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Ignition Learning — Activity Sheet

Interpreting between languages

Languages · Year 11

Name: ______________________Date: ____________

Interpreting — converting spoken language from one language into another in real time — is a distinct skill from written translation, requiring you to listen, understand and reproduce meaning quickly without the luxury of time to consider word choice carefully. For this activity, have someone speak a few sentences in English, then interpret them into your target language out loud (or vice versa), practising short segments at a time rather than attempting to interpret continuously — a genuinely challenging skill that professional interpreters spend years developing, so don't expect perfection.

Example

If someone says in English "I went to the shops yesterday but they were closed because of the public holiday," interpreting this in real time means quickly identifying the key information (went to shops, yesterday, closed, public holiday) and reconstructing it fluently in your target language, rather than trying to translate every single word in the exact original order.

Key terms

Interpreting:
Converting spoken language from one language into another in real time.
Consecutive interpreting:
Interpreting a segment of speech after the speaker pauses, rather than simultaneously.

This topic is self-directed and doesn't have quiz questions.