Our Training Series is something we take pride in and we feel distances us from other interpretation and translation service firms. Although every interpreter must gain experience, we recognize the importance of offering a solid base to prepare new interpreters for the field. Our training is the fastest, the most practical and the most economical way of learning court interpreting.

The provision of interpreter services is a basic right of anyone who is a party or witness in court proceedings under s.14 of the Canadian Charter, which guarantees the right of an accused to understand the proceedings. The Ontario Court of Appeal noted in R. v. Petrovic (1984) O.J. No. 3265, that when an accused person requests an interpreter, an interpreter should be provided without question; and that the accused not be subject to a detailed inquiry into their ability to understand or speak the language of the proceedings. But, fulfilling those rights is difficult because of a shortage of qualified, competent interpreters. Often the courts use people who speak the language, but aren’t qualified as court interpreters. (Excerpt from Lawyers Weekly, Dec. 3, 2010).

Aquinas Institute Corporation is the only interpretation and translation service company that offers in-house training programs to interpreters, translators and the general public.

• Aquinas Training Series I: “Legal Interpreting Made Easy”™

The program is designed to give the participant an overview of the basics of legal interpreting; the difference between an interpreter and a translator; the modes and types of interpreting; ethics; interpreter’s basic skills; introduction to the Canadian court system; legal terminology; mock trials; and job search.

• Aquinas Training Series II: “Court-Judicial-Legal Interpreter Training”™

The program is designed to give the participant an overview of the responsibilities, do’s and don’ts, and ethics in court-judicial-legal interpreting; interpreter’s skills; the potential for errors; the structure of the Canadian court system; the stages in the development and conclusion of a court case; the examination for discovery; court appearances, pleas, trials, sentencings; legal terminology; mock trials; and job search.

• Aquinas Training Series III: “Court-Judicial-Legal Terminology”™

The program is designed to give the participant knowledge and understanding of approximately 300 most commonly used legal terms in a court-judicial-legal setting.