Ascentis Level 3 Certificate in Community Interpreting

Qualification Overview

This qualification equips learners, with high levels of language skills in both their first language and English, to undertake interpreting work of two-way communication in public service settings.

It has units covering the main areas which learners will need to be familiar with; selecting and preparing for assignments, understanding the sectors within which they may work and ensuring that they improve and develop their own performance.

The certificate consists of six mandatory units with a credit value of 14 and a further minimum of 8 optional credits made up from a choice of seven optional units.

There are several features of this qualification that make it very appropriate for its target learners:

• It allows the learners to develop their skills and knowledge of the role of a community interpreter and to practise those skills
• There is a choice of specialist sectors available as part of the optional unit make up.
• Verification and certification can be offered throughout the year, allowing maximum flexibility for centres

Aims

The aims of the qualification are to enable learners:

• To understand the role of the Community Interpreter
• To learn about the sectors where interpreters may be required to work
• To develop and practise sight translation
• To demonstrate the skills of two-way interpreting
• To learn how to develop and enhance own performance

Target Group

This qualification is aimed at a range of learners, including:

• Those who have an interest in and awareness of the role of an interpreter
• Those who have undertaken some work in this area and wish to develop their skills
• Those who wish to acquire formal qualifications to enable them to move on to higher qualifications

Assessment Method

All units are internally assessed through the learner building up a portfolio of evidence that covers the relevant assessment criteria, internally assessed, and verified by the centre and then externally verified by Ascentis.

On completion of the learners’ evidence for either the individual units or the qualification, the assessor is required to complete the Summary Record of Achievement for each learner. The Summary Record of Achievement asks assessors and the internal verifier to confirm that the rules of combination have been followed.

This is particularly important in cases where a learner has taken units at different levels. Centres are required to retain all evidence from all learners for external verification and for four weeks afterwards in case an appeal is made. The overall grading of this qualification is Pass or Fail.