Episodes
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From Language Lover to Interpreter: A Conversation with Athena Matilsky
Athena shares her journey into interpreting, which began with a love for Spanish. Athena describes the differences between medical and court interpreting. She also emphasizes the importance of rigorous training, self-evaluation, and preparing for challenging certification exams. Athena reveals her passion for interpreting under pressure, her geeky approach to mastering interpreting skills, and the importance of community among interpreters.
LINKS
GLENDON WORKSHOPS - https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/ticketing/mcis-shop
US COURTS FED INTERPRETER CERT: https://www.uscourts.gov/court-programs/federal-court-interpreters/federal-court-interpreter-certification-examination
UNITED NATIONS
https://www.un.org/dgacm/en/content/exams-interpreters
To work as an interpreter at the United Nations, you need a first-level university degree and proficiency in your main language, along with excellent knowledge of one or two other official UN languages. You must also pass a competitive examination that tests your interpreting skills and comprehension of the source languages.
ACEBO - https://acebo.myshopify.com/
INTERPRETRAIN - https://interpretrain.com
The Best Note-Taking Techniques for Interpreters
PRACTICE 1 - LEGAL AND MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY - There are 20 practice episodes available
Working as a UN interpreter with Gillian Curry
PHOTO: Paula Paulson as Nurse Mildred Ratched in the 2020 series Ratched
FUN FACT: Estelle Louise Fletcher who played Nurse Ratched in the movie One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975) was the daughter of deaf parents. Her parents worked with the deaf/hard-of-hearing, but Fletcher and her three siblings were all of normal hearing,so they were sent in turns to live with Estelle's hearing sister in Texas for three months at a time to ensure they learned spoken English. Fletcher received an honorary degree from Gallaudet University in 1982. Reference from Wikipedia.
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The vocal mechanism is explained, including how vocal folds work and the impact of breath and body posture. Maritza shares practical tips for voice care, such as warming up with specific exercises, staying hydrated, dietary considerations, and avoiding harmful habits like throat clearing and smoking. Additional advice includes using a humidifier, practicing diaphragmatic breathing, and managing stress to maintain optimal vocal health.
Check out voice warm-up exercises here:
https://Voicelesson.comhttps://youtu.be/i65C5Xi-IiA?si=SJ5QJGWOlwpKSmxl
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Missing episodes?
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Fresh insights, practical tips, and career guidance. Whether you're just starting out or a seasoned pro, we've got you covered.
Our host, Maritza brings a wealth of experience and passion to the table. She is a legal and certified medical Spanish interpreter, linguistics enthusiast, and polyglot, who is dedicated to helping you elevate your skills and career.
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Emergency Room Interpreter: Chaos, Challenges, and Compassion
Senior Spanish interpreter Elena Cruz shares her journey from starting as a phone interpreter to becoming an in-person interpreter in an emergency room.
Elena discusses the challenges of interpreting in chaotic environments, the emotional toll, and how she manages her mental health. She also provides valuable tips for aspiring medical interpreters, including the importance of note-taking and adapting quickly to fast-paced and distressing situations.
The Best Note-Taking Techniques for Interpreters
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Maritza shares a personal experience about the importance of being aware of your surroundings. She recounts a close call in an MRI room and underscores the consequences of not paying attention to safety protocols.
Maritza offers practical advice on where to stand in various interpreting environments such as courtrooms, medical facilities, and community settings.
The episode also touches on the challenges of certification tests and tips for studying everyday vocabulary.
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Whether you're in the legal or medical fields, this episode is a must-watch for professionals new to working with interpreters, as well as for interpreters looking to understand common challenges in the workplace.
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This episode addresses the complexities and surprises faced by interpreters in their daily work, revealing that even simple words can pose challenges.
The recent political changes in the United States, including the new executive order designating English as the official language, raises concerns about the future of interpreters, particularly the removal of ASL interpreters from White House briefings.
The episode also offers professional advice on making a good first impression through appropriate attire and shares relaxation tips for interpreters experiencing mental fatigue, especially for those engaged in over-the-phone interpreting.
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The Challenges and Rewards of Over-the-Phone Interpreting: Everything You Need to Know
The episode covers the history of OPI, its advantages and disadvantages, the skills required, and steps to become a telephone interpreter. Maritza provides practical advice for working conditions, handling difficult situations, and maintaining professional ethics. She also touches on the financial aspects of OPI, including compensation rates and tax responsibilities. The episode aims to provide comprehensive insights and encouragement for aspiring OPIs.
