Legal Interpretation and Translation

Summary Description:

This certificate program helps to train bilingual students for the profession of certified court interpreter, a profession much in demand given the linguistic diversity of the state of California. In fact, CSU Los Angeles’ unique program can prepare qualified students for a career as a certified translator or interpreter for any industry that needs to serve, in real time, individuals with limited English skills. These industries may include government agencies, private businesses, the medical profession, and even bilingual telephone services (see, for example, www.languageline.com ).

But court interpreters, in particular, are much needed to provide accurate interpretation and translation for witnesses and parties in courtrooms and other legal proceedings where legal terminology is used and knowledge of legal procedures and processes is essential. The program thus instructs students to interpret consecutively as well as simultaneously, to sight translate legal, business, literary, and medical documents, and, in general, to interpret speech and text from English into a second language, and back, not only in real time, but accurately, without any editing, summarizing, or omissions, and without changing meaning. Because of the importance of court interpretation, the instruction includes coverage of a variety of court and administrative procedures and practices.

So, while this Extended Education program can train students to take county, state, and even federal examinations that certify the competency of interpreters and translators for employment in non-legal contexts (see, e.g., the American Translator Association certificate exam), the program focus is on the special knowledge and training needed to work as a court interpreter and meet the standards of the Judicial Council of California (see www.courtinfo.ca.gov/interpreters). In fact, the final program course consists of intensive preparation and mock test sessions that simulate the written and oral exams given at the State and Federal levels for certification as an interpreter for the courts.

Who Can Enroll?

Prospective students must successfully pass a Bilingual Placement exam, covering the areas of reading comprehension, spelling and grammar, writing, listening, and speaking fluency. In addition, while no formal college degree is required, applicants must have completed some 54 quarter units (or 36 semester units), that is, the equivalent of two years of college training, and demonstrate the irability to perform academic work at an “upper division” college level. Alternative qualification for the program is provided for students holding a California Administrative Hearing certificate.

Course Descriptions:

The program consists of seven, 4-unit, quarterly courses (28 non-degree credit units in all), as well as three optional, preparatory classes, for students whose bilingual skills may need improvement, and two optional medical translation courses (totaling 6 non-degree credit units) for students interested in working in medical fields. The specific content and sequence of the required courses are as follows:

NO.	Course Title (Click here for detailed course list)	Units
ML 790A	Contrastive Analysis of English-Spanish Grammar	4units
ML 790B	Legal Translation: Elements, Foundation, and Style	4units
ML 791A	Translating and Interpreting for Criminal Proceedings	4units
ML 791 B	Translating and Interpreting for Criminal Proceedings (advanced)	4units
ML 792A	Translating and Interpreting for C ivil Proceedings and Administrative Hearings	4units
ML 792 B	Translating and Interpreting for civil Proceedings and Administrative Hearings (advanced)	4units
ML 793	Legal Translation Lab/Practicum	4units

 

Optional Medical electives presently include

ML 898	Introduction to Medical Interpretation, Translation	3units
ML 898	Fundamental of Medical Interpretation	3units

 

Program Cost:

The tuition cost for each 11-week class is $ 600, making the total program cost some $ 4,200. This does not include the cost of any required textbooks. The cost of taking the required bilingual placement test is $20.00.

Course Schedule:

Courses will be scheduled quarterly, including Summer quarter, on the dates corresponding to the CSULA quarter schedule. Note that none of the courses may be taken concurrently. Courses will meet on evenings and weekends to accommodate working students. Classes will meet in university classrooms on the campus of CSULA. Contact 323-343-4904 for classroom location.

Job Prospects and Potential Salary :

Very good. The demand for qualified interpreters and translators is strong given that about 20% of all Calfornians report that they speak English less than “very well.” (Source: Judicial Council of California, www.courtinfo.ca.gov/interpreters ). The median salary for certified interpreters and translators working full-time, and having two years of experience ranges from $31,000 to $77,000, according to www.payscale.com. The Judicial Council of California further reports that the starting salary for a certified court interpreter employed full-time by the courts is $68,000.

Instructors:

All courses are taught by adjunct faculty and special lecturers who are fluent, bilingual language professionals.

Contact Us:

For more information please contact the Division of Extended Education at California State University, Los Angeles, at 323-343- 4922; www.calstatela.edu/exed .