Courtroom Basics – webinar series for interpreters!
This webinar series is intended for interpreters holding a certification level of BEI Level III, IV, V, Advanced or Master, with little-to-no court/legal interpreting experience. [SPOTS ARE LIMITED!]
In this two-day training, Lara Wagner and Alaina Webb will explain the current need for court interpreters in our community, then go into details about what the basic functions and roles of court interpreters look like. Participants will learn court/legal terminology and become familiar with basic courtroom procedures. Teaming practices in court/legal settings will be discussed and competency concerns addressed.
The current process of applying for the written and performance BEI court certification tests will be covered, along with written test practice questions and performance test examples. Participants will begin learning how to prepare for court/legal interpreting assignments including what questions to ask, what information is needed, who to talk to, and more.
Having a portfolio for court assignments is a huge asset for interpreters working in legal settings, so we will discuss how to develop a court portfolio and provide resources for interpreters. Participants will leave with a basic understanding of what it means to be a court interpreter and have a foundation on which they can build the skills necessary to work in legal settings.
In addition to the workshops, participants will be required to prepare with 2 hours of pre-reading, watching a video, and completing a pre-test (included on registration page). The pre-reading and video are designed to help participants gain a better understanding of the gravity of the responsibilities a court interpreter carries. The workshop is presented in spoken English, and will provide an interactive and safe environment for interpreters to learn and explore new concepts.
About the presenters:
Lara Wagner, BEI Advanced, Court, RID NIC, CoreCHI, has been an interpreter since 2009. She has interpreted in a variety of settings such as K-12 education, post-secondary education, media, conferences, medical, mental health, legal encounters, and in courtrooms; frequently teaming with Certified/Deaf Interpreters (DI/CDI). Lara has developed and presented multiple interpreting workshops to a variety of entities. Along with her degree from Collin College ITP, Lara earned a degree in criminology and criminal justice from the University of Texas at Arlington. She is currently teaching as an adjunct instructor in the ITP program at Tarrant County College, and also teaches community self-defense classes in ASL for the deaf community across the state.
Alaina Webb, BEI Level IV, Master, Court, RID NIC Advanced, has been an interpreter since 1989, and an interpreter trainer since 2003. She has interpreted in multiple venues including medical, education, mental health, court and more. She has taught workshops across the state for HHSC, Region XI ESC, RID and TSID conferences, and a variety of other locations. Alaina holds a degree from Texas Women’s University with a concentration in English and Government. Alaina is currently the chair of the BEI Advisory Board, and is completing her graduate studies in Applied Linguistics from Texas Tech University while also teaching as a graduate instructor.
Choose your dates below– offering sessions in June and August 2021!
Dates: Saturday, June 5, 2021 and Saturday, June 12, 2021
Time: 9:00am-4:00pm CDT
Register here: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6797096635560236301
Dates: Saturday, August 21, 2021 and Saturday, August 28, 2021
Time: 9:00am-4:00pm CDT
Register here: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4323591297426288653
Register for either the June or the August session, and you will receive an email with a personalized link to access the webinars. If you have questions about the registration process, or about the webinars, email your questions to [email protected].
These webinars will be presented in spoken English; email [email protected] to request accommodations.
*Participants may earn 1.4 ODHHS Court CEUs (accepted by BEI) by attending the full series, completing the required pre-webinar readings, and taking a post-webinar evaluation. CEUs may not be earned by calling in via telephone. (If you need RID CEUs, contact an RID CEU provider in advance of the session to request PINRA approval to earn CEUs.)
Thank you!
DHHS Training and Education
Office of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services
Rehabilitative & Social Services
Health, Developmental & Independence Services
501 W. 51st St.
P.O. Box 12904
Austin, Texas 78751
Email: [email protected]