uniquely stressful. This presentation will analyze the dynamics of witness work; speed and tempo of direct and cross-examination, how to deal with objections, emotional aspects, and modes of interpretation. Attendees will be encouraged to share their experiences and collectively analyze techniques that work better. All participants will leave the session with valuable insight into the task of witness interpreting.
8:30 - 10:45AM	ETHICS: THE RULES THAT INTERPRETERS LIVE BY (Language: English, all languages) Instructor: Ms. Melinda González-Hibner Linguistic ability and interpreting skills are not the only qualities an interpreter must bring to the job. The interpreter's role requires a keen understanding of what kind of conduct goes over the line. The canons of the code of ethics and professional responsibility are very similar across jurisdictions and provide indispensable guidance in most situations we face in the courts on a day-to-day basis. Although the canons themselves seem straightforward, sometimes their application is not. The real world provides an infinite variety of situations to which the code can be applied to a greater or lesser degree. The instructor, a federally certified interpreter who formerly headed the Colorado state interpreter program, will explore ethical issues at this very interactive 2-hour, 2-credit ethics workshop.
8:30 - 9:30 AM	LANGUAGE ACCESS: JUSTICE SPEAKS LANDMARK SURVEY (Language: English, all languages) Instructor: Kajori Chaudhuri In this workshop, the presenter will review the data of the Justice Speaks Task Force's interpreter survey in NYC, encapsulating observations and comments by court interpreters. We will share information from interpreters and domestic violence advocates regarding the challenges in the courtroom and best practices. Our dialogue will provide both groups with concrete strategies and tips to enable domestic violence survivors to access justice in the courtroom. The presenter's goal is to see increased collaboration among court interpreters and advocates, to increase cross-trainings, troubleshooting, and information sharing. Action plans can be developed to increase the effectiveness and utilization of interpreters who work with survivors of violence.
8:30 - 9:30 AM	LA SENTENCIA DEFINITIVA (Language: Spanish) Instructor: Rogelio Camacho During this interesting, challenging and productive one-hour workshop, using information taken from an actual document containing the verdict and sentence of a criminal court written in Spanish, participants will go through the process of analyzing, comprehending and accurately translating 100 preselected vocabulary items. Come rested, you will need the energy.
9:45 - 10:45 AM	TEAM INTERPRETING IN THE COURTROOM (Language: English, all languages) Instructor: Thelma Gomez-Ferry, *Ramon del Villar* This conference workshop will focus on improving interpreting skills and learning how to incorporate team interpreting in the courtroom. Working in teams during lengthy court proceedings helps interpreters provide effective communication and preserves the accuracy, quality and uniformity of the interpretation. Team interpreting encourages cooperation and shared responsibility. It prevents burnout, premature exhaustion or fatigue, while allowing for a seamless rendition of the interpreting task. Since team interpreting increases efficiency, quality and uniformity in handling court proceedings while ensuring equal protection of the law for non-English speakers, interpreters require the full support of court administrators. In this session, participants will learn and master the guidelines to successfully perform as a team interpreter and will also learn how to promote the use of teams for lengthy court assignments. A question and answer exercise segment will conclude the presentation.
9:45 - 10:45 AM	AN INTERPRETER EXAM: RELAX, IT'S ONLY A TEST (Language: English) Instructor: Agustín de la Mora Taking a test is a nerve-wracking experience; but for some of us, the stress becomes so intense that it affects our performance. This presentation focuses on how to implement a self-study program that includes relaxation exercises as part of the training. Attendees will be invited to participate in a guided relaxation exercise. Suggestopedia and other learning techniques will be discussed. Note: Due to the nature of this presentation, the group cannot be interrupted during the session. If you are planning to participate, please be there on time. Once the doors are closed, no one will be admitted entry.
9:45 - 10:45 AM	AN INTERPRETER'S PIVOTAL ROLE IN A CAPITAL MURDER CASE (Language: English, all languages) Instructor Biography: Jacki Noh On April 25, 1989, Jeong Soo Paek was accused of killing three people in a quiet suburb in Louisiana. The defendant went to trial facing the death penalty. On May 29, 1990, The Times-Picayune, a local newspaper, printed the headline, "Walking Out Free; Innocent Verdict for Paek Greeted by Cheers, Tears." Throughout this challenging assignment the interpreter worked with the defendant and all the Korean-speaking witnesses. Cross-cultural issues, code of ethics, emotionally and racially charged testimony, and taxing working conditions all came into play. Though it has been nearly 20 years, for the first time the interpreter will share the lessons learned in this assignment while telling this remarkable story step-by-step from jury selection to deliberations.
11:00 AM- NOON	INTERPRETING FOR JURORS: COMING TO A COURTHOUSE NEAR YOU (Language: English, all languages) Instructor Biography: Tony Rosado, Esq. Since its territorial days in the 19th century, the New Mexico Territory allowed non-English speakers to be on juries in civil and criminal trials. When New Mexico became a State in 1912, the New Mexico Constitution guaranteed the constitutional right to all New Mexicans to sit on a jury, regardless of mother language. Recent New Mexico Supreme Court decisions have extended this right to be a juror with the assistance of an interpreter to people of all languages. The trend in this country is moving towards more diversity, and in the future other states may allow non-English speakers on their jury panels. This presentation will address the technical and ethical aspects of juror interpretation and explore the professional opportunities for all court interpreters interested in this specialty.
11:00 AM- NOON	INTERPRETING IN IRAQ (Language: English, all languages) Speaker: Yusra al-Ani Yusra Al-Ani will talk about her experience working as an interpreter for the Multi National Security Transition Command-Iraq and also translating documents for David H. Petraeus, who was at that time a Lieutenant General. She will describe her introduction to the field of interpreting, her day-to-day professional life, work with Iraqi generals and US officers, travels with convoys to the Ministry of Interior located in Baghdad and the relationship built between the Iraqi and US army.
11:00 AM- NOON	EL GUEVO Y SUS DERIVADOS: FOCUS ON SPANISH FROM EL SALVADOR AND CENTRAL AMERICA (Language: Spanish) Instructor: Christina Courtright NAJIT members are often required to render testimony and transcribe audio from Central Americans, and so it may be worth our while to learn more about the idiosyncrasies of the vocabulary and intonations common to this region, and how they differ from those of Mexico. This will be a rather entertaining, interactive exploration of how Salvadorans and, to a certain extent, Guatemalans and Hondurans, speak colloquially. Comparisons will be drawn with Mexican and other Latin American equivalents, where possible.
11:00 AM- NOON	CALIFORNIA'S LANDMARK STUDY OF ITS TESTING PROGRAM FOR THE CERTIFICATION OF COURT INTERPRETERS (Language: English, all languages) Instructor Biography: Lucy Smallsreed California's certification testing program for court interpreters, known for its rigor, was recently the subject of a major study. The state's judicial branch contracted with a national language testing and language services firm to take an in-depth look at their testing instruments and test administration. The investigation studied the knowledge, skills and abilities needed to interpret in today's courts; the degree of alignment of current tests with the necessary KSAs; scoring and administrative practices; pass rates; retake policies; and factors contributing to successfully passing California's written and oral exams. Researchers interviewed current interpreters, test candidates, court leaders and staff, labor and consumer representatives, and other stakeholders. This session will present the study's findings and recommendations, and delineate the steps the judicial branch is taking to act on the conclusions of this landmark study.