HIS - HYBRID INTERPRETER SCREENING
INFORMATION FOR CANDIDATES
General Overview
This test combines aspects of the CST and the PICSI. It assesses a candidate's ability to effectively understand and speak in both English and another language, and in addition, evaluates their performance in a series of short role-play scenarios with a separate scoring of included industry-related terminology.
HC-HIS Medical context version:
Methodology: Interview in each language and series of short role-play interpreted scenarios containing healthcare-related terminology.
During the interview sections, candidates are assessed on their ability to effectively understand and communicate through speech in both English and another language. The role-play scenarios are contextualized around simple healthcare provider visits involving commonplace terms encountered in medical settings (but not including high-level medical terminology). Successful candidates can be considered ready to interpret in a medical setting only following subsequent completion of a 40-60 hour professional training course that includes interpreter protocol, ethics, and medical terminology. Additional follow-up testing or certification may or may not be required post-training per organizational protocol &/or local/state regulation.
COMMUNICATION SKILLS TEST (CST)
Overview
The Communication Skills Test is an assessment designed to measure a person’s ability to interact in a professional context using two or more languages (usually English and one or more other languages). It evaluates the ability to understand and retain information provided in a language, the ability to clearly communicate ideas through speech, and knowledge of occupation-specific terminology. Versions of this test are available for a variety of professions, including customer service, finance, insurance and benefits administration, non-provider healthcare staff, medical providers (physicians and nurses), and specialty providers (psychologists, physical therapists, social workers, etc.). This test does not evaluate or certify your ability to interpret or translate.
Each language will be assessed separately in a series of interviews, consisting of three sections each (only two sections for LO-CST): Language comprehension, the efficacy of oral communication (speech), and terminology. Candidates testing in two languages will have two interviews, first in English, and then in the target language, but at no point will they be interpreting or translating.
Depending on the profession for which you are taking the test, the questions and readings in the comprehension and oral communication sections may be specifically contextualized to that field, common topics from everyday life, or a mixture of both specialized and general topics. The terminology section will always be applicable to the job field.
How it works
Each section of the test will begin with a practice exercise or example. While the practice questions will not hurt your score if you get them wrong, correct answers may help your overall score, or shorten the test.
The first section of each language interview will be listening comprehension. In this section, you will hear a series of short readings. After each reading, you will be presented with a few questions related to the content of the reading. Here is an example (you will not see text during the test, only hear audio):
“Angela withdrew 300 dollars from the bank this morning before she took her cat to the veterinarian for a routine checkup and vaccination. The vet bill was $200, which she paid in cash, and she gave the rest of the money to her mother.”
You will then be presented with the questions, such as the following:
“What two places did Angela visit?” (answers: Bank and veterinarian)
“Why did Angela take her cat to the vet?” (answer: checkup or vaccination)
“How much money did Angela give her mother?” (answer: $100)
The second section of each interview will be the efficacy of oral communication, or speech. In this section you will be presented with open-ended starter topics and asked to talk for 2 minutes about each topic, giving your thoughts and opinions. Keep in mind that the starter topics are just prompts to get you started and that there are no wrong answers. Your responses will be evaluated based on how clearly, coherently, and fluidly you communicate, taking into account pronunciation, grammar and syntax, pace, vocabulary, and your ability to express complex concepts. Here is an example (audio only on the test):
“Some school systems have proposed limiting the amount of homework that can be assigned to elementary school children, to ensure that they are not overwhelmed and have enough time for play each day. Give your opinion about how much homework you think is appropriate for elementary students. Do you think playtime is as important as homework? Please explain.”
Where applicable, the third section of each interview will cover terminology. In this section, you will have two separate exercise types: terminology recognition and terminology definitions. First, you will be presented with a series of brief definitions, and you will need to state the term that corresponds to each definition. Then, you will be presented with a series of vocabulary terms, and you will need to provide a clear and precise definition for each term given.
You may find the following questions useful when trying to define terms:
• What is it? (thing/person/concept/etc.)
• What is it used for?
• What are its characteristics?
• What makes it different from other similar things/people/concepts?
• (When applicable) What is the size, color and/or location?
