Jumpstart for 2017 - Series 2

 

A Long-Term Study Plan for the Federal Oral Exam: Series 2

A reprise of the previous series for candidates starting in fall 2016

 

About the Series

The oral portion of the Federal Court Interpreter Certification Exam (FCICE) is a daunting challenge for even skilled, experienced interpreters. The good news is that you still have a lot of time to prepare if you plan to take the exam next summer. The Jumpstart series offers webinars and/or live sessions to guide participants through setting and executing a long-term plan for success on the exam. By working systematically over time, participants will be able to truly deepen their skills and knowledge in a meaningful way well before the exam.

 

 

Free Information Session
Tuesday, September 20, 2016, 7:00-8:00 pm, CST
Available via Facebook Live (CLICK HERE!)

Join instructor Ernest Nino-Murcia for an online presentation including a question and answer session. Topics covered will include:

• -        Outlining the challenge: What it takes to pass the exam.
• -        Defining the goal: Benefits of getting federally certified.
• -        Overview of the webinar series: Why start studying now and how these sessions will help you prepare

Click here to register for sessions 1-4 and save!

Attendees now have the option to purchase sessions 1 through 4 at a discounted price!

Registration fee for sessions 1 - 4: $80 for MATI members, $120 for Non-members

Please see individual sessions below for single-session pricing.

NOTE:  Registrants will have access to a recording of any webinar should they be unable to attend at the scheduled time. This will be sent to paid registrants within 7 days after the webinar has concluded.


Session 1: Vocabulary Building - Tuesday, September 27, 2016, 7:00-8:00pm, CST

$25 for MATI Members, $35 for Non-members.  REGISTER NOW

This online session will kick off the series by laying out the keys to success on the exam (vocabulary, interpreting skills and exam strategy) before outlining a 9 month study plan to strengthen these areas effectively over time. The primary focus of this first session will be establishing a strong foundation of vocabulary for the exam by first identifying the specific categories of general, legal and technical terms that may appear on the exam- and what sources to consult to build this vocabulary. Finally, participants will be introduced to a system for systematically compiling, sorting and reviewing a high volume of terms effectively over a long period time through MS Excel (no prior experience with this program is necessary).  Specific topics covered include: what information to include with each word, categories and subcategories for organizing words and techniques for ongoing review including the creation of personalized, thematic review materials. 

 

Session 2: Interpreting Skills for the Oral FCICE: Sight Translation (English <> Spanish)- Tuesday, October 18, 2016, 7:00-8:00pm, CST

$25 for MATI Members, $35 for Non-members. REGISTER NOW

Building on the general introduction provided in the previous webinar, this online session will shift focus to specifically identifying and developing the skills needed for success on the sight translation section of the FCICE oral exam, including the following:

•         An overview of the types of texts and language found in this section
•         Practice exercises to be completed individually and reviewed as a group
•         Tips on what and how to study
•         Section-specific suggestions on test-taking strategy

 

Session 3: Interpreting Skills for the Oral FCICE: Consecutive – Tuesday, November 15, 2016, 7:00-8:00pm, CST. $25 for MATI Members, $35 for Non-members. REGISTER NOW
This online session will focus on specifically identifying and developing the skills needed for success on the consecutive interpreting section of the FCICE oral exam, including the following:

• An overview of test format and content
• Guidelines for developing an effective, personalized note-taking system
• Practice exercises to be completed individually and reviewed as a group
• Tips on what and how to study
• Section-specific suggestions on test-taking strategy

 
Session 4: Interpreting Skills for the Oral FCICE: Simultaneous – Tuesday, December 13, 2016, 7:00-8:00pm, CST.$25 for MATI Members, $35 for Non-members.

REGISTER NOW 

This online session will focus on specifically identifying and developing the skills needed for success on the simultaneous interpreting section of the FCICE oral exam, including the following:

• An overview of test format and content
• Practice exercises featuring both a simultaneous monologue (section 2 of the exam) and a simultaneous dialogue (section 5)
• Tips on what and how to study
• Section-specific suggestions on test-taking strategy

 

 

 

Session 5: Exam Strategy and Practice Exam - Early 2017

Pricing and location TBD.

 

Session 5 will be an opportunity for participants to put content and skills covered in earlier sessions to use in a live, interactive setting. Before taking a practice version of the federal oral exam, instructor will offer tips on exam strategy, or how to avoid the traps that cause otherwise-capable interpreters to fail the exam (time management, nerves, managing emotions). After taking the exam, participants will grade their performance as the instructor reveals and discusses acceptable and unacceptable answers for each scoring unit. In the afternoon, participants will do practice exercises for the different modes tested, receiving feedback on their performance from the instructor and peers. Participation in previous sessions is NOT a requirement for attending this session.

 

Session 6: I passed! . . . Now What?: Introduction to Federal Court Interpreting - November 2017

FREE for any participants in 2 or more sessions in the webinar series. Pricing for members and non-members to be announced separately.

 

This session will cover everything you need to know to get started interpreting in federal court that WASN´T on the exam. Topics covered will include:

• What to expect between your score report and your first assignment in court
• Sources of work in the federal system
• Rates/Payment policies
• Marketing and publicity
• Online resources for billing and accessing case information
• Basic federal court concepts and steps of a case

 

Additional sessions in this series may be added in the future. Looking for something specific? Let us know!

 

About the Instructor

 

Ernest Niño-Murcia is a freelance court interpreter (state and federally-certified) based in Des Moines, Iowa. He passed the oral portion of the FCICE on his first try after nine months of intensive studying and developed this series to share some of what he did to study and some of what he wishes he had done. Ernest has experience as a classroom teacher, test prep instructor and interpreter evaluator/trainer. He has presented theoretical and skills-based sessions to interpreters, judges and attorneys through NAJIT, the U.S. Department of Justice and the Iowa State Bar Association, among others. Ernest graduated from Brown University with a B.A. in Anthro-Linguistics and is a Jeopardy champion (2012).