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Unveiling the strengths and weaknesses of technology in interpreter training

A literature survey

ORCID logo | Hong Kong Metropolitan University
Thanks to the advancement of technology, there has been much growth in research on integrating technologies into language teaching and learning over the past few decades. The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the development of educational technology and online learning. While the use of technology has been extensively investigated and reviewed in English language teaching contexts, especially in English as a second/foreign language, computer-assisted interpreter training (CAIT) has been under-researched and reviewed. This paper aims to provide an aerial view of ways in which interpreting learning has been reconciled with different types of technological tools explored in the existing literature. It traces how these tools have been incorporated into interpreter training over time, discusses studies on CAIT, and provides some insights into research needs for future work. The paper discusses, evaluates, and analyses previous research on CAIT based on the three main types of technologies/tools used in interpreter training — computer-assisted interpreting (CAI) tools, virtual reality (VR), and a combination of mobile and virtual/extended reality (VR/XR) technologies. Prior research on CAIT has generally indicated that the benefits of CAIT outweigh the shortcomings. While there has been steady growth in research on CAIT, this paper concludes that more theory-grounded experiential studies are needed to explore the effectiveness and factors influencing multiple emerging technologies in various language contexts.
Keywords: computer-assisted interpreter training (CAIT), interpreting teaching and learning, mobile learning, review, virtual reality
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Technologies and tools
    • 2.1CAI tools
      • 2.1.1Definitions of CAI tools
      • 2.1.2Advantages of CAI tools
      • 2.1.3Limitations of CAI tools
    • 2.2VR
      • 2.2.1Rationales for using VR
      • 2.2.2Major platforms
        • 2.2.2.1Second Life
        • 2.2.2.2Interpreting in Virtual Reality (IVY)
      • 2.2.3Benefits and limitations
    • 2.3Combination of mobile and VR/XR technologies
      • 2.3.1Mobile-assisted language learning (MALL)
      • 2.3.2Combination of mobile and VR technologies
      • 2.3.3Combination of mobile and XR technologies
  • 3.Future studies and conclusion
  • Author queries
  • References
This content is being prepared for publication; it may be subject to changes.
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