Science2Practice – focus-area-specific learning

In this Science2Practice section, digilinguo provides carefully prepared learning materials for focus-area-specific learning.

Focus areas

Our focus areas are as follows:

Healthcare

Prof. Dr. Daniela Händler-Schuster

ZHAW School of Health Sciences

"In the healthcare sector, practice materials are needed that not only convey language, but also promote safe, respectful and needs-based communication in practice."

Social services and education

Kushtrim Adili

ZHAW School of Social Work

"In order to work accurately and professionally with clients in the area of social work, interpreters need to familiarise themselves with the challenges affecting this target group. Background knowledge helps reduce misunderstandings."

Justiz und Asylwesen

Kushtrim Adili

ZHAW School of Social Work

Structure

The learning materials are organised into thematic learning units. This allows learners to become familiar with a topic and practise efficiently. For each phase of the practice process, supporting resources are provided to assist with preparation, practice itself and subsequent follow-up.

Practice preparation

As a first step, we recommend brainstorming and reading general background information on the respective topic, both in German and your other working languages. Afterwards, it is advisable to create a glossary. If you would like to work very efficiently, you can build your glossary using the terminology lists provided for each exercise. Please keep in mind, however, that the terminology lists do not cover the full scope of the respective topic. For glossaries that are useful in the longer term, you will need to expand on them. Our resources for the preparation phase include:

Terminology lists for targeted practice preparation (Available on the first page of the respective scripts)
(Diese finden Sie auf der ersten Seite der jeweiligen Skripts.)

Recommendations for reliable sources for terminology research (German)

Practice

The digilinguo learning materials can be used for individual practice or in pairs. To help inspire you, we have put together some ideas on how you can work with them.

The audio files can be used to practice interpreting with or without notes. Decide for yourself whether you are ready to practice at a natural speaking speed or prefer to start a little slower. In some learning units, you will also find audio files with built-in gaps. Here, you can choose whether you want to pause the audio yourself to interpret a section or work with audio files that already include pauses so that you can interpret short segments at a time.

The scripts can also be used to practice sight translation. One possible approach is to first complete an interpreting exercise using the audio file and then practise sight translation using the same script. This allows you to work specifically on your accuracy.

For practice, we provide the following:

Ideas for organising practice, either individually or in pairs
Audio files, grouped by topic and arranged chronologically, for active interpreting with and without notes
- At natural speaking speed
- Slightly slower
- In some cases with pauses to interpret in between
Transcripts of the audio files for checking your work and for possible sight-translation practice

Raffaella Vanini

ZHAW School of Applied Linguistics

"Targeted practice helps to build confidence in dealing with cultural and communicative challenges."

Follow-up

Effective interpreting practice also requires thoughtful follow-up. We are therefore happy to provide general recommendations for self-reflection and peer feedback, supported by relevant checklists:

Checklist for self-evaluation
Checklist for feedback in pairs

Languages

The focus-area-specific digilinguo learning materials are primarily available in German. Where possible, multilingual resources are also provided.

Learning units

All learning units are hosted on Switch OER. You can find the main folder by clicking on the button below:

Below you will find the links to the specific learning units organised by focus area. The types of conversations included are also indicated. All conversations are fictional.

Hospital stay

Diabetes

Social counselling

School progress meetings

Child and adult protection authority (CAPA)

Asylum procedure