Interpreter Training, Workshops and Master Classes
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Interpreter Training, Workshops and Master Classes
Trying to become certified as a court interpreter is a daunting task. State consortium pass rates are extremely low, and the Federal Oral Exam for Spanish interpreters is even more challenging.
Our course makes the difference, and the statistics show it:
In 2023, our pass rate was 50% for the FCICE oral exam, compared with the 20% national average.
Our Master Classes offer:
We offer you guidance and feedback, but more importantly we teach YOU how to manage your own progress even when you want to throw in the towel and quit.
Join us for multiple weeks of intensive interpreting study to prepare for professional success and certification.
For information about our Master Class: All Levels & Languages, check out the video below. This newest Master Class has been tailored to provide for interpreters of Spanish and all other languages.
Your path toward success begins with your application. This is a three step process:
If you are a dedicated student who will commit to following our rigorous training schedule, you’ll be selected for an interview.
Once you have demonstrated that you would be a good fit for our program, you will be invited to register!
$2695
See individual classes for details and deadlines.
As a Master Class student, you will be expected to:
If you do not comply with the code of conduct, Athena Sky Interpreting reserves the right to relinquish your seat in the program without a refund.
We provide you with the study tools to pass your certification exam.
Are you hoping to reach certification at the state level?
This class is for you!
Pre-requisite: You have passed the Written Exam in your state.
Language combination: Interpreters of all languages may apply!
Tiered lessons provide challenges for interpreters of all levels.
Are you a Spanish, French or Japanese interpreter? Do you need help with your English? You will have additional language support!
Discounted Optional Spanish Language Add-on ($100): Spanish-specific material and vocabulary can be added to your purchase.
Do you speak a different language? You will be guided toward the resources you need to improve your language skills and work with your team to improve skills.
Leave a legacy: This class will be building upon Community Flash Cards and language-specific materials created by our alumni in Armenian, French, Portuguese, Spanish, Japanese and Mandarin.
Live instructor-led classes
Solo Study
Sep 18 & 25 are mandatory. After that, solo study with option for instructor support
Solo study/Study hall “pods”
Extra “nerd time” study
At your discretion: Whenever you have individual or group study time, you are welcome to go by a different schedule. You should budget for a minimum of three 2-hour sessions a week outside of class.
TBD
This course is for advanced Spanish interpreters to improve their skills and/or work toward the FCICE oral exam.
The course provides everything our regular Master Class does and more:
Live instructor-led classes
Solo Study
Live instructor-led classes
Solo study & Study hall “pods”
Extra solo study & nerd time
At your discretion: Whenever you have individual or group study time, you are welcome to go by a different schedule. You should budget three to four 2-hour sessions a week outside of class.
$2695
Thank you for your interest!
We will likely hold our next Master Class: All Levels Spanish in 2026.
Attentive listening, critical analysis, and an intensive immersion in note-taking skills (a portion of the test and an area where interpreters tend to struggle the most)
Systematically work our way through many of Interpretrain’s State Court Interpreting Oral Exam Training Program (45 study labs adapted from real courtroom proceedings)
Create vocabulary glossaries and practice with terminology drills to master highly specialized court vocabulary
Interpret simultaneous practices, progressively increasing speed and accuracy
Gradually tackle longer chunks of speech in the Consecutive Mode
Sight translate real court documents while learning the most effective method to markedly increase your accuracy in this mode
Meet with other legal interpreters, giving each other feedback in class and in smaller group study sessions
Build your own archive of language-specific practices
Facilitate detailed self-evaluations of each practice, providing you a numerical vocabulary score and logging your progress
Cover vital test-taking tips and holistic methods to manage your stress, so you can shine under the most difficult test conditions
Issue a completion certificate to everyone who successfully finishes the course.
Your class goes far beyond an ordinary interpreting class. It’s about commitment, sacrifice, and consciousness to accomplish a goal; making strong connections with colleagues that have similar goals and aspirations, and so much more.
– Juliana M.C.
When you pay your tuition for the Court Interpreting Master Class, you are paying for instructor time and a curated, detailed lesson plan that will guide you step by step on your journey.
As a bonus, students are given a full year of access to Interpretrain’s State Oral Exam Training Program (or equivalent for the Advanced class) which includes their new note-taking training material.
(If you already own these materials, do not worry–you are still getting an incredible value for what you are buying.)
State court interpreter oral exams require you to perform several complex mental processes very quickly, with a high degree of accuracy, and all at the same time.
