Issues Involved in the Recognition of the Interpreting Profession

Role of University Lectures in Interpreting Education

Abstract

This study deals with the issues involved in the recognition of the interpreting profession and explores how lecture-style interpreting classes for undergraduate students can provide opportunities to increase students’ awareness thereof. The results of a questionnaire survey on interpreters’ career development that Shinzaki et al.(2019a, b) conducted revealed that interpreters perceived the poor recognition of the interpreting profession by society as problematic. Because most students are presumably more likely to use interpreters in the future rather than become interpreters themselves, class activities are designed for user education by focusing on the importance of the preparation involved in interpreting. Students’ feedback and a term-end questionnaire demonstrated that students became aware of the issues involved in the interpreting profession including social recognition and could acquire a correct understanding of the profession through collaborative learning.