Background

Court interpreting is a highly skilled profession and Ontario is a national leader in interpreter testing and training.   The Ministry of the Attorney General maintains a Registry of Accredited Freelance Court Interpreters with the names of qualified interpreters who have demonstrated their skills and abilities through a past testing and accreditation process.

The Ministry is implementing new court specific interpreting tests and an accreditation model for court interpreters as part of ongoing efforts to improve the delivery of court interpreting services in Ontario.

Ontario is a national leader in interpreter testing and training. We have highly qualified interpreters who have demonstrated their skills and abilities through an existing testing process.

The new system will help determine interpreter strengths and target areas for skills advancement.

Test Development

The Ministry retained Vancouver Community College (VCC), an internationally recognized specialist in court interpreter training and language assessment test development, to develop the new tests. It is one of only a few institutions that offer a Court Interpreting Certificate program. The VCC team, consisting of leading experts in the field of interpretation from across Canada, provided:

• court interpreter tests in the Ministry’s 24 highest demand languages (which represent approximately 85% of all interpretation provided in Ontario);
• an English court interpreter test to evaluate interpreting aptitude for those languages not covered by the 24 tests;
• an English court interpreter test for the First Nation courtroom;
• material to assist  interpreters in preparing for the test; and,
• advice on accreditation model.

The New Tests

The tests are being used to accredit both new and current interpreters for Ontario’s courts.

The tests are specific to courts and based on actual court documents and trial transcripts from Ontario court proceedings.  This ensures they match a realistic court interpreter experience and reflect the high level of skill and specialized terminology required for court interpretation. For more details on the new tests, go to Frequently Asked Questions.

Vancouver Community College conducted pilot tests to ensure the tests were reliable and valid.

Scoring

The new court interpreter test is scored in two ways and evaluates the many skills required in court interpreting.

Global scoring evaluates:

• Understanding and communication of meaning
• Grammar and structure
• Mastery of general vocabulary and basic legal terminology
• Recognition and reproduction of registry of voice, i.e. formal or informal speech, neutrality
• Fluency of delivery
• Ability to speak clearly and understandably, and
• Use of appropriate stress and intonation.

Detailed scoring evaluates:

• Grammar and structure
• General vocabulary, specialized terms, register of voice
• Grading specific numbers, names, words or phrases adding precision or emphasis, and
• Words and phrases likely to be omitted due to their position in the text.

The overall score reflects a combined proficiency in the target language and the skills required for interpretation, rather than a straight indication of the number of words that are accurately translated.  The English tests provide an indication of the interpreter’s aptitude and English proficiency.

The New Accreditation Model

With advice from experts, the Ministry has developed a model that includes two levels of accreditation:

• Accredited – Individuals who achieve a score of 70% and above on each section of the test. Interpreters at the accredited level will be scheduled to all types of court matters, particularly complex matters.
• Conditionally Accredited – Individuals who did not achieve a score of 70% on every section of the test but did achieve more than 50% in each section of the test. Interpreters at the conditionally accredited level are interpreters with a high level of skill that are continuing to develop their skills. They will be scheduled to less complex matters with the requirement that they work toward full accreditation by retaking the test and meeting the accredited level within two years.  Proof of training is required prior to retaking the test. The new interpreter scheduling policy used by court locations outlines the types of matters that interpreters at the conditionally accredited level can be assigned to.
• Unaccredited Interpreters - The names of freelance interpreters who do not meet the accredited or conditionally accredited levels will not be added to the new Ministry Registry of Accredited Freelance Court Interpreters as accredited interpreters.  Previously accredited freelance interpreters who did not achieve one of the accreditation levels under the new model have demonstrated a level of proficiency by passing the former interpreter test, previously completing training and providing interpretation for court proceedings.  In rare situations these individuals may be called to provide interpretation services to the courts; however, they will be considered unaccredited interpreters and Court staff will be required to follow Ministry policy and notify the presiding judicial officer and parties of the interpreter’s status.  Judicial officers have the discretion to inquire into an interpreter’s skill and to decide whether to accept an interpreter regardless of his or her accreditation.

Unaccredited interpreters were provided with a list of resources to assist them with refining their interpretation skills in advance of retaking the test, should they decide to apply to do so. The process for applying to become a freelance court interpreter is included in the FAQ’s on the website indicated below.

Court Interpretation Moving Forward

Court Services Division is continually recruiting for freelance court interpreters. Those wishing to take the test are encouraged to attend test preparation classes free of charge.  These preparation classes build on the test preparation material that is already available online and will provide helpful information on how to best utilize the online material.  Practice time will be built into the sessions to supplement the practice that candidates are already doing to prepare themselves to take the test.  Detailed information on the test preparation sessions will be provided by Court Services Division staff when an interpreter is contacted to take the court interpretation test.

Please visit the FAQs for more information on the new court interpreter tests and accreditation model. Information is also available online for people interested in becoming a Ministry accredited interpreter.