ASLI London and South East region

17th March 2012

What will you remember most about the workshop?

I'll remember the supportive colleagues, and the permission to mess up and play with the skills.

To relax to be able to come away from the source language by using synonyms, that it's ok to summarise in many interpreting situations by not getting bogged down by the detail.

Taking time - not sounding rushed.  Opportunities to find "genius" moments of encapsulating things in the more simplistic but meaningful spoken form.

The various exercises - using synonyms, not worrying too much about getting all the details, but the intent. Support from peers.

It’s ok not to have a word for every sign, we are the professionals, we will deal with the meaning.

Supportive colleagues with clear, specific feedback.

Breathing/relaxing and interpreter becoming human.

Was there anything you experienced during the workshop that will impact on your work?

Yes thinking about moving away from citation forms. Slowing down the voice over helps focus lexical choices.

I think I will use the ideas of space and taking a step back from the source, also to be 'unhurried', that will help enormously.

Looking away from the source & greater audience contact. Consecutive and chunking.

Working less hurriedly and taking a step (or two) back & having more time to think.

Lots! Taking time to look away from the source.  Synonyms. Really, everything will have a use!:)

Lots.  I feel I can trust myself & my choices more.

Interpreting in front of the group was nerve wracking initially but was very helpful to receive feedback.  Very much liked the numbering system, I.e. working with different people.

Excellent workshop, with a great deal to think about, with great humour.

Excellent! Lived up to the hype and I would do it again. Two days next time please! X

I will be recommending the course to everyone in ASLI who hasn't done it yet.

ASLI Devon & Cornwall Region

25th February 2012

What will you remember most about the workshop?

It’s OK to play with the language and not say everything they sign!  BSL is it’s own language and not all signs have a word.  (I knew this already but good to be reminded!)

Really made me question my method of voice over,  I come away with lots of food for thought & techniques to explore in the future.

It is not about showing off you know the signs.  Freeing yourself from what you see.  This feels revelatory!

How the workshop felt safe

I had ‘lightbulb’ moments which will affect my practice.

Was there anything you experienced during the workshop that will impact on your work?

Yes, all of it really.  mostly it’s good to have some peer review as I don’t get much opportunity for that.

Yes.  not to be afraid to do a free interpretation.  I am allowed to distance myself from the SL and actually do a better interpretation.

I think I will be more confident to experiment and not worry about the ‘stage 2’ people or about using different lexical choices.

To inform your co-worker about what you intend to do.

Being able to step back & speak unhurriedly but still be effective.

Would have liked a little more time on co-working.  interested in the 3 day course for sure!

The course was as good as its reputation!

Would have liked more time to reflect on each section but I know this is a 3 day course in 1!

Best course ever.  Apprehensive at first but thoroughly enjoyed it and learnt a lot :)

Best course (as in most useful for my every day work) I’ve been on in ages.I enjoyed the day, tbh I was dreading it and nearly talked myself out of coming but am glad I came.

Fantastic Course.  Really made me question my method of voice over.  I come away with lots of food for thought & techniques to explore in the future.

ASLI Bristol & South West Region

19th February 2011

What will you remember most about the workshop?

The importance of making my output more palatable and not getting too hung up about too much detail.

The range of voice-overs and vocabs that could be used from any one BSL utterance and that they are all ’right’ and valid.  To consider audience & how interpreters affect and influence hearing people’s perception of Deaf client.

Working in Groups of 3’s felt very supported by the 2 different groups I worked in.  very safe and supportive environment.

The practical experience of voicing over with other interpreters.  Hearing how different people voiced the videos and getting their feedback.

That “I do not voice over signs!”  That I am a professional who has been trained to make decisions and thus should have the confidence to move away from the source text when appropriate.

Just because they signed it doesnt mean you have to say it that way.

Was there anything you experienced during the workshop that will impact on your work?

Everything! I’m much more enthusiastic about voiceover and hope that through being more aware Ill produce better work.

Yes.  not to be afraid to do a free interpretation.  I am allowed to distance myself from the SL and actually do a better interpretation.

To relax and go for meaning.  To allow myself to ‘hold back’ and be more concise & thus clear in the target language.

Taking the time to be concise.  Physically distancing myself from the source.

Definately!  It has allowed me to think more about pace, delivery and style.  I feel the resources were excellent, a good level for us to work on and reflect on.

Yes - I will try and experiment more - less content, more meaning.

I enjoyed the group work and felt supported and safe within the group.

I just wish it was longer!  It has made me want to learn and practice more & more!  I enjoyed being pushed into uncomfortable, but necessary situations - it made me learn more and improve my confidence.  Thank you. :)

Group Workshop, Newcastle

9th July 2011

What will you remember most about the workshop?

