Cooperative learning in interpreter training

Abstract

Training for translators and interpreters in the modern era should go beyond adapting to professional changes: it should equip students with the ability to continuously train themselves throughout their entire professional life, to have meta-cognitive skills, to take control of their own progress, to define and achieve goals, to reflect on their performance and progress. This can be achieved by fostering self-reflection, peer cooperation, and a strong sense of autonomy. In order to fully embrace the idea of lifelong learning, students must be educated on how to become independent learners and enhance their skills for autonomous learning and self-reflection. One approach to cultivating autonomy involves implementing the principles of cooperative learning. The purpose of this article is to introduce the principles of cooperative learning and suggest several ways in which they can be put to practice in the interpreting classroom.