11th September 2021: “Talking about ethics (and how not to…)”

Daniel Kahneman said that talking about ethics, “requires a richer vocabulary than is available in everyday language.” In other words, talking about ethics and reasoning through decisions require a unique vocabulary which must be learnt.

In this presentation, I will explain how the approach to ethics and the common phrases used in interpreting are limited in their scope and effectiveness when they are applied to practice.  I will explain how some of the common terms and phrases used in interpreting are often stand-ins or come to replace more standard ethical terms. These ethical terms are the same ones that are used by those professionals we work with in service settings such as medicine, educational, and mental health.  Sharing an ethical framework and an ethical vocabulary has been one of the benefits of using demand control schema.

9th October 2021:  DC-S: Context and practice decisions

As a continuation from the first presentation, I explain how demand control schema (DC-S) can be understood as a work analysis tool – a way of identifying and explaining the different settings or contexts that interpreters are called into.

Using the framework of demand control schema, context can be identified and explained broadly (e.g., working in medical settings or a primary school) and DC-S can be applied to identify the contextual factors at a moment in time – when a decision is expected.

30th October 2021: DC-S Consequences and practice values and principles

When a particular decision is made within a particular context in a community setting, it is rare for that decision to have been the only right one. There are many possible right but competing responses – each attempting to advance a different ethical principle.

While practice decision in interpreting are rarely an issue of right or wrong, this right / wrong or black / white dichotomy frames much of our discourse. There are several concepts in ethics that can help interpreters to address competing ethical obligations, namely, incommensurable values and reflective equilibrium.

20th November 2021: Putting it all together: Talking about our work

When all of these necessary ethical concepts and terms for analysing practice decisions are in place, then effective case reporting and analysis is possible. This type of continuing professional development, what is called case conferencing, can help practitioners in learning about practice settings, in improving their ethical reasoning, and can even have a restorative effect as well. Some recent research has shown that the emotional and psychological demands of work are easier to deal with when an interpreter has regular opportunities to share with colleagues the responsibilities and burdens of practice. Reflective practices such as case conferencing is beneficial to both interpreters and to those they serve.

The training will be delivered in English and IS interpretation will be provided.

Correspondence with efsli and official documents will be in English.

Who can register?

Registration fees for efsli individual members: 

• 120 euros (30 euros x 4 webinars) for efsli individual members from countries with GDP over 20.000 euros
• 60 euros (15 euros x 4 webinars) for efsli individual members from countries with GDP under 20.000 euros

Registration fees for efsli non-individual members:

• 240 euros (60 euros x 4 webinars) for efsli non-individual members

Sign language interpreters who are members of National Associations (full members of efsli) are not automatically individual efsli members.

You can become an individual member here

How do I register?

Registration deadline: 5th September 2021

BANK TRANSFER

Please tranfer the fee + bank charges to:
BNP Parisbas, Belgium
BIC: GEBABEBB
IBAN: BE71 2900 1504 9569
Account number: 290 – 0150495 – 69
EFSLI (European Forum of Sign Language Interpreters)
Wetstraat 26/15
1040 Brussels
Belgium

Please add in the description of the bank transfer: your name and “efsli – DC Schema – webinars”