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| Peace Boat is currently recruiting English/Japanese and Spanish/Japanese
interpreters for the 68th voyage departing Japan November 25, 2009 and
returning March 10, 2010. These volunteers will act as a bridge for
exchange between international guests onboard, local people in ports and
Japanese speaking participants. |
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does the work involve? |
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Interpretation of lectures onboard and translation of handouts — You will interpret the lectures that guest educators give onboard. There are on average three or four lectures each day, covering topics such as the environment, human rights, regional conflicts, globalization, North-South politics, international relations, conflict resolution, the United Nations and NGO activity, as well as the history, society, culture and current political situation of countries on the voyage itinerary. There is both consecutive and simultaneous interpreting. You will also translate the various documents that educators wish to use in their lectures, and be required to do background study and hold meetings with guest educators prior to lectures. Other events such as information sessions, NGO forums and so on will also require interpretation. |
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Interpreting and group leading during programmes in port — In port, you will be interpreting the local English-speaking/Spanish speaking guides who accompany the study, exchange and sightseeing programmes that we organise. You will also work with a member of Peace Boat staff coordinating the participants during the programme. |
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Interpreting during informal get-togethers — There are many events organised onboard to let guest educators and participants get to know each other better in an informal setting. However, as many of the participants do not speak English/Spanish, you will use your linguistic skills to act as a bridge between the two parties. |
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Guest educator care — You will often accompany non-Japanese speaking guest educators to lunch and dinner, or to events onboard that are in Japanese only, to help them more fully enjoy their time with us and to get to know the non-English/non-Spanish speaking participants better. This will include both guest lecturers and international students onboard. |
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Translation and interpretation — The position also involves translation and interpretation of various office documents and information necessary for the running of the ship. Items which may require translation/interpretation include:
- Translation of guest educators' introductions and summaries of lectures
- Creation of documents such as background information regarding lecture themes, key points, specialist vocabulary etc
- Translation of information regarding actions in port
- Translation of the daily schedule and newspaper, which is produced in Japanese each day
- Support of the advance team in ports
- Translation of various items necessary for running of the ship
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Language classes — You will also be required to support the various language classes (English and Spanish) held regularly onboard.
Previous onboard guest educators
Around two months of every Peace Boat voyage is spent at sea. As an international NGO, Peace Boat invites a diverse range of guest educators from around the world to join the voyage. In order to make a fulfilling experience in ports also, various onboard lectures, workshops and seminars are planned. Interpreters have the greatest opportunity to closely plan events and develop a close relationship with these international guest educators.
The following list is a sample of some previous guest educators (in alphabetical order).
- Abdulkarim Abulhaija (Jordan, Former Director-General of the Department of Palestinian Affairs)
- Dennis Banks / Nowa Cumig (US, Founder of American Indian Movement, indigenous leader, teacher, activist and author)
- Nenad Fiser (Bosnia/The Netherlands, Analyst at International Criminal Tribunal for ex-Yugoslavia in den Haag, Holland)
- Ana Francis Gongora (El Salvador, Consultant on Women's Issues)
- Johan Galtung (Norway, Peace Studies professor, representative of Peace and Development Network 'Transcend')
- Le Ly Hayslip (Viet Nam, author of work the film "Heaven and Earth" was based on)
- Felicity Hill (Australia, former Peace and Security Adviser to the United Nations Development Fund for Women, currently Greenpeace International Disarmament Policy Adviser)
- Chandra Muzafar (Malaysia, President of International Movement for a Just World)
- Ricardo Navarro (El Salvador, Representative of environmental NGO network 'Friends of the Earth International')
- Sean O'Boyle (Ireland, International Coordinator of the Glencree Reconciliation Center)
- Park Jung-Eun (South Korea, Peoples Solidarity for Participatory Democracy)
- Paul Saoke (Kenya, Director of Physicians for Social Responsibility)
- Gabriel Tetiarahi (Tahiti, Anti-nuclear and independence activist and director of NGO Hiti Tau)
