Below are two videos posted on YouTube by the Directorate General for Interpretation at the European Institutions (i.e. the European Commission, the European Parliament and the European Court of Justice). They are excerpts from a DVD that the DG distributes to interpreting schools around the world, showing how freelance interpreters are tested. In this particular case, a candidate must interpret a 6-minute speech from French into English. It may sound amazing that someone is supposed to be able to take notes during a 6-minute speech and then translate the speech in full, but it is possible if you learn the techniques. Watch the test and see why the candidate was not successful:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=InpIBvAVRXE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=NQ0CMyey5V8

See: Fidus Interpres