Piet J. Koene Professor of Spanish, Translation & Interpreting; Department Chair

PietKoene

Education:
M.A., Monterey Institute for International Studies
M.A., University of Toronto
B.A., Calvin College

712-707-7051
koene@nwciowa.edu
VPH bsmt

Professor Koene is a certified translator and interpreter who has earned two master's degrees: one in interpretation and translation, and the other in Latin American history. He was Iowa’s Professor of the Year for 2004, chosen for that honor by the Carnegie Foundation and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education.

In addition to his duties as Northwestern College, he is a federal certified court interpreter, as well as a state-certified court interpreter for Iowa and Minnesota, and also a nationally certified medical interpreter. He has also served as president of the Iowa Interpreters and Translators Association, leads interpreting workshops, and has taught online graduate interpreting courses.

SPA311 - Advanced Spanish Conversation

(1 credit) The main goal of this course is to improve oral communication, which includes speaking as well as listening, comprehension. Since successful communication also involves cultural awareness of the Spanish speaker's feelings, thoughts and attitudes, part of this course involves studying sources of these important underlying constructs. Prerequisite: SPA201LA or equivalent proficiency.Note: Taught in Spanish. Course repeated a minimum of 3 terms. Graded on a pass/no pass basis.

SPA327 - Hispanics in the United States

(3 credits, alternate years, consult department) A wide-ranging study of the current situation of Hispanics in the United States. After an historical overview, a thematic approach will be taken to better understand the role of Hispanics in the United States and their growing influence. Possible topics include demographics, voting tendencies, purchasing power, Hispanic media, religion, labor laws, immigration, Spanglish and bilingualism, among others. Using interviews and research, the course will conclude with a study of our Hispanic neighbors here in northwest Iowa. Prerequisites: SPA202 and one 3-credit 300-level course.Note: Taught in Spanish.

SPA331 - Introduction to Translation and Interpreting

(3 credits) An introduction to the related fields of translation and interpreting. Students will be introduced to the different theories and techniques of translation and interpreting, the differences between the two fields and within each field, ethical and moral considerations for translators and interpreters, the role of translating and the translator as well as interpreting and the interpreter, and the modes of interpreting including consecutive, simultaneous and sight-translation. Students will apply the theoretical principals by working primarily from their B language to their A language for both translation and interpreting. Prerequisites: SPA202 and two 3-credit 300 level Spanish courses, or by permission of instructor.

SPA332 - Interpreting I

(3 credits, alternate years, consult department) An in-depth study of interpreting at the introductory level between Spanishand English, with both theoretical background knowledge and applied practice included. Specific topic areas covered involve legal, medical and religious interpreting. Prerequisites: SPA331.

SPA333 - Interpreting II

(3 credits; alternate years, consult department ) An intermediate level course taken after completion of Interpreting I, students will continue to strengthen their skills in sight-translation and short and long consecutive interpreting while beginning in-depth study of simultaneous interpreting. Students will reinforce their interpreting techniques by applying consecutive interpreting strategies to simultaneous interpreting. Course material will broaden from legal, medical and religious interpreting to include other areas such as science and politics, and will include continued discussion of moral, ethical and Christian considerations for interpreters. Although primarily from Language B to A, students will also begin to interpret from their A language into their B language more and more. Prerequisites: SPA331 & 332.

SPA334 - Interpreting III

(3 credits; alternate years, consult department) An advanced level course taken after completion of Interpreting II, studentswill consolidate their skills in sight-translation and short and long consecutive interpreting while primarily focusing on simultaneous interpreting. Students will deepen and reinforce their simultaneous interpreting abilities with the addition of new strategies, skills building exercises and practice techniques. Course material will include a broad range of materials from the legal, medical, religious, scientific, political and other fields and will increasingly be from real-world situations.Continued discussion of moral, ethical and Christian considerations for interpreters. Students will interpret both from their B language into their A language as well as A to B. Prerequisites: SPA 331, 332 & 333.

SPA336 - Translation I

(3 credits, alternate years, consult department) This course is an introduction to the theory, methods, techniques andproblems involved in basic translation. The first half of the semester will focus mostly on translating from Spanish to English. The second half of the course will involve general material from specific areas of life: popular culture, music, social sciences, education, business, medicine, the legal profession, etc., with translation exercises from both Spanish to English and English to Spanish. Prerequisites: SPA331.

