DARS OFFICE FOR DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING SERVICES 2012 STUDY GUIDE for Interpreter Certification Candidates Board for Evaluation of InterpretersBEI www.dars.state.tx.us 800-628-5115 Foreword and Acknowledgments ........................................................................................... 4 Members of the Test Development Team ............................................................................... 5 Special Thanks To: ................................................................................................................... 6 Chapter 1: The BEI Interpreter Certification Process ............................................................ 7 1.1 Background ........................................................................................................................ 7 1.2 How to Use This Study Guide ........................................................................................... 8 1.3 Eligibility Requirements .................................................................................................... 8 1.4 Definitions ........................................................................................................................... 9 Chapter 2: Essential Functions of a Certified Interpreter ................................................... 10 2.1 Essential Abilities and Attributes of Nonintermediary or Nondeaf Interpreters ......... 10 2.1.1 Essential Physical Abilities ............................................................................ 10 2.1.2 Essential Cognitive Abilities .......................................................................... 11 2.1.4 Essential Professional Attributes ................................................................... 12 2.2 Essential Abilities and Attributes of Intermediary Interpreters .................................... 13 2.2.1 Essential Physical Abilities ............................................................................ 14 2.2.2 Essential Cognitive Abilities .......................................................................... 14 2.2.3 Essential Cultural Knowledge and Linguistic Abilities ................................... 15 2.2.4 Essential Professional Attributes ................................................................... 16 2.3 Accommodation Requests .............................................................................................. 17 2.4 Criminal Conviction Records Checks ............................................................................ 17 2.4.1 Notification of Results and Follow-Up Procedures ........................................ 17 3.1 Background ...................................................................................................................... 19 3.1.1 Reliability ....................................................................................................... 19 3.1.2 Validity .......................................................................................................... 19 3.1.3 Pilot Test ....................................................................................................... 19 3.2 Applying for the Test of English Proficiency (TEP) ....................................................... 20 3.3 Scheduling the TEP .......................................................................................................... 20 3.4 Forfeiture of Fees ............................................................................................................. 21 3.5 Taking the TEP ................................................................................................................. 21 3.6 Procedure for the Day of the Test ................................................................................... 21 3.7 Notification of TEP Results ............................................................................................. 23 Chapter 4: Overview of TEP Sections .................................................................................. 24 4.1 Part I Reading Comprehension ....................................................................................... 24 4.1.1 Helpful Strategies .......................................................................................... 24 4.2 Part II Synonyms .............................................................................................................. 25 4.2.1 Helpful Strategies .......................................................................................... 25 4.3 Part III Grammar and Usage ............................................................................................ 26 4.3.1 Helpful Strategies .......................................................................................... 26 4.4 Part IV Sentence Completion .......................................................................................... 26 4.4.1 Helpful Strategies .......................................................................................... 26 4.5 Part V Antonyms .............................................................................................................. 27 Page 1 of 81 4.5.1 Helpful Strategies .......................................................................................... 27 4.6 Sample Test of English Proficiency ................................................................................ 28 Part I – Reading Comprehension ........................................................................... 28 Reading Passage I: Sapphira and the Slave Girl .................................................. 28 Reading Passage II: Pluto and Charon ................................................................. 30 Part II – Synonyms ................................................................................................. 32 Part III – Grammar and Usage ............................................................................... 34 Section 1: Idiomatic Expressions ........................................................................... 34 Section 2: Standard Written English ....................................................................... 35 Part IV – Sentence Completion .............................................................................. 37 Part V – Antonyms ................................................................................................. 39 5.1 Reliability .......................................................................................................................... 42 5.2 Validity .............................................................................................................................. 42 5.3 Pilot Test ........................................................................................................................... 42 5.4 Rater Training ................................................................................................................... 43 5.5 Requirements for Performance Tests ............................................................................ 43 5.5.1 Applying for a Performance Test ................................................................... 43 5.5.2 Testing Fees Schedule ................................................................................. 44 5.5.3 Testing Sites and Schedule........................................................................... 44 5.5.4 Confirming an Appointment for a Performance Test ..................................... 44 5.5.5 Forfeiture of Fees .......................................................................................... 45 5.6 The Day of the Performance Test ................................................................................... 45 5.6.1 Procedure for the Day of the Performance Test ............................................ 45 5.6.2 What to Expect While Taking the Performance Test ..................................... 46 Chapter 6: Overview of the Performance Tests ................................................................... 48 6.1 Content of the Basic Test ................................................................................................ 48 6.2 Content of the Advanced Test......................................................................................... 48 6.3 Content of the Master Test .............................................................................................. 49 6.4 Performance Tests ........................................................................................................... 49 6.5 Overview of Sections in the Performance Tests ........................................................... 50 6.6 General Introduction to the Performance Tests ............................................................ 51 6.7 Part-by-Part Instructions ................................................................................................. 52 Warm-Up Section ................................................................................................... 52 6.8 Basic Performance Test Format ..................................................................................... 53 6.9 Advanced Performance Test Format .............................................................................. 54 6.10 Master Performance Test Format ................................................................................. 55 Chapter 7: Evaluation of the Performance Tests................................................................. 57 7.1 What the Tests Measure