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Interpreting at the Speed of a Speaker

8th grade nonfiction passage about language interpreters: 254 words, seven questions, an answer key and vocabulary.

8th grade nonfiction language interpreters 254 words

Interpreting at the Speed of a Speaker

At an international conference, a speaker talks in one language while listeners wearing headsets hear the same message in another, with only a few seconds of delay. This is simultaneous interpreting, and it is among the most demanding jobs that involve language.

An interpreter, who works with spoken words, is different from a translator, who works with written ones. Interpreters sit in a small soundproof booth, listen through headphones, and speak into a microphone while the speaker keeps talking. They cannot stop to look up a word. At the same moment, they are listening to the next sentence, understanding the current one, and speaking the one before.

Good interpreters do not swap words one for one. Many expressions do not carry over directly, and a joke or saying that makes sense in one language may confuse listeners in another. Interpreters therefore capture the meaning and tone of what was said and then choose natural words in the new language.

Because the mental effort is so intense, interpreters usually work in pairs and trade places every so often. While one speaks, the partner rests, follows along, and may jot down numbers or names to help. Preparation matters as well. Before a meeting, interpreters read the agenda and build word lists of technical terms so they are not caught by surprise.

Another kind, consecutive interpreting, has the speaker pause after a few sentences so the interpreter can give the message afterward. Either way, the interpreter's goal is the same: to let people understand each other clearly.

Questions

  1. How is an interpreter different from a translator? in the text

  2. Where do simultaneous interpreters sit while they work? in the text

  3. Why do interpreters work in pairs and trade places? in the text

  4. What do interpreters do to prepare before a meeting? in the text

  5. How does consecutive interpreting work? in the text

  6. Why might a joke fail if it were swapped word for word into another language? think about it

  7. Why do good interpreters focus on meaning and tone? think about it

Words to know

simultaneous
happening at the same time as something else
interpreter
a person who says spoken words in another language
translator
a person who changes written words into another language
tone
the feeling or attitude in the way something is said
consecutive
one after another, not at the same time
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One passage, three levels

The same topic and facts written three ways, so a mixed class can read and talk about one text. Each group’s sheet shows only a shape; the key says which is which.

● Easier · 212 words · Flesch-Kincaid grade 5.5

At a world meeting, a speaker talks in one language. Listeners wear headsets and hear the same message in another language, just a few seconds later. This is called simultaneous interpreting. It is one of the hardest jobs with language.

An interpreter works with spoken words. A translator works with written words. Interpreters sit in a small soundproof booth. They listen through headphones and speak into a microphone while the speaker keeps going. They cannot stop to look up a word. At the same time, they hear the next sentence, understand this one, and speak the last one.

Good interpreters do not swap words one by one. Many sayings do not carry over. A joke in one language may confuse people in another. So interpreters catch the meaning and tone. Then they pick natural words in the new language.

The effort is so great that interpreters work in pairs and trade places. While one speaks, the partner rests and may write down numbers or names. Interpreters also prepare. Before a meeting, they read the plan and make word lists of special terms.

Another kind is consecutive interpreting. The speaker stops after a few sentences. Then the interpreter gives the message. Both kinds have the same goal. They help people understand each other.

▲ This passage · 254 words · Flesch-Kincaid grade 10

At an international conference, a speaker talks in one language while listeners wearing headsets hear the same message in another, with only a few seconds of delay. This is simultaneous interpreting, and it is among the most demanding jobs that involve language.

An interpreter, who works with spoken words, is different from a translator, who works with written ones. Interpreters sit in a small soundproof booth, listen through headphones, and speak into a microphone while the speaker keeps talking. They cannot stop to look up a word. At the same moment, they are listening to the next sentence, understanding the current one, and speaking the one before.

Good interpreters do not swap words one for one. Many expressions do not carry over directly, and a joke or saying that makes sense in one language may confuse listeners in another. Interpreters therefore capture the meaning and tone of what was said and then choose natural words in the new language.

Because the mental effort is so intense, interpreters usually work in pairs and trade places every so often. While one speaks, the partner rests, follows along, and may jot down numbers or names to help. Preparation matters as well. Before a meeting, interpreters read the agenda and build word lists of technical terms so they are not caught by surprise.

Another kind, consecutive interpreting, has the speaker pause after a few sentences so the interpreter can give the message afterward. Either way, the interpreter's goal is the same: to let people understand each other clearly.

■ Harder · 270 words · Flesch-Kincaid grade 11.4

At an international conference, a speaker delivers remarks in one language while listeners wearing headsets hear the very same message in another language, delayed by only a few seconds. This is known as simultaneous interpreting, and it ranks among the most demanding occupations that involve language.

An interpreter, who works with spoken words, is quite different from a translator, who works with written ones. Interpreters sit inside a small soundproof booth, listen through headphones, and speak into a microphone while the speaker continues without pause. They cannot stop to look up an unfamiliar word. At the same moment, they are listening to the upcoming sentence, understanding the present one, and speaking the one that came before.

Skilled interpreters do not exchange words one for one. Many expressions fail to carry over directly, and a joke or saying that makes perfect sense in one language may bewilder listeners in another. Interpreters therefore capture the meaning and tone of what was said and then choose natural, fitting words in the new language.

Because the mental effort is so intense, interpreters generally work in pairs and trade places at regular intervals. While one speaks, the partner rests, follows along, and may jot down numbers or names to help. Preparation matters just as much. Before a meeting, interpreters read the agenda and compile word lists of technical terms so that nothing catches them by surprise.

A second approach, consecutive interpreting, has the speaker pause after a few sentences so that the interpreter can deliver the message afterward. Whichever method is used, the interpreter's goal remains the same: to let people understand one another clearly.

Download as one PDF

How to use it

  1. Press Read it big (or B) to put the text on the projector, or Full screen (F) to fill the whole screen.
  2. Ask the questions one at a time and use Show answer when the class has decided. A shows or hides every answer.
  3. Print student copy for the class, or Print with answers for yourself.

Ideas for class

  • Before reading, put simultaneous, interpreter, translator, tone and consecutive on the board with their meanings from the Words to know section and have students predict what the text will be about.
  • Read it aloud once while students follow along, then have them reread it alone or with a partner. At a calm 100 words a minute it takes about 3 minutes to read aloud.
  • Use the Read it big button (or B) to put the text on the projector, and Show answer on one question at a time so the class commits to an answer first.
  • Question 6 asks the reader to infer. Ask students to point to the words in the passage that led them to their answer.
  • Ask students to write one question the passage did not answer, then look for the answer in a book or on a classroom screen.
  • Print the student copy for independent work and keep the answer-key copy for yourself.

Related

Questions

What reading level is "Interpreting at the Speed of a Speaker"?

It was written for 8th grade. It has 254 words and works out to a Flesch-Kincaid grade level of about 10.0. That is a formula's estimate from sentence length and syllables, and it is not a Lexile or a guided reading level, so check it against your students.

What do the questions ask?

There are seven. 5 ask for something the text says directly and 2 ask the reader to work something out from clues. Each has an answer in the key, and the answers are written as a teacher would accept them, not as the only possible wording.

How long does it take to read?

About 3 minutes read aloud at 100 words a minute. For a one-minute fluency check, paste it into the fluency timer and use the word count.

Can I print it?

Yes. Print student copy gives the passage, the questions with lines to write on, and the word meanings. Print with answers gives the same page with the answers filled in. Both are made in your browser.

Is this passage from a published book?

No. It was written for Peabody Teach, so there is no book to buy and no login to read it.

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