Aptitude test for interpreter training course

Aptitude test for interpreter training course

The European Union (EU) organises an interpreter training course in Brussels, Belgium, which will be implemented by the Directorate-General for Interpretation of the European Commission, one of the EU institutions.

It is a 5 -month training course with English-Mongolian for up to 6 participants, which has been provisionally scheduled from July to November 2020. The participants would receive a monthly grant to cover cost of living and accommodation as well as travel cost and course costs.

A list of up to 24 preselected candidates will be established on the basis of the applications. In order to establish the final list, the preselected candidates will be invited to a selection test organised by the EU Delegation to Mongolia during the first half of March 2020 (candidates will be informed about the timetable one week ahead). If you are interested, you must apply by 19 January 2020 at the latest.

Aptitude test consists of:

• The oral reproduction of short and structured speeches (2-3 minutes) from Mongolian into English and vice versa. This is to test the applicants’ ability to listen to, understand, process and reproduce an argument on a general topic. They must be able to demonstrate that they have understood the message and are able to communicate it.

• Free speech: candidates will prepare an oral presentation (2-3 minutes) on a given topic in English (candidates can chose from 2 topics and get 2-3 minutes preparation time).

Candidates’ profile

In order to be pre-selected, the candidates must

• Be Mongolian citizens with Mongolian as mother-tongue.

• Hold a recognised University degree, preferably in interpretation studies or international studies.

• Have a perfect command of their mother tongue (Mongolian) over a wide range of topics and registers.

• Have an excellent command of spoken English over a wide range of topics and be able to communicate fluently in that language in a clear and natural way without grammar mistakes.

• Have a perfect understanding of English across the full range of registers and be aware of – and able to understand – a range of accents in English, including non-native English speakers,

• Have a good overall knowledge of international affairs and of Mongolia and be well-informed of the economic, social and cultural background of European Union countries.

• Have a basic knowledge of the functioning of the European Union and demonstrate an interest in its terminology.

• Have an ability to follow an argument or line of reasoning and have a good ability of concentration, analysis and synthesis.

• Have good communication skills.

• Having lived, studied or worked in an English speaking country or environment would be considered an asset.

They will also be expected to show:

• A high degree of motivation: these are demanding – and rewarding – courses, requiring serious commitment.
• Ability to work under pressure.
• Willingness to learn.
• Readiness to accept advice.

Trainee interpreters are effectively assessed every time they work; while feedback on questions of accuracy, style and use of language may seem personal, it is central to training. Applicants must show an ability to accept constructive criticism.

The selected candidates are expected to be available to work as a freelance interpreter for the EU Delegation for at least 5 years after the training course.

They should not have any conflict of interest when working as interpreter for the EU Delegation to Mongolia.

Prior interpreter training or professional experience as an interpreter is not compulsory, however it would be a valuable asset.

In order to be eligible for the pre-selection, the candidates need to send (in English)

• a detailed EU CV (see link) including stays abroad https://europass.cedefop.europa.eu/documents/curriculum-vitae/
• a motivation letter with a recent passport sized picture.

Please send your application by email to the following email addresses: by 19 January 2020 at 20.00 Mongolian time.

DELEGATION-MONGOLIA-HR@eeas.europa.eu(link sends e-mail)

SCIC-01@ec.europa.eu(link sends e-mail)

Preselection will be made on the basis of the information provided in the CV and the motivation letter.

The reply to any call for applications involves the recording and processing of personal data (such as name, address and CV). Such data will be processed by the EU institutions in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 2018/1725 of 23 October 2018 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data by the Union institutions, bodies, offices and agencies and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 and Decision No 1247/2002/EC.

The final list of selected candidates will be subject to approval by the relevant Commission services.

The above excerpt is quoted from https://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/mongolia/71731/aptitude-test-interpreter-training-course_en