Extemporaneity, note-taking over-reliance, and the need for high pressure environment functionality by no
means sum up all the specific aspects of interpretation. These aspects are however all things that can be improved
upon within language learning tasks and as such formed the basis for this research. The essential focus of this study
was: how to build appropriate extemporaneous language tasks that will challenge students to produce language
without significant periods for preparation, force them to manage relatively complex information through the use of
their memory faculties, as opposed to using notes, and how to feel more confident about the process of performance
in which extemporaneity is required and second chances are not an option? To this end an exercise was developed
by considering the direct observation of students training to be interpreters, looking at interpretation as a task, and
examining the field of forensics and its understanding of impromptu and extemporaneous exercises. To assess the
classroom activity developed in terms of its efficacy, students in a graduate level interpretation and translation
program were asked to assess their speaking skills before and after the activity. This paper begins by looking at the
field of forensics and assesses the usefulness of their impromptu and extemporaneous speaking tasks with regards to
training interpreters. After that the students that participated in this study are profiled, the methodology of the study
and details of the classroom exercise are explained thoroughly before examining the results of students’ perceived
improvements. Beyond that some closing remarks and suggestions for further study bring this paper to a close.