Becoming an interpreter - AIIC Asia-Pacific

Find out what it takes to become a conference interpreter, whether it is right for you, and where to study in Asia-Pacific and beyond.

Is conference interpreting the right profession for me?

Conference interpreters transmit spoken text from one language to another. They work for international organizations, national governments and ministries, the corporate and financial sectors, associations, etc.

Most conference interpreters are self-employed freelancers. They have to be very flexible in terms of when and where they work. Their working hours can be irregular and unpredictable, and some interpreters travel a great deal. They are required to show maximum discipline and focus while constantly adapting to changing subject matters and working environments.

As freelance conference interpreters generally work for many different clients, they have to be able to cover a broad range of subjects and often need to read up on complex subject matters.

Staff interpreters are employed by a national organization such as a ministry or by an international organization. They have a regular salary, but usually have to show the same flexibility as their freelance colleagues about when and where they work.

Skill set

A certain skill set is of benefit when becoming a professional interpreter:

A good all-round level of education
Quick to grasp new ideas
An ability to maintain high levels of concentration
Powers of analysis and synthesis
A good memory
Flexibility and willingness to travel
Stamina and strong nerves
Empathy, meaning the ability to put yourself in someone else’s shoes regardless of language or cultural barriers

Training

Interpreters undergo specialized postgraduate training before starting out. They learn the core skills required to work as a conference interpreter:

Interpreting techniques (simultaneous and consecutive interpreting in different settings)
What international organisations do and how they work
Preparing meetings, knowledge and terminology management
Public speaking skills and voice training
Translation theory and the latest research

Interpreting schools in Asia-Pacific

There are eleven interpreting schools in Asia-Pacific that offer a master’s degree in conference interpretation and that have applied for and met AIIC’s basic recommended best practice criteria.

AUSTRALIA

Monash University – Melbourne, Victoria
The University of Queensland – St Lucia, Queensland
Macquarie University – Sydney, New South Wales

CHINA

Shanghai International Studies University – Shanghai
Guangdong University of Foreign Studies – Guangdong

JAPAN

Tokyo University of Foreign Studies – Tokyo

SOUTH KOREA

Ewha Womens University – Seoul

TAIWAN

Fu Jen Catholic University – Taipei
National Taiwan Normal University – Taipei
National Taiwan University – Taipei

THAILAND

Chulalongkorn University – Bangkok

To find other programmes outside Asia-Pacific, the complete AIIC Interpreting Schools & Programmes Directory can be consulted here. Head over to our FAQ to learn more about how conference interpreting works, or test your knowledge of the interpreter’s lingo with this interpreting-themed crossword puzzle!