Interpreting in the Language Classroom: Preparing Students for Exams and Real Communication

This workshop introduces an innovative use of interpreting activities in the language classroom to foster learners’ oral development, particularly in preparing for high-stakes examinations such as the VCE French oral exam. While traditional practice often focuses on accuracy of form, interpreting requires learners to concentrate on conveying meaning, thereby encouraging flexibility, resourcefulness, and effective communication strategies.

Through structured role-plays and interpreting tasks, students are challenged to move between languages, drawing on their existing linguistic resources while stretching their interlanguage. This process helps them develop strategies such as circumlocution, paraphrasing, and negotiating meaning - key skills not only for oral assessments but also for authentic communication beyond the classroom.

Participants in the workshop will experience a series of practical interpreting activities adaptable to different levels. These activities promote active listening, rapid reformulation, and contextualised vocabulary use, while reducing the anxiety associated with “getting every word right.” Instead, the focus shifts to clarity of message and communicative success.

We will also discuss how interpreting tasks can be aligned with curriculum requirements, including VCE assessment criteria, and how they can complement other oral practice such as dialogues, role-plays, and debates. By the end of the session, participants will leave with ready-to-use classroom activities, a clearer understanding of how interpreting fosters interlanguage development, and strategies to empower learners to speak with confidence, resourcefulness, and precision under exam conditions and in real-life interactions.