The two main forms of interpretation are simultaneous and consecutive. The simultaneous interpreter listens to speeches through headphones, normally sitting in a sound-proof booth, and interprets into a microphone for those listeners who have their headsets tuned to the interpreter's specific channel. In consecutive interpretation, no equipment is necessary. The interpreter makes notes to recall what is being said and, once the speaker has finished, gives his or her interpretation. Since both modes of interpretation are used in the profession, programs that specialize in conference interpreting usually include course work in each.
Translation involves written texts.
Course work may be oriented toward literary translation, which includes novels and poetry, or toward non-literary translation, such as scientific, technical, and commercial documents. The first consideration to take into account is whether a career in interpretation or translation is the best choice for you. When deciding on a career, people often focus on the pay and prestige generally associated with that career. But one factor that should not be overlooked is the extent to which you are likely to be personally satisfied by a career in the field. To find out, explore the profession by talking with people who are professional interpreters or translators.