Memory Training in Interpreting

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Memory Training in Interpreting

• XIAO Xiaoyan YANG Liuyan
• Xiamen University, P R China

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Interpreting Asia Interpreting Europe

• International Conference
• at
• Dublin City University, Ireland
• 10th 14th January 2005

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Introduction to Memory Training
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Clues for recalling(notes from impromptu speech
by Jack Lonergan)

• Name
• ?
• XMU, SE, halfway
• 1991
• teach
• Second visit
• first, 3/2000
• IATEFL

• My relatives in Ireland
• 3 counties
• Limerick nun
• Tipperary a hurler , Hayes Hotel in Thurles, GAA
  
• Borrisoleigh, publican
• Galway just a visit

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Whats difficult to remember?

• Proper nouns
• Order of info
• numbers
• Density of info
• Lack of related knowledge
• Lack of logical links

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Memory

• Memory is a process of retaining, storing and
  recalling experiences.

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Memory

• Long Term Memory (LTM)
• Short Term Memory (STM)
• short
• limited
• Working memory

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STM training

• Purpose
• to remember longer!
• to remember more!

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What to remember?

• Main idea(s)
• Supporting details
• Logical links

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Types of logical links

• Generalization
• Sequence pattern
• Comparison and Contrast
• Cause and Effect
• Visualization

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Generalization

• General-specific pattern
• Specific-general pattern

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Sequence pattern

• Steps in a process
• Time order
• Spatial order
• Degree of importance

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Sequence pattern exampleBraised spareribs

• Deep-fry spareribs till cooked.
• Put a pot over medium fire and add broth, salt,
  soy sauce, sugar, scallion, ginger, five-spiced
  bag and spareribs. Cook and bring to boil. Skim
  off the foam on the surface. Simmer for about an
  hour till bone fall off
• Take spareribs out and place in a dish. Drop
  mushrooms and bamboo shoot in the wok. When the
  juice is reduced, pour it over the spareribs and
  serve.

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Sequential signal words

• first
• then
• next
• after
• later
• last
• before
• when

• finally
• during
• at the same time
• meanwhile
• in the meantime
• preceding
• following

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Comparison Contrast

• Compare similarities
• Contrast differences
• Analogy

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Signal words for comparison

• in a similar manner
• in the same way
• again
• another example is
• lets compare
• the same sort of thing

• as well as
• both
• like
• in common with
• likewise
• also
• similar(ly)

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Signal words for contrast

• yet
• different(ly)
• against that
• there again
• the opposite of this is
• this contrasts with

• on the contrary
• on the other hand
• however
• otherwise
• whereas
• instead
• still

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Cause Effect Pattern

• Cause ? Effect
• Effect ? Cause

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Cause Effect - example

• Girls don't do as well in maths and science as
  boys.
• There are several reasons for this.

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• The first and most important reason is that they
  aren't encouraged to play with toys that build up
  interest in maths and science problems and that
  build skills for problem solving or understanding
  how things work. Girls are encouraged to play
  with toys that foster language and human
  relations skills. As a result, they can grow up
  not knowing how an engine works or how to build a
  model from directions.

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• Second, studies have shown that teachers don't
  expect girls to be good at maths. Even female
  maths and science teachers pay more attention to
  boys in class and call on boys more often.
  Because teachers don't expect girls to excel,
  they don't try very hard, and soon girls are far
  behind boys in these studies.

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• Finally, girls don't have many role models to
  look up to. Not very many maths and science
  teachers are women, especially in the later
  grades. When the media picture mathematicians and
  scientists, they usually picture men. As a
  result, girls aren't inspired to choose these
  fields as careers.

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• In summary, several factors work together in the
  home, in schools, and in the society at large to
  send a subtle message to girls. Girls almost
  always get the message as a result, few girls
  excel in maths and sciences.

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Signal words

• since
• as
• because (of)
• the reason why is that
• reason
• result from
• result in

• so
• therefore
• as a result (of)
• as a consequence of
• the effect of is that
• consequently
• this causes
• this leads to

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Visualization

• Visualisation is a technique to help memory.
• As you listen to the text, visualise what it
  says. Visualisation can be
• realistic, literal a story
• symbolic images
• mnemonic - a memory aid, such as first letters,
  a chain of key words, or numbers.

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Visualisation example.Store announcement

• "Hello Shoppers. We have a lost boy named
  Marshall who was found in the sporting goods
  section of our store, and he's looking for his
  mom. He's five years old, and he's wearing a blue
  and white sweat shirt, tan pants, and a black and
  white baseball cap. You can find him at the
  check-out counter at the main exit. Thank you."

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Summary

• Look for reminders
• LTM build up
• The successful liaison interpreter needs the 3 Cs
• confidence
• concentration
• calmness

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Xiamen University (I) Pursue Excellence, Strive
for Perfection

• In 1921, Mr. Tan Kah Kee, the well-known
  patriotic overseas Chinese leader, founded Xiamen
  University, the first university in China to be
  founded by an overseas Chinese.
• Over the past 84 years, as the result of
  painstaking efforts by several generations of
  faculty and graduates inspired by the university
  motto Pursue Excellence, Strive for Perfection,
  Xiamen University has accumulated rich experience
  in offering diverse educational programs. Its
  textbooks on interpreter training have won awards
  from the Chinese Ministry of Education.
•  

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Xiamen University (II) Pursue Excellence, Strive
for Perfection

• Xiamen University is located in Xiamen, Fujian
  Province, a scenic port-city on the southeast
  coast of China. It is said that in ancient times
  flocks of egrets settled on this island, hence
  Xiamen is also known as Egret Island.
• Lying in the sub-tropical Zone, Xiamen has a
  maritime climate, and congenial, spring-like
  weather in all four seasons. People can enjoy the
  bright sunlight, the gentle breezes, lush plants
  and colorful flowers all year around.
• Rich in tourism resources, Xiamen has various
  sightseeing attractions, places of historic
  interest, and tourist resorts.

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Interpreting at Xiamen University Pursue
Excellence, Strive for Perfection

• Xiamen University has established itself as a
  Centre of Excellence for interpreting, leading
  the field with innovative publications, training
  programmes, and international projects.
• Contact
• Xiamen University
• College of Foreign Languages and Cultures
• No.422, South-Siming Road
• 361005 Xiamen, Fujian, China
• Tel [phone]
• Fax [phone]
• E-mail cflc(a)xmu.edu.cn