00:00 Introduction: The Most Difficult Type of Interpreting
01:06 History of Over-the-Phone Interpreting
02:30 Advantages and Disadvantages of OPI
04:37 Becoming an Over-the-Phone Interpreter
05:06 Working Conditions and Requirements
08:45 Handling Calls and Client Interactions
16:31 Self-Care and Best Practices
19:08 Conclusion and Encouragement
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The Ethical Boundaries and Pitfalls of Professional Interpreting
In this episode of Interpreters and Interrupters, host Maritza discusses the case of Ippei Mizuhara, an interpreter who defrauded baseball star Shohei Ohtani, emphasizing the importance of integrity and confidentiality in the profession. The episode concludes with advice on handling over-the-phone and video remote interpreting, including the importance of vocabulary mastery and firm adherence to ethical codes.Send us a text
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Indigenous Language Interpreting Is In Demand
We delve into the world of interpreting indigenous languages, specifically Q'eqchi'. Featuring Jace Norton, founder and CEO of Maya Bridge Language Services, we explore the unique challenges and rewarding experiences of interpreting for indigenous communities.
This episode provides a comprehensive look at the significance of language access and the efforts to bridge gaps for speakers of indigenous language languages. Plus, how to become an indigenous interpreter.
Stay tuned until the end for a sample of the Q'eqchi' language!
Maya Bridge
Qʼeqchiʼ Language Wikipedia
YouTube links to listen to people speaking Mayan languages:
Q'eqchi'
K'iche'
Mayan
Ch'orti'
The Qʼeqchiʼ language, casually spoken | Amalaia speaking Kekchi Mayan | Wikitongues
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Razan Roumany, shares her journey and experiences as an Arabic and Spanish medical and conference interpreter. Razan details her early inspiration to become an interpreter, her challenges, and the fulfilling aspects of her career. From deciding between medical and legal interpreting to handling interruptions and working under pressure, Razan offers invaluable insights. She also discusses the importance of preparation, effective communication with colleagues, and how to handle challenging terminology during assignments. Whether you're a seasoned interpreter or just starting, this episode is packed with essential advice and personal stories to inspire and educate.
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Interpreters and Interrupters welcomes Ana Fauvet, a nationally certified medical interpreter and event organizer. They discuss the delicate balance of compassion and professionalism in medical interpreting. The conversation covers the controversies of advocacy in medical settings, strategies to express compassion without breaching professional boundaries, and the crucial role of interpreters as cultural brokers. Ana shares valuable insights and personal experiences, emphasizing the importance of understanding, active listening, and empathy in interactions with patients. They also talk about Ana's inspiring event, Nadie Lucha Sola, which offers support to women undergoing cancer treatment.
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Ring of Fire 20 is the last installment of a weekly terminology practice session for all levels of interpreters and for all languages, including ASL. Terminology includes Medical, Legal, and General categories. Check out Practice 1 through 19.
CCHI Global Workforce Survey of Health Care Interpreters
In this Practice:
Legal TermsAbstract; Brief; Bring an action; Care, custody and control; Carjacking; Cease and Desist; Change of Venue; Default Judgment; Deterrent; Egregious; Enter an Order; Frivolous; Garnish; Grant; Guidelines; Habitual Offender; Halfway House; Inadmissible; Indecent Exposure; Irrelevant; Joint Petition; Joyriding; Knowingly; Law-abiding; Leniency; Maintenance Order; Mutually-agreed upon; Notarized; Off the Record; Pain and Suffering; Quash; Reckless; Statutory Rape; Terms and Conditions; Unsupervised Probation; Visitation Rights; Work Furlough
Medical Terms - Vision
Farsighted, Nearsighted, Age-related Macular Degeneration , Astigmatism, Readers, Progressive, Transitions Coating, Glare, Flashes, Floaters, Blind Spot, Cataracts, Congenital, Endothelium, Episcleritis, Epithelium, Gritty Sensation, Lazy Eye, Ocular Hypertension, Optic Nerve, Optical Coherence Tomography, Peripheral Vision
Dental
Abutment Crown, Adult Dentition, Allogenic, Alloy, Amalgam, Apex, Bicuspid, Bilateral, Bite, Bitewing Radiograph, Bridge, Cavity, Cleft Palate, Composite, Cracked, lose, or missing teeth, Crown, Palate, Wisdom Teeth
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Ring of Fire is a weekly terminology practice session for all levels of interpreters, students, new and seasoned, and can be used for all languages, including ASL.
In this Practice:
Legal Terms
Interest Rate; Tax Rate; Exchange Rate; Rental Rate; Success Rate; Overtime Rate; Discount Rate; Royalty Rate; Rate of Return; Default Rate; Hourly Rate.