SPA337 - Translation II

(3 credits; alternate years, consult department) An intermediate level course taken after completion of Translation I, students will continue to strengthen their skills in translation by becoming more adept at applying the theory, methods and techniques first introduced in earlier courses. Course material will come from a broad array of legal, medical, religious, scientific and political sources, as well as materials stemming from community needs. Although primarily from Language B to A, students will also increasingly translate from their A language into their B language more and more. Prerequisites: SPA 331 & 336.

SPA338 - Translation III

(3 credits, alternate years, consult department) An advanced level course taken after completion of Translation II, studentswill consolidate their skills in translation. Students will learn how to improve earlier translations (either from their own translation or from others) as they target their translations for specific audiences. Course material will come from a broad array of legal, medical, religious, scientific and political sources, as well as materials stemming from community needs. Course material will be longer in nature and more challenging than that of Translation II. Students will translate both fromtheir Language B into their Language A as well as A to B. Prerequisites: SPA331, 336 & 337.

SPA344 - Practicum in Spanish

(2 credits) Designed for advanced Spanish students, this practicum gives students the opportunity to practice their Spanish on a daily basis in a Spanish speaking environment. Emphasis is placed on the development of oral communication, both speaking and listening. Placement opportunities include, but are not limited to, living in the Northwestern College Spanish house or with a Spanish speaking Hispanic family. Prerequisite: SPA202. Enrollment through permission of modern foreign languages department.Note: Minimum 14 week placement to receive credit. Graded on a pass/no pass basis. May be repeated. Up to four credits may be applied to the major.

SPA365 - Special Topics in Language

(2-4 credits) A study of topics in Spanish language and culture not fully covered in other Spanish courses in response to student or faculty interests.Note: May be taken more than once, provided a different topic is studied.

SPA398 - Directed Study

SPA417 - Internship

(2 credits may apply toward the major or minor)

“Biblical Righteousness and Justice: Challenges for the Spanish-English Interpreter”, published in the Journal of Christianity and Foreign Languages, Vol. 14, Spring 2013.Professional Trainer, Translator Workshops, Advanced English to Spanish and Advanced Spanish to English Translation for Professional Translators, Nebraska Association of Translators and Interpreters (NATI), August 1-3, 2013.

Professional Trainer, Advanced Consecutive Interpretation Workshop for Professional Interpreters, Iowa Interpreters and Translators Association (IITA), June 29, 2013.

Professional Trainer, Interpreter Workshops, Sight Translation for Advanced Interpreters, Spanish-English, & Pitfalls of English-Spanish: Advanced Grammar Review for Interpreters, Nebraska Association of Translators and Interpreters, August 4-6, 2011

“The State of Undergraduate and Graduate Programs in T&I”, paper presented at Iowa Interpreters and Translators Association (IITA), June 11, 2011

“Interpreting: ‘The Commoditization of Language’ or ‘Bridging the Communications Gap that Sin Created’?” Paper presented at NACFLA (North American Christian Foreign Language Association); April 2011

“The Price of Justice”, published in Proteus, Volume XIX No 3, Fall 2010.

"The Price of Justice: Interpretation Costs in the Legal System and a Christian Perspective," paper presented at North American Christian Foreign Language Association (NACFLA) conference, 2008

"Professional Court Interpretation & the Christian Professor," paper presented at NACFLA, March 2007, and published in the Journal of Christianity and Foreign Languages, Vol. 9, spring 2008

"Integrating the Bible Into the Language Classroom: A Practical Approach to Key Biblical Passages and Their Relevance to Language," paper presented at NACFLA, April 2003

"Compliance or Revolution: Historical Reasons for Acquiescence and Deference in Honduran Culture," paper presented at NACFLA, April 2001

Translator and Interpreter, State District & State Juvenile Courts, northwestern Iowa counties and southwestern Minnesota.

Translator and Interpreter, Federal District Courts

Notary Public.

Certified Medical Interpreter by the National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters. 

Christian Association of World Languages (president, 2007-09)

National Association of Judiciary Interpreters and Translators

Iowa Interpreters and Translators Association (Board Member, 2012-currently)

Nebraska Association of Translators and Interpreters

American Translators Association

Exemplary Service to the Profession Award, Iowa Interpreters and Translators Association, 2012

Professional Interpretation and Translation Certification, Monterey Institute, 2009

State Certified Court Interpreter, Iowa, 2006

Federal Certified Court Interpreter, 2019

U.S. Professor of the Year (Iowa), Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and Council for Advancement and Support of Education, 2004

Teaching Excellence Award, Northwestern College, 2003, 2018

Faculty Inspirational Service Award, Northwestern College, 2018

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