Basic interpreting skills in humanitarian crisis situations: less widely spoken African and Asian languages in Spain

Overview

This micro-credential introduces the fundamentals of interpreting in humanitarian and public service contexts, familiarizing students with the basic modalities and initial competencies of the profession. It develops key cognitive skills, note-taking techniques, assignment preparation, and ethical principles, as well as a basic understanding of the processes of care and reception of migrants in the Canary Islands.

Goals

Introduce the essential concepts of interpreting in humanitarian and public service contexts.
To familiarize students with the basic modalities of liaison interpreting and with the initial skills required for professional practice.
Develop cognitive skills prior to interpretation, such as analysis, synthesis, memory, concentration, paraphrasing, and reformulation.
Begin acquiring note-taking skills applied to consecutive dialogic interpretation.
Understanding the fundamentals of documentation and assignment preparation in humanitarian contexts.
To introduce the ethical principles that guide the work of interpreters and decision-making in sensitive situations.
Recognize the basic elements of humanitarian care and the reception and welcoming processes for migrants in the Canary Islands.

Access requirements

A university degree is not required to access this micro-credential. However, students wishing to access it must meet the following access requirements:

Advanced knowledge of Spanish equivalent to B2/C1 of the CEFR
Advanced knowledge of at least one less widely spoken African or Asian language in Spain is necessary for communication with the migrant population arriving in the Archipelago via the Atlantic route.
Passing the selection interview
Be between 25 and 64 years of age on the date the training begins.
This course constitutes the necessary training basis to take the second micro-credential on interpretation in African and Asian languages in humanitarian contexts derived from the Atlantic route.

Academic program

Contents

Block 1. Interpretation Techniques

Introduction to interpretation: phases, features and areas
Modality: liaison interpretation.
Pre-interpretation exercises:
- Short-term and long-term memory
- Analysis and synthesis
- Paraphrasing and reformulation
Introduction to note-taking:
- Information selection
- Use of symbols and abbreviations
- Visual structure and clarity
Initial interpretation practice in common humanitarian situations.

Block 2. Professional aspects

Introduction to documentation and preparation of the assignment: basic tools, initial glossaries and fundamental terminology.
Professional ethics: role, limits and functions of the interpreter.
Principles of confidentiality, loyalty and impartiality.

Block 3. Humanitarian assistance in migration contexts

Basic concepts of aid and humanitarian action.
Initial reception and welcome processes.
Basic communication needs in humanitarian emergencies.

Methodology and activities

The training activities to be carried out during the delivery of the micro-credential will be:

Theoretical classes: expository, explanatory or demonstration sessions of the contents and knowledge.
Practical classes: sessions of practical application of the content developed in the theoretical classes, through the resolution of exercises, problems or theoretical-practical scenarios.
Independent work: independent and self-regulated activity of the student starting from the
Documentation and guidelines proposed in the subject, preparation of classes and exams, preparation of final reports, internship reports…
Assessment: continuous assessment tests and final exams. Tests may be in person or online, and may be written, oral, or consist of practical exercises.

Regarding the way to organize the teaching to achieve the objectives set out in the micro-credential, the organizational modality summarized below will be followed:

Lectures/expository method: presentation or explanation by the teaching staff.
Practical classes: activities supervised by the teaching staff in the classroom, laboratories, clinics.
Personal study: preparation for tests, exams, etc.
Assessment: written tests, oral tests, practical tests…
Active methodologies: cooperative learning, project-based learning, flipped classroom, service learning, game-based learning, case studies, problem solving… These are aimed at making learning a participatory process and are based on student agency.

Evaluation criteria

The microcredential will have an evaluation system (ES) based on the following assessment tests:

Objective tests (true/false, multiple choice, test-type, fill-in-the-blank, ordering, etc.): These are measurement instruments that allow for the evaluation of knowledge, skills, performance, aptitudes, etc. The answers are closed-ended, thus promoting objectivity during the scoring process.
Short answer tests: a type of objective test in which students do not elaborate on their answers and must respond to the specific information requested.
Oral tests: students must apply the knowledge acquired to develop oral answers to the exercises or questions posed by the teachers.
Attendance, participation or attitude in teaching activities, seminars, tutorials, etc.: monitoring student attendance and participation in teaching activities, carrying out activities during teaching sessions.

General information

Credits: 2 ECTS

Duration: 20/04/26 – 06/05/26

Teaching modality: Blended learning

Location: Philology Building, Guajara Campus, ULL

Registration fee: €43.50

Valued at: €145

Registration

More info and registration help

The cost of tuition for this Microcredential will be subsidized by the 'Plan for the development of university microcredentials', investment 6 of component 21 of the Addendum to the 'Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan', financed by the European Union – Next Generation EU, year 2025.