This document provides an overview of the English language oral test that has been prepared for court interpreters. The purpose of this test is to evaluate interpreters according to various skills and the degree to which those skills are currently developed.

Being bilingual in daily conversation does not qualify one to be an interpreter. A court interpreter needs a high level of fluency in both languages, an excellent memory and a variety of skills to carry out the tasks required in court. Two such skills are the ability to take quick notes and the capacity to switch from one language to another without hesitation. These abilities and skills are indispensable when performing any one of the interpreting modes that are used in court on an everyday basis:

  • sight translation
  • consecutive interpreting
  • simultaneous interpreting