| User | Thread poster: vivienhu DPSI vs Community Interpreting Certificate Course (UK) |
|---|
vivienhu
English to Chinese
|
Hi there,
I am very interested in Interpreting , so I decided to join a course and obtain a qualification to be able to work as an interpreter.
After lots of online research, I ve learnt that there are two options: DPSI and Community Interpreting Certificate. I understand that DPSI is a much higher qualification, and CIC is probably more suitable for a beginner. However, considering the two courses length/fee are almost the same , this makes me think twice before I decide:
I would like to get DPSI eventually but I am not sure whether it is a bit too ambitious to go straight for this option. Who knows... I might end up not be able to pass the exam .
At the mean time, CIC seems quite expensive and I will be paying double the price and taking a longer route if I obtain CIC and do DPSI afterwards.
Please can anyone give me some advice ?
PS: I work fulltime so I can only do weekend course. is Middlesex University's any good? or College of Northwest London or any others in London..... Some feedback on from anyone who has taken the course would be much appreciated.
|  |  |
| | | | Will Croxford 
United Kingdom
Chinese to English
+ ...
| | DPSI is only exam fee | Jan 23 |
Hi Vivien,
I am native British interpreter with CIC now, and my own experience of commercial and your group interpreting, and product sourcing. DPSI is a very high level linguistic exam, and the fee to take the exam is high. I did CIC course at South Thames College in London, which was less than 150GBP I think for level 3 (they let me skip level 2 but normally they won't so that would be similar fee). If you attend the classes and do the coursework you will pass. There is no language teaching as part of CIC course, you are in mixed language class, which is good in some ways.
DPSI you have to teach yourself the language skills needed, takes time. I'm working towards the oral (interpreting) exams for Law DPSI, which makes you eligible for Home Office interpreting. As a foreigner, the sight translation exam for Chinese DPSI will be the most difficult, I think for Chinese too very difficult. And simutaneous interpreting is a new skill which you need a lot of practice to pass the DPSI exam. Lots of people fail DPSI every year, but you can retake a number of times, see Institute of Linguists website!
祝你好运气！
Will Croxford
| | |
| | | | Tatty
Local time: 22:50
Spanish to English
+ ...
| | Sounds like a good scheme | Jan 23 |
That way the IoL can rake in exam resit fees every year... Part of the design, I'm sure.
| | | | Ania Heasley
United Kingdom
Local time: 21:50
 Member (2011)
English to Polish
|
Community Interpreting Course level 3 (level 2 is a waste of time imho, as it is not treated as a proper qualification at all any more) is an entry level interpreting course.
DPSI is the highest qualification widely available.
If you are a beginner in the field, go for CIC, the price is not that prohibitive, it is a good introduction to what public service interpreting is all about, and it is very easy to pass. In fact, it is almost impossible not to pass, provided you attend the sessions.
CIC level 3 will allow you to put your foot in the door of public service interpreting, i.e. 'main players' in the field, which is 2-3 agencies, but no names allowed here, will allow you to register with them. You will be given assingments at hospitals, schools, children and young people services (local councils), probation offices, social services. You will also be eligible to work for the same agencies as a telephone interpreter for local and national government and tax offices, benefits offices, etc.
DPSI is a real test whether you are any good or not. It separates the men from the boys.
I would not advise you to attempt DPSI straight away, you will just end up losing a lot of money on resits, and the atmosphere around the exam is pretty stressful too.
| | |
| | | | vivienhu
English to Chinese
TOPIC STARTER | | CIC is not that cheap now | Jan 23 |
Will Croxford wrote:
Hi Vivien,
I am native British interpreter with CIC now, and my own experience of commercial and your group interpreting, and product sourcing. DPSI is a very high level linguistic exam, and the fee to take the exam is high. I did CIC course at South Thames College in London, which was less than 150GBP I think for level 3 (they let me skip level 2 but normally they won't so that would be similar fee). If you attend the classes and do the coursework you will pass. There is no language teaching as part of CIC course, you are in mixed language class, which is good in some ways.
DPSI you have to teach yourself the language skills needed, takes time. I'm working towards the oral (interpreting) exams for Law DPSI, which makes you eligible for Home Office interpreting. As a foreigner, the sight translation exam for Chinese DPSI will be the most difficult, I think for Chinese too very difficult. And simutaneous interpreting is a new skill which you need a lot of practice to pass the DPSI exam. Lots of people fail DPSI every year, but you can retake a number of times, see Institute of Linguists website!