Slowdown

Take a step back

Being succinct/concise

The exercises. Will be able to reproduce for future mentoring

Overall coping techniques

Exercises / group work

New techniques

Take a step back from the speaker

Relax and slow down

Was there anything you experienced during the workshop that will impact on your work?

Slow down, prepare more, research target audience.

I will think more

Record work / review

Stepping back from the source

Taking time and not rushing

Letting go of word for sign

More co-work support

Better interpretation rendering

To slow down.

Fantastic day with knowledgeable trainer giving me confidence to make better choices in voice overs.

Very good day. Lots to explore & try in a safe environment.

I thoroughly enjoyed the day - good opportunity for reflection & encouragement to look at our work constructively.

RAD Workshop , Essex

28th & 29th July 2011

What will you remember most about the workshop?

The triads - such a great way to put theory into practice; really appreciated the way you ensured that everyone felt safe....even when doing things that stretched comfort zones.  (will also remember the very natty keynote presentation!) :)

To have confidence in stepping away from the source.

To slow down.  Accuracy is not the most important thing.  It’s an interpretation, not a translation.

Stand back from the source language both time wise and physically.  WORK WITH INTENT/MEANING.

Slow down, synonyms & audience.  Positive techniques that I can use in future interpretations into English.

Learning from the others in the group & David’s experiences, as well as being less focused on the signs & taking time to summarise.

Trust in my own abilities - as the least qualified member of the team I have often felt that I’ve been struggling to ‘get away with’ working as an interpreter, and that if any of the other team members realised my ability I’d be sacked!  This workshop has made me realise - actually I’m alright!  In fact Voice overs may be my strong point (Hooray!)

The two thing which I will remember is the standing back slowing down techniques and co-working workshop.  in addition to this making up an interpretation which was in no way related to the story.

All the wonderful opportunities to safely practice.  The huge amount of encouragement given. The realisation that “it’s ok I can do this”. WOW.  I loved the fact that there were so many practical elements - well structured.

To slow down & relax when voicing over and that I don’t need to be petrified of doing it.

Was there anything you experienced during the workshop that will impact on your work?

Hmmm.....Nothing new - but it’s great to have spent two days playing with what I already knew .... That said, I’m looking forward to interpreting on Monday.

All of it!! :) I will be more aware of what I already knew and apply the techniques (where appropriate).

Yes.  It’s been invaluable.  It will help me to revisit my practise & to look at implementing some of the above.  I’m going to start by slowing down & going for meaning.

Yes. I will use all above techniques in future work.

Yes ... looking away from the source lang. to work on interpretation .... to gather your thoughts and create a more succinct interpretation.

I will try to apply the techniques so that my voice over is more natural & will also be more aware of my target audience’s needs/

I will try to look away when I am needing to formulate the end of a concept - instead of potentially leaving it hanging.  And using the team working strategy as above.  Re-vist Wadensjo!

Slowing down; “the weak man talks fast because...” (obv. I can speak better than I write!) “..that’s the only way he can be sure people will listen.”

Having other and additional things to talk about with your co-worker pre-booking and also to feel confident that this work is an interpretation.

Practice (with an s) is vital & ever growing.  So having the opportunity to move away from all the detail & to let the meaning just flow out has changed my way of thinking.  Doing this in the past (& present) has brought heavy criticism - but now I know it’s ok.

So much!! From start to finish the workshop has provided me with strategies to overcome my fears and confidence.

It was well paced - nicely led and facilitated.  It felt safe and an invaluable opportunity to share thoughts, concerns, experiences.  A nice balance of theory ‘quotes’ and practical.  David is a very easy person to listen to and understand - very genial and highly knowledgable and experienced.  Thank you.

I really enjoyed the two days and it made me realise why I wanted to become an interpreter in the first place.  How complex it can be and how useful learning from others is.  David was fantastic and made it fun as well as educational and a useful ‘food for thought’ course.

I really loved this workshop.  It’s had the perfect combination of taught stuff and group work. Group work was suitable to a variety of levels, so not bored or too stretched.  David is a genius & so are we!!

ASLI Mid South Coast Region

5th August 2012

What will you remember most about the workshop?

The method taught - having the confidence in interpreting the source content without stumbling over every amount of detail.

The concept of "taking time" and creating "distance"

Moving away from the source - physically.

Everything was brilliant. The dvd practice sessions were an excellent way of evaluating how I interpret BSL-English differently depending on my environment.

Having confidence to move away from detail can improve delivery and does not detract from the message.fantastic day - I found the day a real encouragement. My confidence grew and I learnt coping strategies to enhance my interpreting.

I'm not going to open my mouth until I've got something to say.

That I do not need to voice over every detail, allowing myself more time to consider language choice.

Learning to step back and focus on the message.

Will anything have an impact on your work?

Everything! The need to listen to my own voice and alter according to the audience.

To feel more confident in my voice over delivery, especially in front of colleagues who think that every detail should be interpreted rather than intent or meaning.

