Interpreters are Made not Born

Conference interpreter (CI) training since the Nuremberg Trials, where simultaneous interpretation was successfully used on a wide scale for the first time, is discussed. The establishment of interpreting schools and development of the CI curriculum and training paradigm are followed through to the present day. Curriculum models are identified and the content of training programmes discussed. The role played by AIIC in establishing the CI training paradigm via symposia, workshops and publications is presented. The increasing importance of theory in CI teaching is considered and doctoral programmes in CI studies are mentioned. The training of CI trainers is identified as a recent development and existing training possibilities reviewed. The paper goes on to discuss courses organised to meet special needs (e.g. new languages in the European Union) and the European Masters programme in CI being developed jointly by the European Union and a consortium of European Universities. It concludes with a brief indication of important issues in CI training for the future.