With Interpretrain’s 3-Step Method™, you will master each of these tasks separately, and then learn how to successfully execute them together.
The state oral exam is ultimately a test not of vocabulary or particular topics, but of skill. To that end, your course has been created to be a skills-building journey, with particular emphasis on technique, vocabulary, and holistic mindset.
Not every exercise will resemble the test, but that is purposeful–many students fail because they do not realize that studying for the exam is like studying for a marathon.
You need warm-ups, cardio, strength-training…the works. That said, familiarity with the exam format is important, and there will be exercises that closely resemble the test itself in order for you to experience it firsthand.
Once you complete the course, you will still have a plethora of study materials at your disposal in order to apply what you have learned through continued individual and group studies. By then you’ll have the toolbox. It’ll be up to you to use the tools!
Athena holds a BA in Spanish interpreting and translation from Rutgers University and a Master’s in Conference Interpreting from Glendon College, York University. In the past decade, she has worked as a freelance interpreter and staff interpreter for the NJ judiciary.
She owns Athena Sky Interpreting and trains candidates for the state and federal interpreting exams. She created these Master Classes with Virginia in order to give people the accountability and guidance she wishes she could have had when studying for her exams. When she is not teaching and interpreting, you may find her practicing Acroyoga or aerial arts.
Virginia is our behind-the-scenes mastermind. You may occasionally see her for a guest visit, and you will see her magical powerpoints and materials everywhere you look!
Virginia became an interpreter in 2003 and has worked in the fields of legal, medical, and conference interpretation. She holds a Combined Certificate in Translation and Interpretation Studies (Hunter College, 2004). In 2012, Virginia and her husband, Brad Wilk, founded Interpretrain. She currently lives in California, where she teaches, develops new materials, and works as an interpreter.
Rosa, an alumnus of our 2022 advanced Master Class, now steps into the role of Accountability Ally to offer guided feedback sections. Originally from the Dominican Republic, Rosa’s journey spans continents, having lived in her home country, Japan, Hawaii, and now Florida. With over a decade of industry experience, her path began as a telephonic interpreter, igniting her passion for language access. Committed to her mission, she pursued rigorous training and obtained her certifications.
Tamber is a federally certified freelance Spanish court interpreter and attorney based in Tucson, AZ. She is an experienced trainer of interpreters, regularly providing webinars on topics such as technology for interpreters, various legal topics, and more. She has been faculty for the University of Arizona Court Interpreter Training Institute for the last three years. Tamber is enthusiastic about test preparation, and wholeheartedly believes that regular, mindful practice using realistic tests and materials with performance feedback is the key to success. In her spare time, she enjoys snowboarding, cycling, and any place with trees and trails.
Gonzalo is a former private coaching student of Athena’s who rejoins us now to offer extra feedback to our advanced students. He has been interpreting since 2013, working in both the private and public sectors. Highlights have included interpreting for Chile’s Minister of Economy, Ecuador’s Attorney General, the Real Madrid, New York Bulls, and national teams of Costa Rica and Honduras. He has been tutoring FCICE candidates since 2021. He is a big fan of dogs (especially his own, Bobo) as well as soccer, current events and US foreign policy (particularly in the Middle East.)
Jennifer is a Master Class alumnus who rejoins us now to offer guided study sessions, extra feedback and moral support. She was born in Mexico City and has lived in the United States since the age of 9. She began her exploration in this career as a medical interpreter and loved everything about it. The experience encouraged her to study to obtain the certification to become a court interpreter. Her work is her passion.
“I have learned that it takes experience, motivation, and endless studying to continue growing as an interpreter. Studying alone is good sometimes, but a network makes a HUGE difference. Interpreters need each other and learn from each other. My goals include reaching Master Level Certification in NC and eventually taking the FCICE. Slow but steady wins the race!”
Lili is an alumnus of the our first ever Master Class for all languages. She is an English⇄Japanese interpreter and translator, academic editor, and intercultural communication coach residing in the DC metro area. In addition to serving as a per diem court interpreter in multiple jurisdictions, she offers instruction in Japanese language, business etiquette, and translation and interpretation (T&I) to federal employees and military personnel.
Welcome to Athena Sky Interpreting. I am a court, medical and conference interpreter working in Spanish, English and French. I provide online interpretation courses with options for continuing education credit as well as Master Classes. If you’re a geek like me, you’ll love my courses! Learn more
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