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This course is relevant for anyone who works as a casual, informal, or ad hoc interpreter in newcomer service settings. Specifically, this refers to anyone who may not have formal interpreter training who works with newcomers through a local resettlement agency, or another newcomer services organization.  

After completing this course, you will be able to: 

  • Define the roles of interpreters and translators in the context of newcomer services
  • Describe the basic processes by which newcomers arrive to the U.S., as well as the common services for which they may require interpretation
  • Provide examples of ethical behaviors for interpreters by applying the National Standards of Practice, as set by the National Council on Interpreting in Health Care (NCIHC)
  • Demonstrate professional skills and key protocols to employ when conducting an interpreted meeting


Approximate time to complete: 75 mins


Are you training or working with interpreters rather than seeking to become one? Take our eLearning course, Introduction to Working with Interpreters.

Need support?  Email [email protected]

Course Curriculum

    1. How to Navigate this Course

    2. Introduction: Welcome to the Course

    1. What are Interpretation and Translation?

    2. Knowledge Check 1: Forms and Modes of Interpretation and Translation

    3. Roles and Responsibilities of Interpreters

    4. Knowledge Check 2: Roles and Responsibilities of Interpreters

    5. Introducing Case Scenario Characters

    6. Module 1 Completion

    1. The Right to Interpretation Services

    2. Who Are Newcomers?

    3. Key Terms in Defining the Newcomer Experience

    4. Resettlement Services for Refugees and Other Newcomer Statuses

    5. Knowledge Check 3: Newcomer Statuses and Services

    6. Module 2 Completion

    1. Ethical Standards of Practice for Interpretation

    2. Defining the Nine Groupings of the NCIHC Standards

    3. Applying The National Standards Of Practice: Accuracy, Professionalism, And Confidentiality

    4. Applying The National Standards Of Practice: Impartiality, Advocacy, And Role Boundaries

    5. Applying The National Standards Of Practice: Respect, Cultural Awareness, And Professional Development

    6. Knowledge Check 4: Applying Ethical Behaviors to Interpretation Scenarios

    7. Additional Resources on Ethical Interpretation Practices

    8. Module 3 Completion: Ethical Standards of Practice for Interpretation

    1. Welcome to Module 4: Protocols and Practical Skills for Interpretation

    2. Practical Interpretation Skills

    3. Knowledge Check 5: Interpreted Meeting Protocols and Skills Scenarios

    4. Module 4 Completion: Protocols and Practical Skills for Interpretation

    1. Recommended Resources

    2. Course Satisfaction Survey

    3. Course Outro & Next Steps

About this course

  • Free
  • 29 lessons
  • 0.5 hours of video content

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