IST course: Heritage interpretation for multicultural audiences -
a challenge for non-formal adult education in protected areas, historic sites, museums and other tourism destinations
Course reference number: LI-2012-002-001
Session ID: 42232
This detailed course description follows the structure of Grundtvig's In-Service Training course database.
Institution organising the training
CIPRA International (in cooperation with Interpret Europe)
Im Bretscha 22 · FL-9494 Schaan · Liechtenstein
Person 1 (Interpret Europe, registration):
Patrick Lehnes
Ph. +49 761 47 66 021
mail@interpret-europe.net
Person 2 (local organisation):
Aurelia Ullrich
Ph. +423 237 53 08 · Fax +423 237 53 54
Aurelia.Ullrich@cipra.org
Type of Training
Training aimed at participants receiving a Grundtvig grant (adult education).
Target audiences
- Headteachers/principals/managers of organisations offering adult education
(this includes non-formal education at heritage sites, museum, parks and other protected areas or tourism destinations)
- Others, namely: translators who translate educational/interpretive texts at natural and cultural heritage sites / attractions, museums; site managers, heritage interpreters, museum staff, non-formal education providers, authors of information provided at heritage sites
Thematic fields of training
- Cultural heritage
- Environment and sustainable development
- Geography
- History and social science
- Media & communication
- Other: inter-cultural understanding
Languages used for the training and training materials:
English
Full description of the training contents
Objectives
Non-formal education at protected areas, national parks, historic sites, museums and other visitor destinations is increasingly expected to address international audiences as well as local communities, many of which now include ethnic and other minorities. As a result, they offer multilingual and, often, multicultural educational and information services such as guided visits, exhibitions, self-guided tours etc. These represent a major opportunity to foster appreciation of European diversity, and to further mutual understanding among different peoples and cultures.
However, it is still common practice to produce foreign language versions of written or spoken text by conventional sentence-by-sentence and literal translations of material that has been designed with mono-cultural domestic visitors in mind. Such a procedure not only fails to address the cultural differences between different domestic and international visitors it also results, frequently, in stilted and inaccurate translations providing wrong 'messages'. This wide-spread shortcoming can be overcome by using heritage interpretation techniques and employing competent writers who are wholly fluent speakers as well as writers in one or more foreign languages.
The purpose of this course is to train participants in the methods of ‘re-interpretation‘ aimed at diverse domestic as well as foreign audiences taking cultural differences, as well as linguistic differences, into account. This will be in marked contrast to traditional presentation and translation of didactic texts.
- Site and museum managers, curators and heritage interpreters will gain an understanding of how to plan and implement non-formal adult education that addresses, effectively, both, domestic and international audiences.
- Writers and translators who prepare text for non-formal adult education will gain an understanding of the methodology of heritage interpretation, and will be trained in reinterpreting chosen passages of text in cooperation with heritage interpreters and curators.
- All participants will experience inter-cultural learning in practice and reflect its value and challenges during the course.
Preparation
Participants are advised to read chapters 1 to 6 of the book Interpreting our Heritage by Freeman Tilden. Heritage interpretation is an approach to non-formal education that links what can be seen on-site with the visitors' own background, experiences, interests and values. In that way, skilled heritage interpreters build intellectual and emotional connections between their target audiences and the site or subject matter.
In addition, participants should complete a questionnaire about their experience in bi-lingual / multi-lingual and multi-cultural heritage interpretation or similar work such as linguistic translation. The questionnaire should inform the trainers about the professional background of the participant, whether he or she is concerned principally with education about natural or cultural heritage, or manages / undertakes person-to-person interpretation or provides / writes / translates media such as publications, exhibitions, self-guided trails, interpretive panels, websites etc.
Methodology
The course is open to any person involved in the design and implementation of informal education through exhibitions, self-guided trails, thematic routes, guided tours, guide books, websites and visits etc. This includes, specifically translators as well as writers of original text, and curators and managers of natural and cultural heritage sites. The course does not assume that participants will already be familiar with the methodology of heritage interpretation. Participants must be able to speak English at a level that allows them to present and discuss educational issues, in particular those relating to the presentation and understanding of text, its form and style and its meaning.
Ideally, participants will represent a range of different stakeholders which will allow for peer-learning approaches and sharing different perspectives within the group.
Participants will have the task of preparing, jointly, draft guidelines for good practices in bi-lingual / multi-lingual / multi-cultural interpretation.