祝你好运气！
Will Croxford |
|
Hi Will, Thank you for your reply and advice. very helpful.
Yes I think CIC is more suitable for me right now. Is South Thames College in London 's course any good? I have checked some other course providers, some are much more expensive than others!
Vivien
| | |
| | | | vivienhu
English to Chinese
TOPIC STARTER | | very useful advice! | Jan 23 |
Ania Heasley wrote:
Community Interpreting Course level 3 (level 2 is a waste of time imho, as it is not treated as a proper qualification at all any more) is an entry level interpreting course.
DPSI is the highest qualification widely available.
If you are a beginner in the field, go for CIC, the price is not that prohibitive, it is a good introduction to what public service interpreting is all about, and it is very easy to pass. In fact, it is almost impossible not to pass, provided you attend the sessions.
CIC level 3 will allow you to put your foot in the door of public service interpreting, i.e. 'main players' in the field, which is 2-3 agencies, but no names allowed here, will allow you to register with them. You will be given assingments at hospitals, schools, children and young people services (local councils), probation offices, social services. You will also be eligible to work for the same agencies as a telephone interpreter for local and national government and tax offices, benefits offices, etc.
DPSI is a real test whether you are any good or not. It separates the men from the boys.
I would not advise you to attempt DPSI straight away, you will just end up losing a lot of money on resits, and the atmosphere around the exam is pretty stressful too. |
|
Hi Ania,
Thank you for your advice! yes I think I will go for the CIC for now as a beginner and work towards DPSI in future.
Any advice on choosing CIC course providers? I live around London so there are quite a few options but costs are vary, really confused now....
thanks again!
Vivien
| | |
| | | | Ania Heasley
United Kingdom
Local time: 21:50
Member (2011)
English to Polish
|
Did you have a look at MWC? It's in Holborn, so v cenral
Some London councils also run these courses, it would be worth contacting your local one.
Good luck!
| | | | Aleksandra Fiddler
United Kingdom
Local time: 21:50
English to Polish
+ ...
| | Vanessa A-L
|
Hello!
I have read your useful comments and have then decided to be wise and go for the CIC level 3 before the DPSI as I haven`t got much knowledge of professional translation. Where can I study it though? Are there several colleges offering the course in England or is it simply taught in London?
Thanks in advance. xx
Ps: I live in the West Midlands, would there be anything in Birmingham or Manchester? I couldn`t find anything on the net. Thanks again for your help!
[Edited at 2013-03-11 13:45 GMT]
[Edited at 2013-03-11 13:53 GMT]
[Edited at 2013-03-11 14:38 GMT]
| | | | Ania Heasley
United Kingdom
Local time: 21:50
Member (2011)
English to Polish
| | Mira66
|
DPSI exam's pass rate is only about %30.
the exam costs around £700,and most preparatory courses are not good and they cost at least around the same as the exam.
add to that cost and time of travelling to few exam centres twice,as the exam is always taken in two different days..
I'm doing the course myself and I have registered for the exam this year and have payed all the fees already,but now that I've found out the pass rates are so low I regret my decision,I'm at very good level of English (and the other language) but the pass rate of %30 just shows the exam is not fit for purpose imo.
I forgot to mention if you any part of the exam you will need to pay for that again + paying the extra centre fee (around £170) again.
| | | | To report site rules violations or get help, contact a site moderator: You can also contact site staff by submitting a support request » | | | | X Sign in to your ProZ.com account... | | | | |
| DPSI vs Community Interpreting Certificate Course (UK) | SDL MultiTerm Extract 2011 | Save time by automatically extracting terms. 15% off!
SDL MultiTerm Extract 2011 allows you to automatically create candidate term lists from your existing documentation. This removes the manual effort involved with traditional terminology creation, allowing you to rapidly add terms to SDL MultiTerm.
More info » |
| | Déjà Vu X2 | Enjoy 20% off!
DVX2 Professional is the most popular version of Déjà Vu X2 and with good reason. Fast and flexible, Déjà Vu X2 Professional combines Atril’s Intelligent Quality technology with an array of powerful, customisable productivity and quality assurance
More info » |
|
 |
The translation workplace 
Software comparison tool
