EFFECTIVENESS OF SHADOWING TECHNIQUE TOWARDSIMULTANEOUS INTERPRETING PERFORMANCE OF NOVICE INTERPRETERS

Abstract

Shadowing plays a crucial role in interpreting training as it hones a set of skills pivotal for simultaneous interpreting. It is reported that shadowing helps enhance interpreter’s listening comprehension, fluency and ability to keep up with speaker’s pace as well as improve interpreter’s concentration. A number of studies have been conducted to investigate the role of shadowing in simultaneous interpreter; however, very few are
conducted in Indonesian setting. The objective of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of shadowing technique in improving simultaneous interpreting performance of novice interpreters. This experimental study involved 42 third-year students taking simultaneous interpreting course as participants. The data were taken through two simultaneous interpreting performances as pre- and post-test, questionnaire, and interview. The findings showed that there was significant difference between the participants’ pre-test and post-test scores (from 66.89 to 73.84). The students also had a positive attitude toward the role of shadowing technique in improving SI performance. The questionnaire showed that 89.4% of the research participants revealed that shadowing improved their ability to keep up with the speaker, 63.1% participants strongly agreed that shadowing technique enhanced their memory retention, and 78.8% strongly agreed that shadowing technique had positive contribution in maintaining their focus on the speakers’ utterance. Referring to the findings, it is implied that simultaneous interpreting syllabus should include shadowing technique as a part of their learning. Interpreting trainers should design a set of learning procedures that allows students to practice using this technique independently.