Here are some examples:
Recognition: “A cloth tube, closed at one end that is worn on the foot. It may also cover part or all of the calf. You put it on before your shoes.” (Answer: sock or stocking)
Definition: “Refrigerator” (Answer: A large kitchen appliance in which you store food to keep it cool and avoid spoiling.)
Taking the test
You will need to be alone and in a quiet area, and you will need a pen and 2-3 sheets of blank paper for note-taking. You are not allowed to use any reference materials, such as dictionaries, translation software, or assistance from other people. You can only use an electronic device or a computer to open our testing platform and take the test. The use of electronic devices or computers for any other purposes, even for note-taking, is strictly prohibited. The test usually takes about 60 to 120 minutes, depending on your pace. It is administered in the following way:
24/7, On-Demand (aka ‘automated’): Depending on your language combination, testing is available without the need to schedule, and can be performed as soon as you receive the invitation via email, at any time of the day, 7 days a week. The test is conducted within your web browser and requires a headset with a microphone, a webcam, and a broadband internet connection.
While On-Demand testing does not (by default) include a live proctoring service, starting in early 2021, it will require each candidate to present a valid, nationally recognized photo ID (ex. passport, state driver’s license) via webcam, together with a snapshot of the candidate’s face, and including a sample voice recording. Please note that during the test, a snapshot of your face will be taken randomly every couple of minutes to ensure adherence to all the test rules. These new steps are meant to augment test security and, by extension, further authenticate the validity of a candidate’s performance. Therefore, please be sure you have a working microphone and webcam before beginning your assessment.
Visit our website for more information on our automated testing platform.
Unproctored Testing: Testing without proctoring or identity confirmation is not encouraged and should only be performed in special circumstances with explicit permission from the requesting organization. (The report will indicate that this was an unproctored test without identity confirmation.)
Technical Considerations
It is important to have a reliable high-speed internet connection for web-based testing, as well as a microphone and headset for audio (built-in computer microphones and speakers are sufficient but less than ideal). The web-based system will provide you with a chance to test your audio setup and connection quality before beginning your test. If you are unsure whether or not your internet speeds are sufficient, during the testing process, right before starting the test you will be asked to run a speed test, and share the upload and download speeds with our team.
PRELIMINARY INTERPRETER CANDIDATE SKILLS INTERVIEW (PICSI)
Overview
The PICSI is an assessment designed to measure a candidate’s performance as they interpret a series of short role-play scenarios between two different languages. It evaluates the ability to understand and retain information provided in a language, and then clearly and accurately communicate that information in the other language. Versions of this test are available for customer service applicants as well as for entry-level healthcare interpreter candidates.
The content, context, and vocabulary are specific to the healthcare or customer service variety.
Taking the Test
If you or your coordinator has requested an On-Demand automated test, you will receive testing information and a link via email. Clicking on this link will prompt you to begin your test at the time that best suits you. No scheduling is necessary. Your interpreted responses will be recorded online, and a human tester will score your performance after you finish.
If you have expected, but not received the email with the test invitation, be sure to check in your email’s junk folder.
You will need to be alone and in a quiet area, and you will need a pen and 2-3 sheets of blank paper for note-taking. You are not allowed to use any reference materials, such as dictionaries, or assistance from other people. The test usually takes about 10 to 20 minutes to complete.
While On-Demand testing does not (by default) include a live proctoring service, starting in early 2021, it will require each candidate to present a valid, nationally recognized photo ID (ex. passport, state driver’s license) via webcam, together with a snapshot of the candidate’s face, and including a sample voice recording. Please note that during the test, a snapshot of your face will be taken randomly every couple of minutes to ensure adherence to all the test rules. These new steps are meant to augment test security and, by extension, further authenticate the validity of a candidate’s performance. Therefore, please be sure you have a working microphone and webcam before beginning your assessment.
The automated assessment employs a virtual interviewing technology and is administered online in your web browser. Throughout 3-4 short role-play scenarios, you will hear a series of pre-recorded lines between a non-English speaker and an English speaker, and you will interpret back and forth for both parties. You should pay attention to the overall meaning of each speaker’s communication, as well as to the specific terms and concepts, and do your best to convey the messages accurately and completely. You do not need to introduce yourself at the beginning of the role-play scenarios; you will be presented with lines to interpret immediately. Concepts such as interpreter transparency and interpreter protocol are not evaluated.
