Series Tailored to Your Needs

Interpreting Series

We offer five distinct programs of study, each built around its own introductory lecture course which is an overview of that specialty — methods, procedures, vocabulary, ethics, legalities and cultural issues. The course is conducted almost entirely in English and a lecture format with appropriate class notes and a reading list. There is sometimes a little actual homework to do and each introductory course concludes with a short exam.

Then follows a series of workshops to build your interpreting skills. Each workshop has its own collection of practice exercises which focus on building the skills and knowledge covered by the lectures and tutorial sessions.

Then comes the final examination. Think of our exams like music students' recitals – a show of how you perform your newly-acquired skills.

100 Community Interpreting

Learn how to facilitate communication between community service providers and people for whom English is not their primary language.

200 Medical Interpreting

We no longer offer a Medical Interpreting Certificate in British Columbia.

However, We do continue with such Medical courses as are required for Paralegal and Court Interpreting certificates.

We now offer a "Health Care Enhancement" to our Community Interpreting Certificate comprised of three courses representing about 37 additional hours of instruction. The lecture course is an introduction to anatomy and medical terminology; the BC health care system; and some of the business, ethical and legal responsibilities you will be assuming. Tutorials provide bilingual training in consecutive interpreting and sight translation using medical scenarios and terminologies.

We also offer a "Pre-Med Mini-Program" comprised of Basics of Interpreting plus the three enhancements for a total of about 61 hours of instruction.

300 Para-Legal Interpreting

Introduction to Canadian law and legal terminology, and ethical issues encountered by legal interpreting practitioners. Tutorials provide extensive practice in consecutive interpreting, and sight translation of legal documents.

400 Court Interpreting

Lectures will expand your knowledge of criminal law, civil law, and trial procedures. You will absorb a great deal of terminology and study the ethical and legal aspects of being a court interpreter. You will be introduced to simultaneous interpreting. The tutorials focus on specific court situations and are based on real trial transcripts. The Practice labs are nearly all in "simultaneous" mode.

500 Conference Interpreting

We are planning to introduce our Conference Interpreting Program in 2017. It is a demanding occupation practiced by highly trained professionals and is normally conducted in an interpreters' booth with sound equipment.

600 Translation

We will be launching various translation courses in 2017.

700 Professional Development

Courses for people already working as interpreters who may or may not have an interpreting certificate.

800 Client-Specific Courses

Courses that are offered to clients to solve specific issues or address general needs.

900 Examination and Testing Group

All our exams and most of our tests are generated. produced and graded by our sister organization, The Language Bureau.

Pre-medical Interpreting Series

A short series of courses to prepare students for low cost healthcare interpreting services.

Join us for a free information session

We invite anyone interested in VANSIT to join us for a one-hour session. You’ll learn about the profession of interpreting and how VANSIT will prepare you for the workforce.

Tell me more