CZECH REPUBLIC

Country: CZECH REPUBLIC |
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Official or co-official languages |
Czech |
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Brief description of linguistic diversity |
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Foundations: |
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Current legislative mandates for LIT and certification |
Appointment required by law (1967, amended) Judges are required to use an appointed interpreter. If there are no appointed interpreters for a given language, another person may be used. |
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Responsible parties: |
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Current accrediting bodies |
Interpreters are appointed by a regional court (based on interpreter's place of residence). Courts appoint interpreters according to the court's language needs. |
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Does register exist? |
Yes, regional courts maintain registers of local interpreters. The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) maintains a central register. |
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Who develops certification exams? |
Knowledge of the legal system – law faculties (currently 2). Interpreting tests – accredited languages schools (currently 2). |
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Who/How many rate performances? |
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Collaboration |
Special language test – interpreting: interpreter trainers from the Institute of Translation Studies are invited to sit on the jury panel. The language schools collaborate with the Chamber of Appointed Interpreters (a professional association).
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Test Format: |
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T & I in one exam? |
No, interpreting and translation have separate tests. |
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Screening exam? Describe. |
Admission to the interpreting test is conditional upon proof of language competence at the C1 level and completion of the legal knowledge course. |
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Test type/format |
Language: variety of routes (language test, HE degree in modern languages...). Legal knowledge: course + final test (multiple choice). Interpreting test: short general consecutive with notes.
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Domains tested |
Special language test – interpreting: General language knowledge (C2 level), two-way consecutive on general topics. Cultural knowledge (facts about the country, history, political system etc.). Knowledge of law.
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Scoring |
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Transparency: |
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Website? Dissemination of info about certification |
Detailed information on the website of the Chamber of Appointed Interpreters http://www.kstcr.cz/. Further information on the website (links from the Chamber's website) of the law faculty (course on legal system) and the website of the language school (special language test – interpreting). The Chamber organises a one-day preparatory course on practical aspects of the profession (legislation, insurance, requirements, appointment etc.)
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Requirements to sit exam |
Proof of language competence. Graduates of interpreting programmes are exempt. All others, including language programme graduates, must take the Special Language Test – Interpreting, which tests knowledge at the C2 level. For languages for which"it is objectively impossible to test language knowledge", the language test is not required. |
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Sample questions or practice exam available? |
The language school runs a preparatory course for the special language test; it offers sample materials (paid). Knowledge of law – the test comes at the end of the (compulsory) course.
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Additional qualifications for certification (experience, training, educational level, nationality) |
HE degree (interpreting, languages, other); clean criminal record; knowledge of the law (HE diploma in law or completion of a special course for translators and interpreters*); 5 years of professional experience; EU + EEA nationality; legal residence in the Czech Republic
*The course runs over 28 weeks and consists of 84 lectures on the legal system (for everyone) + 84 language-specific lessons (available for English, French, German and Russian). |
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Cost to candidate/#of locations/ frequency |
Appointments by courts: twice a year (8 regional courts) The course on knowledge of the law is offered every year (28 weeks) and costs CZK 9000 ~ EUR330 (2013). The language course costs CZK 10000 ~ EUR 365 (2013). The special language tests are offered in 2 locations, twice a year for English and German, and once a year for other major languages. Tests for languages of lesser diffusion are given on demand and cost CZK 6000~ EUR 220 (2013). |
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Feedback on exam performance |
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Score grievance procedure available |
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Maximum nº of sittings |
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Permanent or renewable certification |
permanent |
Post-certification: |
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Revocation of certification possible? |
yes |
If so, for what reasons? |
death, own request, involved in criminal proceedings |
Performance monitored? If so, how? |
no
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