B5876 - Self Training

Learning outcomes

The student knows and is able to use the basic techniques and technological tools of individual and collaborative self-training in interpretation; s/he is able to independently manage a self-training course on an e-learning platform with planned deliveries.

Course contents

This course belongs to both the Conference Interpreting Curriculum (ConfInt) and the Interpreting and Technologies for Communication Curriculum (InTeCo). It is delivered entirely online at the student's own pace, in Italian (and English). A lecturer/tutor will monitor students' activities and their compliance with agreed deadlines.
Students must complete the following modules, consisting in theoretical video lectures and practical exercises, according to schedule:

Year 1
- Unit 1: Active listening and memorisation to be completed by the end of week 6 (Friday 7/11/25)
- Unit 2: Preparation to consecutive interpreting to be completed by the end of semester 1 (Friday 19 December 2025)
- Unit 3: Preparation to simultaneous interpreting to be completed by the beginning of semester 2 (Friday 13 February 2026)

 
Year 2 (deadlines for unit completion to be communicated through Virtuale)
- Unit 4: Consolidation of consecutive
- Unit 5: Tools and technologies for collaborative practice
- Unit 6: Tools and technologies for continuous self-study.

Each unit must be completed before proceeding to the next. Units are completed if all the exercises have been correctly performed (independently or in pairs/small groups, as per instructions) and uploaded onto the platform. Activities consist of practical exercises to be carried out individually or in pairs/small groups. They are aimed at consolidating the techniques learnt during interpreting courses (Units 1-2-3), and at developing skills and technologies for peer practice and continuous self-learning in interpretation (Units 4-5-6).
Activities will be mainly in Italian or between Italian and English, but students' other working languages may also be involved in some of the exercises.

 

Readings/Bibliography

Suggested readings:

Aguirre Fernández Bravo, E. (2020) “The impact of ICT on interpreting students’ self-perceived learning: a flipped learning experience”, in M.D. Rodríguez Melchor, I. Horvath e K. Ferguson (a cura di) The Role of Technology in Conference Interpreter Training, Berna: Peter Lang, 203-220.

Bertozzi, M. (2024a) “Escucha activa y memorización para intérpretes: resultados preliminares de una experimentación didáctica”, TRANS Revista de Traductología 28: 131-155.

Bertozzi, M. (2024b) “Didáctica y evaluación en interpretación: autoevaluación, evaluación entre pares y heteroevaluación”, REDIT Revista Electrónica de Didáctica de la Traducción y la Interpretación 18: 3-13.

Bertozzi, M. (2024c) “Continuous Self-learning for conference interpreting trainees: the case of the University of Bologna”, The Interpreters’ Newsletter 29: 19- 39.

Bertozzi, M. e Cecchi, F. (2023) “Simultaneous Interpretation (SI) facing the Zoom Challenge: technology-driven changes in SI training and professional practice”, in G. Corpas Pastor e C. Hidalgo-Ternero (a cura di) Proceedings of the International Workshop on Interpreting Technologies SAY-IT 2023, Shoumen: INCOMA Ltd., 32-40.

Carsten, S., Maskaliünienë, N. y Perreth, M. (2020) “The collaborative multilingual project ORCIT (Online Resources in Conference Interpreter Training). Sharing pedagogical good practice and enhancing learner experience”, in M.D. Rodríguez Melchor, H. Ildikó e K. Ferguson (a cura di) The Routledge Handbook of Conference Interpreting, Londra: Routledge, 77-99.

Chen, J. e Wang, S. (2022) “Teaching process-oriented interpreting notes with the aid of information technology - A hybrid study based on quasi-experiments and interviews”, Chinese Translators Journal 43 (3): 81-88.

Djovčoš, M. (2020) “A methodology for tracking interpreting students’ progress”, in Z. Bohušova Z., M. Djovčoš e M. Melicherčikova (a cura di) Interpreter Training - experience, ideas, perspectives, Vienna: Prae Sens Verlag, 15-27.

Frittella, F. (2021) “Computer-assisted Conference Interpreter Training: Limitations and Future Directions”, Journal of Translation Studies 2(2021): 103-142.

Kerremans, K. e Stengers, H. (2017) “Using Online and/or Mobile Virtual Communication Tools in Interpreter and Translator Training: Pedagogical Advantages and Drawbacks”, in Proceedings of the 39th Conference Translating and the Computer, Ginevra: Tradulex, 55-58.

Mack, G. (2021) “L’interpretazione simultanea”, in M. Russo (a cura di) Interpretare da e verso l’italiano. Didattica e innovazione per la formazione dell’interprete, Bologna: BUP, 19-40.

Rodríguez Melchor, M.D., Horváth, I. e Ferguson, K. (a cura di) (2020) The Role of Technology in Conference Interpreting Training, Berna: Peter Lang.

Ziegler, K. e Gigliobianco, S. (2018) “Present? Remote? Remotely present! New technological approaches to remote simultaneous conference interpreting”, in C. Fantinuoli (a cura di) Interpreting and Technology, Berlino: Language Science Press, 119-141.

Teaching methods

Students will be required to carry out the activities proposed by the teacher/tutor on a regular basis. They may decide for themselves when to connect to the platform, as long as the unit completion deadlines are respected. It will be necessary to record one's exercises and listen to them again in order to carry out self-assessment/peer evaluation. Some activities require collaboration in pairs/small groups of students.

As this course involves the use of electrical equipment and computers, please complete e-learning modules 1 and 2 of the mandatory training on safety in the workplace before the course starts: https://site.unibo.it/tutela-promozione-salute-sicurezza/it/corsi-di-formazione/formazione-obbligatoria-su-sicurezza-e-salute-per-svolgimento-di-tirocinio-tesi-laboratorio.

Assessment methods

This is a pass/fail course, with no final mark. The course is passed if:

• All activities have been completed and correctly uploaded to the platform (1st year: units 1-2-3, 2nd year: units 4-5-6, each unit completed as per schedule);

• All self-assessment/peer evaluation forms have been completed;
  
• The teacher/tutor gives a positive assessment, i.e. all the activities performed individually or in pairs/small groups have been delivered on time and are consistent with what was required, and all the self-assessment/peer evaluation forms are duly completed.
  

If all the above requirements are met, the 3-credit exam will be registered as passed, which is a prerequisite for graduation.

Students with specific learning difficulties (SpLD) or with disabilities that can affect their ability to attend courses are invited to contact the University service for students with disabilities and SLD at the earliest opportunity -- ideally before the start of the course: https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students. The University service will suggest possible adjustments to the course work and/or exam, which must then be submitted to the course leader so they can assess their feasibility, in line with the learning objectives of the course. Please note that adjustments to the exam must be requested at least two weeks before the deadline for the completion of each unit.

Teaching tools

The materials used will all be made available in Virtuale. Students may be asked to record their own output (e.g. using free software such as Audacity on a computer, or the voice recorder on a mobile phone). All the tools and technologies used in the course are available free of charge online, or the department holds a licence for them. It is advisable to have your own computer, microphone and headphones: if you do not have these, you may use the department's labs when they are not being used for other classes. The use of mobile devices or tablets is recommended but not essential: all the mobile/tablet applications used in this course are multi-device, i.e. they also run on PCs.

Office hours

See the website of Ira Torresi