Conference Interpreting: A Student’s Practice Book - Tapa dura

Winner of the 2015 ProZ.com Community Choice Awards for Best Book. http://www.proz.com/community-choice-awards

"Andrew Gillies' book offers a fount of useful, practical and fun exercises which students can do, individually or collectively, to develop specific skills. A great book for teachers and students alike to dip into." - Roderick Jones, author of Conference Interpreting Explained

"Andrew Gillies' Guide offers a much-needed mine of exercises, advice and inspiration for students of conference interpreting – and their trainers. Without over-complicating the skills and dedication needed to acquire professional competence, this book makes it clear that learning is a long-term process and provides a range of both tried and tested and innovative (and even fun) solutions to the issues all trainee interpreters face. The different skills that must be mastered are described and exercises recommended, always with explanations as to why this would work and how. Gillies draws on his own wide experience as a professional and a trainer and has put together a compilation that is sourced widely from the world of conference interpreting, providing students with the means to enhance their training and gain greater understanding of what is really required to succeed in this profession. A treasure trove for all those eager to progress on the path to expertise." Alison Graves, Head of Training at the European Parliament

"I have a plethora of great titles on interpreter training in my library. But if someone were to ask me what book I would want with me if stranded on a desert island, and if I had to train interpreters, the answer would be easy: Conference Interpreting: A Student’s Practice Book by Andrew Gillies." - Barry Olsen, The American Translators Association Chronicle, September 2013.

"...so indispensable that I have taken to packing it in my suitcase and pulling it out on every possible occasion to wave it under fellow trainers’ noses..." Michelle Hof, The Interpreter Diaries

"Andrew Gillies has assembled a collection of practice exercises that has importance and relevance for educators and interpreters alike. The book includes a series of chapters that offer us a conference interpreter’s perspective on an issue of common concern: the need for practical exercises that students can use to enhance their development, both in and outside of the class or work environment. I appreciated the multi-focus within the book, bringing together material that addresses how to practice, along with exercises to enhance language development, consecutive interpreting and simultaneous interpreting...The chapters are well edited, easy to read, provide us with tangible ideas to apply as educators, mentors, working interpreters and students. It is more than just another book to place on your library shelf; it is a welcome addition to our discussions on self-directed learning and on-going professional development." Debra Russell, AIIC

"It's not only student or novice interpreters who will benefit from [reading] this book, but also experienced conference interpreters...unreservedly recommended...[it's] a companion for life and mentor in book form, a reference work and an interpreter's Vade Mecum." BDU, the German Federation of Interpreters and Translators

"This is therefore a book which may be used not only by the interpreting student and their trainer ... but also by practising interpreters ... it comes as both a very convenient and sometimes entertaining and convivial must." The Institute of Translation & Interpreting

"[This] is the kind of book any interpreter trainer would do well to have close at hand. Gillies has written a practical reference work for trainers and students alike." Barry Olsen, Interpret America

"..Andrew Gillies’ Conference Interpreting. A Student’s Practice Book is a must-read book by every student interpreter." - Sovannarith Lim, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia

Conference Interpreting: A Student’s Practice Book brings together a comprehensive compilation of tried and tested practical exercises which hone the sub-skills that make up successful conference interpreting

Unique in its exclusively practical focus, Conference Interpreting: A Student’s Practice Book, serves as a reference for students and teachers seeking to solve specific interpreting-related difficulties. By breaking down the necessary skills and linking these to the most relevant and effective exercises students can target their areas of weakness and work more efficiently towards greater interpreting competence.

Split into four parts, this Practice Book includes a detailed introduction offering general principles for effective practice drawn from the author’s own extensive experience as an interpreter and interpreter-trainer. The second ‘language’ section covers language enhancement at this very high level, an area that standard language courses and textbooks are unable to deal with. The last two sections cover the key sub-skills needed to effectively handle the two components of conference interpreting; simultaneous and consecutive interpreting.

Conference Interpreting: A Student’s Practice Book is non language-specific and as such is an essential resource for all interpreting students regardless of their language combination.