Interpreting for Refugees: Contexts, Practices and Ethics

Learn about humanitarian interpreting and the role of the interpreter

On this course, you’ll discover the role of the interpreter and explore the specific challenges of interpreting for refugees.

You’ll cover topics like cultural awareness, ethics and emotional reflexivity when working in situations that require cross-cultural communication.

You’ll consider the different work contexts you may be in as an interpreter for refugees, and learn the importance of your own wellbeing as well as your duty of care to the people you’re working with.

You’ll also have the opportunity to connect with other interpreters and tutors to share your knowledge and experiences.

This course provides an interactive learning opportunity for anyone working in a humanitarian interpreter role, their trainers and service providers.

The course will also be of interest to humanitarian workers and intercultural mediators as well as students interested in interpretation and mediation who aspire to work for organisations that support refugees and asylum seekers.

• Humanitarian interpreters’ definition, beneficiaries and work challenges
• Introduction
• Defining the role of the humanitarian interpreter
• Recipients of humanitarian interpreting
• Summary
• Different work contexts for humanitarian interpreting
• Introducing the linguistic and pragmatic aspects of humanitarian interpreting
• Physical and mental health context
• Interpreting in legal and social services contexts
• Summary
• Ethics, duty of care and self-care in humanitarian interpreting
• Introduction to ethical codes and concerns
• Understanding good practice
• Emotional reflexivity and interpreter’s wellbeing
• Conclusion