Church Point (NS), January 26, 2021 - Interpreters can enhance their skills while earning micro-credentials thanks to a collaboration between Université Sainte-Anne, the Association of Translators and Interpreters of Nova Scotia (ATINS), and Access Language Services, the leading provider of interpretation services in Nova Scotia.
This program is part of an initiative by seven local colleges aiming to help local schools meet evolving work needs in the region.
Atlantic Colleges Atlantique (ACA) is the association of the seven public institutions delivering college programming in Atlantic Canada, with a total of 60,000 full- and part-time students annually at 40 campuses across the region. Atlantic Canada is experiencing rapid technological change which requires new skills, new abilities, and new approaches in the workplace.
In response, colleges in the Atlantic Region have partnered to advance a collaborative vision built on innovation and equity to transform the college system. Through a virtual Innovation Centre and a series of cutting-edge pilot projects that form the College Transformation des Collèges initiative, member colleges will engage with a broad range of partners to design, deliver, and evaluate high-impact innovations.
Université Sainte-Anne, the only French language post-secondary institution in the province, offers university and college-level courses, an immersion program and customized training in French as a second language. It also creates courses for industry and government professionals as well as for immigrants, in subjects ranging from medical and business French to trade-related programs and study of the language itself.
Beginning this winter, interpreters will be able to take micro-accredited classes thanks to a new course featuring a targeted curriculum conceived by industry experts.
The class will be taught by Jeff Staflund, chief interpreter with the government of New Brunswick from 2013-18 and a federally certified conference interpreter (English booth) since 2010. He has developed a program from A-Z with input from ATINS members for a course in Foundations in Dialogue Interpreting.
Staflund, who describes himself as a lifelong student, is based in Winnipeg and has been working in the language profession for more than 25 years. A teacher, translator, and interpreter, he holds a doctorate in education with a specialization in training interpreters.
The 10-week program, beginning February 22 and ending May 3, 2021, is a 60-hour online offering that will use the Microsoft Teams platform. It will be held twice weekly, on Monday and Thursday evenings, between 6 and 8 p.m. Atlantic. Forty hours are devoted to in-class learning, while 20 hours - two hours per week - are set aside for individual work and teacher feedback.
The special cost of the inaugural course, which is open to Atlantic Canadians, is $250.
The field of interpretation and translation is expanding rapidly, as employers struggle to fulfil the global demand for language skills. Apart from lost business opportunities, shortages of bilingual or multilingual professionals in the discipline could lead to problems such as miscarriages of justice in court, or family members in hospitals struggling while trying to make critical decisions.
In countries such as Canada where immigration plays a pivotal role - and in a province like Nova Scotia, which has greatly increased its immigration numbers recently - overcoming this shortfall is essential.
To help meet this need, Sainte-Anne is starting with a pilot project in the fundamentals of Interpretation, with an emphasis on practical experience. Lectures will be supplemented with topical discussions, homework and regular feedback, a component on industry ethics, along with presentations, role play, and simulations rooted in real-world situations. As such, regular attendance will be necessary, as students require a minimum mark of 70 per cent to successfully pass this micro-accredited course.
Micro-credentials involve shorter, skill-focused programs available to working professionals, new workers, immigrants, or those seeking a career change, and focus on hands-on, life-long learning in today's rapidly changing workplace. Badges earned in such courses can be stacked toward milestone awards, and sometimes toward earning degrees.
In response to recent shifts in education, labour and society, Sainte-Anne believes many people could benefit from a less-formal, more practical approach to education, and plans to expand its micro-credential program to courses aimed at other professions.
The inaugural Interpretation program will be a prerequisite for an eventual one in the Medical domain, which has seen the most growth lately, especially in light of the COVID-19 situation. Affiliated courses concentrating on specific fields such as Legal Interpreting are also planned. The core course may be offered throughout the year depending upon demand, and the fee for subsequent offerings would be determined at that time. These courses would be open to all Canadians as well as those of any nationality.
The Interpretation program starting February 22 is open to members of ATINS, or those looking for further training. Successful completion of the ILSAT or CILISAT language exam with a minimum of 75 per cent in French and English is required to take the program.
Registration, which begins February 1, is on a first-come, first-served basis. For further information or if you have any questions, please email
About Université Sainte-Anne
Université Sainte-Anne, the only French language post-secondary institution in Nova Scotia, offers university and college-level courses as well as a French immersion program and customized training in French as a second language. Recognized for its excellent programs as well as its unique and exceptional living environment, Sainte-Anne offers experiential learning opportunities that promote student engagement and success, and an atmosphere which encourages a culture of excellence in research and development. Solidly established in its community, Université Sainte-Anne is a partner of choice for all those who wish to strengthen the vitality of the regions surrounding its 5 campuses as well as all of Acadie throughout Nova Scotia.
About ATINS
ATINS' primary goals are to promote the profession and development of its members, and to provide users with access to translation and interpretation services from a qualified and ethical body of competent professionals. The Association of Translators and Interpreters of Nova Scotia is a member of the Canadian Translators, Terminologists, and Interpreters Council.
For more information
Rachelle LeBlanc, Director of Communications and Marketing
Université Sainte-Anne
Tel.: 902-769-2114 Extension 7222
Email: