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Community Interpreter (Atkinson-Hiawatha Valley)

Career Field/Area: Human Services

Adult Career Pathway: Community Interpreter

NRS Levels Addressed:

  • Advanced ESL
  • High Intermediate Basic Education
  • Low Adult Secondary Education
  • High Adult Secondary Education

Part of an approved IET program? IET: yes

Year IET Approved: FY23

Credentials the Course Prepares Students for: The Community Interpreter: The International Edition (TCII)

Also Prepares Students for: Northstar Certificates

Target Student Population: CASAS Goals 239+/TABE 576+; bilingual | Optional: Secondary Language Assessment Score

Enrolled students receive a textbook they return to their ABE program when finished with the course, a workbook they can keep, and all of the materials online provided by the teacher and TCII-The Community Interpreter International Edition

Additional Access Instructions/Links: No

Course Description: The course objectives are outlined into 5 modules.

  • Module 1: Define community interpreting, analyze and compare interpreter credentials, demonstrate an understanding of the 9 core ethical principles, apply those principles to common communication barriers, Say No model, reflective practice.
  • Module 2: Identify and describe the stages of an encounter, apply and discuss four protocols for interpreting, explore memory skills, chunking and imagery, practice anticipating, parroting and paraphrasing, describe the 3 modes of interpreting, practice note-taking techniques
  • Module 3: Showing awareness of bias, four decision-making criteria to assess whether to intervene, develop basic mediation scripts, practice the 5 steps to strategic mediation, cultural competence and mediation, develop techniques to perform cultural responsive mediation
  • Module 4: Explore professional identity, understand the business practices and legal obligations of community interpreter, develop strategies to acquire specialized subject matter and terminology, explore the challenges of remote interpreting
  • Module 5: Discuss how the role of interpreter promotes communicative autonomy, apply a decision-making protocol for advocacy, explore best practices for community interpreters that supports national standards of practice, identify critical standards of practice in common interpreting scenarios, discuss self-care and professional development for community interpreters

Types of learning activities: group work, partner work, large-group discussions, review games, module reviews after each chapter

Duration: 10 sessions, 4 hours/session = 40 total instructional hours

Curriculum Materials/Description: Everything is provided by Cross Cultural Communications: syllabus, unit/lesson plans, books, presentation slides, videos, assessments, etc.   

Delivery Method(s):

  • In person
  • Online synchronous (live instruction)
  • Hybrid (a combination of online and in-person instruction)

Curriculum Pluses: Complete instructional materials/lesson plans included, Teacher guide/answer keys included, Organization of materials is easy to follow.

Curriculum Drawbacks: Not aligned to at least ONE set of MN Adult Education standards (ACES, CCRS or Northstar), Approval required to access materials, Paid subscription/account required through Cross Cultural Communications, Textbook or purchased materials required.

Additional Curriculum Notes: None

Author: Amber Atkinson, Hiawatha Valley Adult Education hvae.org

Year Created: FY26

Year Updated: FY26

Contact: 

Amber Atkinson
Hiawatha Valley Adult Education
[email protected]
(651) 703-4524