The course will employ a variety of methods ranging from short introductory presentations by the trainers to interactive practical activities, role playing, short presentations by participants, small group work and plenary discussions. A site visit will allow for critical evaluation of translations / re-interpretation practice.
All methods will be explained and reflected on. The final session will be allocated to the completion of an evaluation questionnaire.
Follow-up
As part of the course, participants will prepare a strategy on knowledge transfer for their own institutions and on dissemination of the course results. After three months, they will be encouraged to share their experience and achievements in a closed discussion forum.
In addition, after three months, participants will be invited to send comments and complementary thoughts to develop further the inter-cultural guidelines that resulted from the course. This feedback will be processed by Interpret Europe and evaluated with regard to the further development of professional standards and recommendations.
In accordance with Interpret Europe's mission, participants will be invited to take part in its networking activities to further good practice in heritage interpretation and to develop joint international activities with others involved in informal adult education.
Programme of the training activities (day by day)
Day 1:
Arrival: welcome and introduction session after lunch. The role of CIPRA in promoting education for sustainable development. Preview on the course. Introduction to the approach of heritage interpretation. Opportunities for international networking through Interpret Europe.
Day 2:
Key factors for success (1): Freeman Tilden's Principles of Interpretation numbers one to three (“relate to the visitor's personality”, “interpretation is much more than mere information”, “interpretation is an art”) and their application to informal education at natural and cultural heritage sites. Knowledge transfer and dissemination strategy.
Day 3:
Museum visit in Chur: evaluation of experiences by participants with different language skills and cultural backgrounds. Consequences for bi-lingual and multi-lingual heritage interpretation.
Day 4:
Key factors for success (2): Tilden's Principles of Interpretation numbers four and five (“the chief aim is not instruction, but provocation”, “present a whole and address the whole man”). Consequences for bi-lingual and multi-lingual interpretation. Interpretive planning and design: setting objectives, thematic approaches and preparation of story lines. Differentiation of educational / interpretational goals for domestic and international visitors.
Day 5:
Development of media mix. Integrating bi-lingual and multi-lingual re-interpretation into project management. Putting together the good practice guidelines. Evaluation of the course. Conclusion.
Type of certification of attendance awarded
- Certificate of attendance including description of training content and time input
- Recognised qualification
Dates and venue
Date of start: 29 June 2012, 13:00 CEST (with lunch)
End of the course: 3 July 2012, 15:00 CET
Deadline for registration: 16 January 2012
Venue: Hotel Kulm, Triesenberg, Liechtenstein
http://www.hotelkulm.li (German language website with many pictures)
Nearest city: Vaduz (FL) Distance in km: 6 km
Nearest international airport: Zurich Distance in km: 115
(about 2 hours by train and bus from Zurich airport)
Maximum number of participants envisaged: 25
Identification of the trainers
Patrick Lehnes, Germany, geographer, 15 years’ international experience in interpretive planning and writing; Certified Interpretive Trainer, Lecturer at University of Freiburg, Executive Director of Interpret Europe
Michael H. Glen, UK, 40 years’ involvement in interpretation, 25 years’ experience in interpretive planning and preparation of interpretive texts, contributor of MSc in Interpretation Planning and Management, course leader in creative writing for interpretation, self-employed consultant and writer, Chair of Interpret Europe.
Fees
Tutition fee for the training including materials: 750 €
Fee for accommodation and meals: 760 €
This package for seminar participants includes
- 4 nights
- all meals from lunch 29 June to 3 July except for the site visit lunch
- mineral water for all meals and breaks
- coffee and snacks for the breaks
- use of seminar facilities
If you need an additional night at the hotel before or after the course, please contact the hotel and make an individual arrangement (bed and breakfast for a maximum of 105 €).
Cancellation rules
No cancellation fee will be charged for cancellations before 1 June 2012.
The cancellation fee of 400 € applies for cancellations between 1 June and 24 June 2012.
For cancellations after 24 June 2012 no refund is possible.
Provision for special needs
The hotel is suitable for wheelchair users and able to meet a variety of dietary requirements if specified in advance with registration.
Additional important information on this course session
This course is jointly organised by CIPRA International and Interpret Europe – European Association for Heritage Interpretation e.V.
CIPRA is responsible for the local organisation in Liechtenstein.
Interpret Europe is responsible for registration, training and issuing the course certificates.