Medical Terms
Heart Rate; Mortality Rate; Respiratory Rate; Complication Rate; Resting Heart Rate; Basal Metabolic Rate; Infant Mortality Rate; Filtration Rate.Send us a text
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In this episode, we explore the steps to becoming an interpreter in the United States. We delve into the differences between translators and interpreters, types of interpreting, and essential questions to ask yourself before starting this career. Discover the pathways to training, certification, and job opportunities, including the nuances of working with agencies and hospitals. Whether you're switching careers or starting anew, this guide provides valuable insights to help you on your journey.
Indeed.com
ACEBO
Challenges of Over-the-Phone Interpreting
Community Interpreting
Expert Tips from an ASL Interpreter
Working as a UN Interpreter with Gillian CurrySend us a text
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Ring of Fire is a weekly terminology practice session for all levels of interpreters, students, new and seasoned, and can be used for all languages, including ASL.
In this Practice:
Legal Category
Gross Misdemeanor, First Offender, Financial Statement, Voluntarily Committed, Reading of Rights, Burglarious ToolsGeneral Category
Civil Celebrant, Sewar, Sewage, Able-bodied Adults Without Dependents, Impound, Eligibility Worker, Premises, Harmful, Hectic, Midterm, Loan Servicing, Public Works, Independent Medical EvaluationMedical Category - Medications
Amoxicillin, Metformin, Lisinopril, Amlodipine, Atorvastatin, Azithromycin, Diazepam, Gabapentin, Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs, Simvastatin, Cephalexin, Singulair, Dicyclomine, Losartan, Alprazolam, Simvastatin, Cephalexin, Dicyclomine, Losartan, Alprazolam, Metronidazole, Glipizide, Pregabalin, Trazodone, Albuterol, Nystatin, Nayzilam aka Benzodiazepine, Cetirizine, Prednisone, Narcan, Amlodipine, Alprazolam.Send us a text
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Maritza shares her personal experiences and challenges during interpreting tests and provides information on the different formats and requirements that will help you be successful.
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Ring of Fire is a weekly terminology practice session for all levels of interpreters, students, new and seasoned, and can be used for all languages, including ASL.
In this Practice:
Medical Category
Antisperm Antibodies; Assisted Reproductive Technology; Basal Body Temperature Estimated Due Date; Fertilization; Follicle; Frozen Embryo Transfer; Gonad; In Vitro Fertilization; Insemination; Trying to Conceive; Progesterone; Intrauterine Insemination.
Legal Category
Conditions of Release; Confinement; Death Penalty; Deliberate; Foresee; Witness Stand; Wave Right to a Trial; Waive Time and Sentencing; Street Gang.Send us a text
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Ring of Fire is a weekly terminology practice session for all levels of interpreters, students, new and seasoned, and can be used for all languages, including ASL.
In this Practice:
Medical Category
Achy, Amniocentesis, Backflow, Bed Sore, Calcification, Epidural, Femoral Artery, Menstrual Cramp, Spina Bifida, Wrist and Knee Braces, X-Ray Dye, Bed Pan, Eye Jerking
Legal Category
Abscond a Monitoring Device, Acquit, Arson, Bar Association, Comply Consent, Dismiss, Immunity, Impairment, Narrative, Respondent, Restitution, Speedy Trial, Virtual Courtroom, Return of Service, Notice of Hearing
General Category
Draft Copy, Outcome, Outreach Service, Poster Board, Real World Skills, Reduce the Chance, Taper, Unhinged, Return Merchandise Authorization, Tracking NumberSend us a text
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Ring of Fire is a weekly terminology practice session for all levels of interpreters, students, new and seasoned, and can be used for all languages, including ASL.
In this Practice:
Medical Category
Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography, also known as ERCP; Do not Resuscitate, also known as DNR; Vein Mapping; Vital Signs; Appendectomy; Deviated Septum; Discharge Paper; Implanted Loop Recorder; Persistent Cough; Difficulty Breathing; Shortness of Breath.
Legal Category
Tamper; Divert; State Trooper; Absconder; Magistrate; Relevant; Infraction; Presumption; Adjournment; Expungement; Bond Proceedings.
Idioms
Glaze over; A dime a dozen; Tongue in cheek; Breaking the ice; Bite the bullet; Get down to business; Get busy; Once in a blue moon; Hang in there; Beat around the bush; Leave you hanging; Came out of the blue; Came out of left field; Came out of nowhere; It's a hot mess.Send us a text
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