Your responses will be recorded for evaluation. Please follow the prompts and instructions as you go along. You may request repetitions, but only once per line. Candidate's responses are recorded for subsequent evaluation by a qualified tester. (This test is NOT graded by a computer, but by a live human rater.)
Please listen carefully and take notes as you go along. For each question, you will have 30 seconds to click the Play button to start listening to the scenario. Within those 30 seconds, if you need to listen to the scenario again, you can click the play button again. After 30 seconds, you will hear a BEEP to signal the beginning of the recording. If you want to start recording your answer earlier, you can do so by clicking the red recording button. You should interpret as accurately and completely as possible.
Please, follow the prompts and instructions as indicated by the system.
Technical Considerations
It is important to have a reliable high-speed internet connection for online testing, as well as a microphone and headset for audio (built-in computer microphones and speakers are sufficient but less than ideal), and a working webcam. The browser-based system will provide you with a chance to test your audio/video setup and connection quality before beginning your test. If you are unsure whether or not your connection speeds are sufficient, please run a speed test, and share the upload and download speeds with our team.
For note-taking purposes, you will need a pen and paper to take notes. Writing notes on a computer or any other electronic device is prohibited.
Frequently asked questions
Am I required to use first-person interpreting?
For this test, you are encouraged to interpret in the first person (using “I” or “me” and speaking as though you were the original speaker). However, no points will be deducted for third-person interpretation (“He says that he…” / “She says she went…”).
When are the results ready? Do I receive a copy? Who else sees my results?
Results are usually sent out within five working business days (or one week, unless there are holidays). You may receive results sooner. If you ordered through the website and paid for the test yourself, you will receive a copy, and we will also send a copy to any other parties you requested on the order form. (If you did not list any other recipients, only you will receive a copy). If your employer/school ordered and paid for the test, only they will receive a copy, which they may or may not be able to share with you, according to their own internal policy. Self-paying candidates who chose the option to enroll in the “ON-FILE” program will have their results added to a database that LanguageStat and our partner organizations may refer to when seeking talent.
Which national/regional accents are considered standard in English?
LanguageStat acknowledges several standard regional/national dialects and accents in English including Australian, British (including Scottish*), Canadian, Caribbean*, Indian*, Irish, New Zealander, US American (Including regional accents: Southern, Northeastern, Mid-western, and Southwestern/Native American) and South African*. (*No points will be deducted for clear and easy-to-understand speech in these dialects/accents. However, if speech is deemed to impede understanding for listeners from other countries or regions, the score may be lowered and/or include notes mentioning the impact on communication as applicable, depending on the degree of severity.)
How are results provided? What is the passing score?
Candidates receive two scores, one for accuracy and one for vocabulary, as well as an overall blended score. Scores are presented as percentages and are accompanied by an A-F ranking, corresponding to a standard US grading scale. LanguageStat recommends a 75% passing score for this test, although each organization will set its own criteria according to its needs, and some may have higher (or lower) score requirements. Notes and comments are included in the report.
I have been interpreting this language at work for years. Why do I need to take this test?
Your employer may wish to confirm or recertify your skill level for hiring, quality, safety, or regulatory reasons.
How soon can I retest? How many times may I retest?
Please check with the organization (employer or school) that requested the test to see what, if any, retest guidelines they have in place. LanguageStat recommends at least 6 months before retesting in most circumstances but does not enforce that recommendation.
What is transparency?
Transparency is the concept that all parties involved in the interpreted session have the right to know everything that is said, and by whom. It is particularly important in medical interpreting. For example, an interpreter should inform the party expecting the interpretation of the need to intervene if a repetition or clarification is required. Transparency can take many forms depending on the format (for example, in-person interpreters might raise their hand for a repetition, whereas an over-the-phone interpreter would need to verbally intervene using a transparency script). Please check with your employer or training program to see what standards and protocols for transparency they have in place. Transparency and protocol are not evaluated as part of the PICSI.
For all other questions, please feel free to contact us at testing@languagestat.net, or by phone at 678-540-6394.