A Comparative Assessment of Listening Span and Self-Efficacy in Simultaneous Interpreting Training

Abstract

This study compares the results obtained from a group of interpreting trainees in an adapted listening span test (cognitive dimension), with those obtained from this same group in two self-efficacy tests (personality dimension). The objective is to assess the predictive value of these tests with respect to the scores obtained by the subjects in a simultaneous interpreting test. The analysis of data leads us to the conclusion that, at least in an initial training phase in simultaneous interpreting, only the cognitive factors (measured here in terms of listening span) show a significant and positive predictive capacity of the quality in simultaneous interpreting. In this regard, personality factors (measured here in terms of self-efficacy) offer results contradictory to the expectations or no significant correlation values.