Improving interpreting performance through theatrical training

Aspiring interpreting professionals need to possess skills which allow them to think quickly in order to deal with unexpected situations that will inevitably arise in the course of interpreting assignments. The complex and inherently unpredictable nature of interpreting can be a major source of anxiety for student interpreters, particularly when they are called upon to perform in a language in which their proficiency and confidence levels are limited. Specific techniques for managing this anxiety, however, are often lacking in interpreter training programmes. This study examines the effects of a programme based on theatrical techniques commonly used in the training of professional actors but tailored specifically for novice interpreters. Two groups of interpreting students each received seven weeks of training in a sequential manner, allowing an external rating of the participants' performance to be carried out before and after the training took place. Results of the external ratings and the participants' own evaluation of their learning revealed significant benefits, with gains particularly evident in the areas of confidence, delivery and rapid problem solving abilities.