The faster you speak, the more danger there is of you making the Deaf person look stupid.

I will not burden coworkers with info that is unnecessary.   I will try to listen to my personal noise.

Lots of things!  Taking ownership of the voiced interpretation and not sweating the small stuff!

The feeling of lack of pressure occasioned by creating distance.

I will take on board this previously unknown method and confidence and apply it to "my interpretation".

Yes, allowing myself to induce the source language information first before opening my GOB and this workshop gave me permission to do that.

Really worthwhile & thoroughly enjoyable training - Thank you.  A very supportive environment & learning from a Master!  Would definitely recommend this course & hopefully will be able to do the 2nd day too.

Admittedly I was a tad reluctant to attend the course purely because of my confidence in this particular area of interpreting & a recent unnerving experience.  However, I am delighted I did attend!  The content & how it was delivered was marvelous! Thank you very much :-)

Highly recommended.

ASLI Mid South Coast Region

4th August 2012

What will you remember most about the workshop?

How much fun it is although I very much valued the reminder to relax and be creative.  It is also good to know that I already think the right way in my approach.

Barriers that have been broken down. Coping strategies learnt and with practice, will be used.

Feeling very nervous at the start and those feelings being dispelled very quickly and being brave!

Thinking outside the box in many different ways.

Not to get hung up on the details but get creative and deliver the meaning.

Good to work with colleagues. Reaffirming and confidence building.

That I'm not the only one who 'misses' detail, and that I can cope & get thru it.  The exercises were really useful from that point of view.

Will anything have an impact on your work?

All of it! However I will relax a lot more and stop freaking out internally.  Nice to know I'm not so bad!

Slower pace of delivery makes easier listening.

Be more adventurous - but appropriately!

Yes! To hopefully give me the confidence to 'go with it' and provide a coherent rendition without stressing the detail.

Not to get too tied up with every detail.  Slow down and take in the relevant detail.

I won't be so afraid of a job that involves voice over in the future as its improved my confidence hugely!

Yes - extra consideration of how far I can move from the source language (BSL into English)

I'd like to spend a bit of time running thru the exercises at home to practice - found taking the time to consider different approaches really useful - not just about knowing the signs.

I think interpreters often know they need to improve their voice-over, but are put off v/o courses as its actually scary - but this was SO not the case today. I never ought I would feel so relaxed and confident (ish) on a v/o course - highly recommended. Thank you. Fabulous day.

Don't stop & if you haven't been on this course then go!

Great workshop. Really feel like I'd like to be here for a second day.

No. Thought it was great - wish is was coming tomorrow.

Remark! Training, London - Holistic Voice Over

9th November 2012

Very enjoyable.  Good mix of theory and practical.  I am the one who asked Remark! to run this course and it has been the best one I have done here.

There were so many things I think my head will be buzzing for a while!  I will especially try and use more synonyms in my voice over because I think that will force me to step back and slow down. The videos were great and I loved the powerpoint!

Supportive environment & knowledgable tutor.  Fantastic!

Lots of participation, well structured discussion points.  Good group size.  Some of the ‘detail’ that I get stuck on is a visual function of the language that is probably irrelevant to the message.

Engaging and collaborative, for me the best way to learn!

Fantastic, well presented.  Exercises forced me out of my comfort zone - Be Brave!  I was really apprehensive about this course and all my worries were washed away!  Thank you!

David is obviously very knowledgable and passionate about interpreting which makes it a fascinating day!  Time just flew. Would like another day tacked on to the end!

Chiic Training, Newport - Holistic Voice Over

15 Sept 2012

I’ve really enjoyed today and have learnt a lot, thank you very much.  Very suitable videos, all the different subjects helped.

The techniques taught will definitely change the way of voicing over & actually makes it less scary.

Freedom to explore how I voice over.  I really enjoyed the day.I hope that I will have more depth to my voiceovers now that I am not afraid to play with the language.  Some things felt wrong at first but the end result was a much more natural interpretation.

A different viewpoint for developing voiceover skills moving from obsession to detail to natural sounding messages.  I now have an understanding and awareness that if I become bogged down in detail the English target message sounds unnatural.

Remark! Training, London - Holistic Voice Over

23rd February 2013

Best bits: Being forced to think in different ways.  Trying things out.  Discussion.  All fab and totally valuable.

Brilliant, interactive, intensive.  Honestly don’t have a bad word to say.

I really enjoyed being encouraged to think outside of the box.  I feel I have learned techniques today that are directly transferable into the ‘real’ world and that I will use.

Best bits:  The opportunity to practice the theory in a safe environment.  Most courses are too theory based without the practical opportunity whereas this course was the complete opposite.  Highly recommend.

Very well delivered and enjoyable. 

Best bits: Informal and time to try out what we had learnt.