The document summarizes the official launch of an English-Vietnamese DVD on interpreting skills produced by a partnership between universities in Vietnam, the UK, and Ireland with EU funding. The DVD contains 7 units covering key interpreting topics and was piloted with 100 trainees from Vietnamese government and international organizations. It aims to improve interpreting training and professionalism in Vietnam as the country increases its international engagement.

1. English-Vietnamese version DVD on interpreting officially launched
15:28 | 25/11/2005
CPV: The official launch of the Interpreting Asia – Interpreting Europe DVD in the
framework of the EU-funded Asialink project was organized by the Hanoi University of
Foreign Studies (HUFS) and its partners, the University of Westminster (UK), the
Dublin City University (Ireland) and the Xiamen University (China), on November
17th, at the head office of HUFS.
The launch was witnessed by the representatives of the Vietnamese Ministry of Education
and Training, the EC Delegation to Vietnam, embassies, international organizations in
Vietnam, interpreters-training institutions, and media agencies at central and local level.
With the total grant of 300,000 Euros for 2 years (2004-2005), the EU-funded Asialink
Interpreting Asia-Interpreting Europe project aims to upgrade the skills of university teaching
staff in general and the teaching staff of HUFS in particular, especially young faculty
members and future professionals.
This English-Vietnamese version DVD contains seven units on interpreting: the role of the
interpreter, public speaking, concentration and memory, note-taking, coping tactics, cultural
awareness, and professionalism.
Each unit is divided into four sections: presenter-highlighting the key issues in each unit and
guiding learners through the other three sections; studio drama-showing some of the dire
consequences of poor interpreting practice; experts-through interviews, leading European and
Vietnamese interpreters share their experience and offer practical advice to trainee liaison
interpreters, and documentaries-screening experienced liaison interpreters working in a
variety of interpreting situations in Vietnam.
“Interpreting Asia-Interpreting Europe” DVD is the product of the successful cooperation
among the four project members from four above-mentioned partner universities, in which
the UK and Ireland transfer interpreters training skills to Vietnam and China.
Further to working sessions and two training workshops in London (April 30th 2004-May 9th
2004) and in Dublin (January 7th 2005-January 16th 2005), the Asialink project team applied
the DVD draft version to the Asialink interpreting course held at HUFS from February 28th

2. 2005 to March 4th 2005 for about 100 trainees coming from various ministries, embassies,
international organizations, universities, Hanoi Department of Foreign Affairs, and media
agencies.
The course was highly appreciated by the learners whose comments have been taken into
consideration for further improvements and completion of this DVD.
“Interpreting Asia-Interpreting Europe” DVD offers an additional source of valuable human
resources development materials for those concerned with training liaison interpreters,
upgrading professionalism and status for interpreting trainers (English-Vietnamese and
Vietnamese-English); contributing to interpreting skills development in Vietnam in the
context of its integration into the global economy; increasing the awareness of the role of the
interpreters for Vietnamese staff working in international organizations and international
relation agencies; and improving awareness of the importance of interpreters for users of
liaison interpreters in Vietnam.
“Interpreting Asia-Interpreting Europe” DVD will work as a bridge helping remove the
language barrier, boost Vietnam's regional and international integration process where
English is the major language of communication.
After this launch, HUFS will continue conducting interpreting courses for those who are
interested. Future courses will focus on developing practical interpreting skills on the basis of
the theory presented in this DVD.
Anh Tuan
http://dangcongsan.vn/cpv/Modules/News_English/News_Detail_E.aspx?CN_ID=6258&CO
_ID=30587

3. More information:
Hanoi University of Foreign Studies (HUFS) team:
Nguyen Xuan Vang, Le Thanh Dung, Nguyen Quy Tam, Dang Xuan Thu, Pham Ngoc Thach,
Tran Huy Phuong, Ngo Tuyet Mai, Nguyen Thanh Ha, Luong Ngoc Minh, Pham Minh Nguyet
Project Director: Professor Jack Lonergan
University of Westminster
2005