Because memory is such an important component of consecutive interpretation, this chapter begins with six memory exercises (Tape 4B), which are designed to help you improve your memory skills before beginning to practice consecutive interpretation. They are placed in a logical sequence so that you can work on the individual components of consecutive interpretation and gradually put them together to form a whole. Each of the six lessons illustrates a type of exercise that aids in the development of consecutive interpreting skills; you can use these as models and make up your own exercises if you feel you need to work more on one or more aspects of memory.

The first two lessons are really listening exercises; many people overlook listening as a component of memory, but it should not be taken for granted. Often, errors in consecutive interpretation occur because the interpreter was not using good listening skills. For example, if you become bogged down in details and fail to grasp the overall meaning of a passage, you will not be able to recall it correctly. Thus, Lesson 1 emphasizes zeroing in on the main idea. If you allow yourself to be distracted by an unfamiliar word, an idea you disagree with, or an emotional reaction to vulgar language or incorrect usage, you may stop listening to the rest of the passage and you will not be able to recall it accurately. On the other hand, if you strongly agree with a statement or have a personal association with what the speaker is saying, you will be better able to recall the message.

Therefore, it is important to be aware of your own reactions to statements and to suppress negative reactions that might impede your retention. If you have a strong positive reaction to a statement, be careful not to state it more forcefully than the original or add information that was not originally stated. Lesson 2 consists of a controversial passage designed to help you become aware of how personal reactions can impede retention and recall, or conversely, how identification with the speaker can enhance these skills.

Lesson 3 illustrates the value of focusing on key words as an aid to memory. Whether you write down these words or make a mental note of them, they help you organize the ideas into a meaningful structure that is easier to recall than a mere string of disjointed words. One problem that novice interpreters frequently encounter is excessive note taking; they devote so much energy to scribbling notes that they fail to listen to the speaker, and the result is a jumble of illegible notes that may do more harm than good. It is important to regard notes as an aid to memory, not as a substitute for it. Focusing on key words gives you the discipline to write only what you need to help you retrieve ideas from your memory.

Lesson 4 is designed to show you how much you can remember without taking any notes, provided that the original message is clear and logical; it also helps if the content lends itself to visualization. The more coherent the original message, the more you can retain. Conversely, an illogical or disjointed statement is very difficult to retain (unfortunately, many witnesses' testimony falls into the latter category). Also, if you are unfamiliar with the subject matter, you have more trouble remembering the message. Therefore, the more knowledgeable you are about the subjects that are likely to come up in courtroom testimony, the greater capacity you will have to retain the information.

In Lesson 5, you will have an opportunity to try note taking again, after you have discovered how little you really need to take down. Some interpreters take very few notes, writing down only names and numbers, while other interpreters take copious notes. It is a good idea to experiment with note taking to determine what works best for you. You will find that with some speakers and some subject matters, you will take more notes than with others. Eventually, you will develop your own style of note taking, and you will be able to adapt it to different speakers and subjects.

Finally, Lesson 6 contains questions and answers that are typical of the length and detail of the testimony you will be expected to interpret in court. Once you are able to recall these passages accurately, you are ready to move on to the consecutive interpreting exercises. Even after you have completed all the tapes, you may want to return to these exercises occasionally (or make up similar exercises of your own) to hone your memory skills.