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Article published In: FORUM
Vol. 23:1 (2025) ► pp.43–63

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Online interpreter training experiences examined through the eyes of trainees and trainers

A case study of a short course for police interpreters in South Korea

ORCiD logo with link | Ewha Womans University
Published online: 11 March 2025
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/forum.24017.lee
Abstract
This paper examines a short online course for South Korean police interpreters from the perspectives of trainees and trainers. The surveys of 153 trainees and 13 trainers and interviews with six trainees and five trainers demonstrated the efficacy of the online interpreter training program for professional development. A large majority of both groups of trainees and trainers indicated a strong preference for online training, confirming the efficacy and viability of this mode of training. However, some challenges such as class management remained from the perspective of interpreter trainers. The findings suggest that online interpreter trainers need to explore further the question of how to deliver the best pedagogical practice and achieve the intended outcome from the short course. Given that there are very limited training opportunities for community interpreters in South Korea, the positive evaluation of this type of professional development deserves scholarly attention and further stakeholder investment.
Résumé
Cet article examine un cours en ligne de courte durée pour les interprètes de police sud-coréens du point de vue des stagiaires et des formateurs. Les enquêtes menées auprès de 153 stagiaires et de 13 formateurs, ainsi que les entretiens avec six stagiaires et cinq formateurs, ont démontré l’efficacité du programme de formation en ligne pour le développement professionnel. La majorité des stagiaires ont trouvé le cours de formation d’interprète très utile ou utile pour leur pratique d’interprétation policière et ont indiqué que les cours de pratique de l’interprétation étaient satisfaisants. Les formateurs ont également généralement apprécié l’enseignement de l’interprétation en ligne. Une grande majorité des deux groupes, stagiaires et formateurs, ont indiqué qu’ils préféraient fortement la formation en ligne, confirmant ainsi l’efficacité et la viabilité de ce mode de formation. Cependant, certains défis, tels que la gestion des cours, subsistent du point de vue des formateurs d’interprète. Les résultats suggèrent que les formateurs d’interprète en ligne doivent approfondir la question de la meilleure approche pédagogique à adopter afin d’atteindre les objectifs visés par le cours de courte durée. Étant donné le nombre très limité d’opportunités de formation pour les interprètes communautaires en Corée du Sud, l’évaluation positive de ce type de développement professionnel mérite une attention académique et un investissement accru de la part des parties prenantes.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Literature review
    • 2.1Online interpreter training and user perception
    • 2.2Issues and challenges in online interpreter training
  • 3.Research methodology
    • 3.1Brief overview of the program
    • 3.2Research methods
    • 3.3Profiles of survey respondents
    • 3.4Profiles of interviewees
  • 4.Results
    • 4.1Overall satisfaction with online training
    • 4.2Advantages of online training
    • 4.3Perceived challenges in online training
  • 5.Conclusions
  • References
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