- Kathleen Sullivan (US, Educator for Social Responsibility, New York)
- Joanna Thomas (South Africa, Nonviolence trainer)
- Achin Vanaik (India, Anti-nuclear activist and professor at Delhi University)
- Wang Ming (China, Director of Non-Governmental Organization Research Center, Tsinghua University, Beijing)
- Dr. Waqar Al-Kubaisy (Iraq, University professor and medical doctor)
- Alyn Ware (New Zealand/Aotearoa, Peace Education trainer and Coordinator of the Parliamentarian Network for Nuclear Disarmament)
- Judge Christopher Weeramantry (Sri Lanka, former Vice President of the International Court of Justice, Chairman of the Weeramantry International Centre for Peace Education and Research)
- Cora Weiss (US, President of the Hague Appeal for Peace)
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| What
are the conditions? |
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You must be fluent in both Japanese and either English or Spanish. |
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You should be interested, have background knowledge and be able to interpret university level lectures on international affairs, current events, politics and socio-cultural issues (previous topics include North-South issues, the environment, regional conflicts, poverty, nationalism, nuclear issues, racial discrimination, civil society, indigenous peoples, development and international organs). |
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You must be available for the entire duration of the
cruise as well as for the orientation which starts a week before the
departure. Spanish interpreters may choose to join for only the Latin
American sections of the voyage.
Experience in interpreting for conferences or taking interpreting
classes is desirable. |
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As this position is on a volunteer basis, there is no salary. However, Peace Boat will cover the cost of the the voyage, insurance, required visas and the cost of any programmes in port you join as an interpreter. Personal expenditure onboard (including drinks, laundry service etc) or in the ports of call is your own responsibility. |
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Language requirements |
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Applicants who pass the first selection stage will be required to attend the Peace Boat office in Tokyo (Takadanobaba) for an oral and written test. While the results of language proficiency tests as written in your resume is only a guide, however the average language levels of previous volunteer interpreters is as below:
Japanese: Japanese Language Proficiency Test Level 1
English: above TOEFL (PBT) 600, (CBT) 250, IBT (100) / TOEIC 900
Spanish: Spanish Evaluación Oficial del Conocimiento de la Lengua
Española Level 2 or higher, Diploma de Español como Lengua
Extranjera(DELE) Intermedio or higher
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How to apply |
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Selection Procedure
Stage 1: Submission of documents
Stage 2: Interview, consecutive interpreting test
Please send in Applicant's Personal Data (DOWNLOAD HERE), your resume in
English and Japanese (or Spanish and Japanese) along with an essay
covering the topic 'Why I would like to join the Peace Boat' (one side
A4) in English and Japanese (or Spanish and Japanese). Please be sure to
write your email address (if applicable) on your resume, and make clear
on the envelope that it contains application documents for the position
of interpreter on the applicable voyage. Applications are also accepted
through e-mail.
Application Deadline: August 3, 2009
*Please do not attach a photo on your resumes. We will be asking for a
photo if you come in for an interview.
*If you are interested in becoming an interpreter in both
English-Japanese and Spanish-Japanese, please send in resumes and
essays in all three languages (Japanese, English and Spanish)
The second selection stage (interview and consecutive interpreting test)
will be held only for those who successfully pass the first stage. For
applicants who are overseas, it is possible to arrange a telephone
interview. |
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| Positions are available for each voyage |
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Peace Boat is currently recruiting English/Japanese and Spanish/Japanese
interpreters for the 68th voyage departing Japan November 25, 2009 and
returning March 10, 2009. For all enquiries regarding the volunteer
interpreter position, please use the following contact details. It is
possible that relevant information regarding this position might not be
able to be provided at other events and information sessions held at the
regional Peace Boat Centres or by Japan Grace/Peace Boat.
For further information about the Communication Coordinator position,
please also see the Japanese language information page here.
PEACE BOAT
Attn: Yuko Oaku
Address: 3-13-1-B1 Takadanobaba, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 169-0075, Japan
Tel: (81) - 3 - 3363 - 8047
Fax: (81) - 3 - 3363 - 7562
E-mail: tsuyaku[a]peaceboat.gr.jp
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