Have you ever wished for a particular superpower to help you better handle interpreting encounters? I know I have. It might seem silly to daydream about having superpowers, but doing so can help to uncover superpower alternatives that are realistic and produce the desired outcome — even if it does take a bit more effort. Here are my top four.
With A Little Help From My Friends
Healthcare interpreters are expected to be life-long learners. Fortunately, we interpreters tend to be a knowledge-hungry people, meaning continuing education turns out to be more of a professional perk than a chore. But if you're working alone, good reference materials may not be enough to keep you "in the know".
Back in my college days (suffice it to say that this was pre-Facebook), I had a professor — a life-long learner himself — who often gave examples of things he had learned from his "friends". He'd then go on to reveal his "friend" to be someone who had lived in the second century, or on the other side of the planet.
As a result of that professor's anecdotes, I widened my definition of "friend" to "anyone who inspires or supports you" — whether or not you've actually met this person.
When it comes to professional development, it's important to be connected to the ideas of others if you want to grow — to cast a wider net for those sources of inspiration and support.
In the Facebook / Skype / LinkedIn / Twitter era, there is no shortage of ways to discover and connect with like-minded individuals or professional groups. It's important, though, to distinguish between the medium (online networks, professional organizations, etc.) and the connections you're trying to make with real human beings. In this case, the networks themselves are just tools for connecting; it's still up to you to make and define those connections on a human-to-human level.
As you build your circle of friends, do consider including people and perspectives that foster development in skills and competencies which are less obvious, but still of general value to professionals — such as leadership, customer service, speaking, communication, or time management.
It can also be helpful to diversify in another direction: those who share your role in other industries.
For instance: individuals involved in the training and development of healthcare interpreters will also benefit from extending their circle of professional friends to include sales trainers, or manufacturing trainers. In my own experience wearing my "trainer hat", this circle of friends has provided valuable insights, resources, and tools — all of which have expanded and reinforced my own professional development as a learning and performance practitioner. And since we share a common interest in learning about learning, we have a base level on which we can naturally interact and exchange useful insights from our very different industries.
Here's a peek at a few of my own learning and performance "friends":
As a healthcare interpreter, who are your professional "friends", and how are they helping you to grow?
It’s a Medical Appointment, Not a Foreign Language Skills Lab
I find myself observing situations in which individuals are eager to “try out” their foreign language skills at medical appointments. Sometimes this means patients fumbling through broken English. Sometimes this means medical staff fumbling through broken Spanish. Often the result is a varying degree of uncertainty on the part of the listener.
Blind Adherence to Interpreter Ethics Can Hinder Communication
I love the code of ethics for many reasons. It gives me a welcome framework to guide my work. But taken too literally, ethics can hinder the facilitation of communication if not applied with regard for the situation at hand. Here are a couple examples of how interpreters can hinder communication by blindly adhering to ethical standards.
3 Simple Ways Interpreter Managers Can Invest in Their Team’s Development
Interpreter Managers play a critical role in building a team of interpreters that is engaged and invested in the work they do. Inevitably, some responsibilities, such as supporting the professional development of the interpreters in your department, take a back seat to the many other priorities that require your attention. Here are three simple things you can do to invest in the continued professional development of your team of healthcare interpreters.
Be Identifiable: I’m the interpreter, not a family member
Health care interpreters can benefit by wearing a uniform or other apparel that clearly identifies him or her as the interpreter. It makes the interpreter visible and distinguishes him or her from other individuals in the encounter, like family or members of the nursing team. It is a good first step toward creating awareness of role boundaries and role differentiation. And that's not all.
Communicating Across Cultures Requires More Than Language
There's more to communicating across cultures than finding a shared language (or interpreter). It is also necessary to develop skills and strategies that allow you to communicate effectively across cultures. Who knew time at a great conference and ordering a glass of water could be so insightful?
I’m an interpreter, not a health care practitioner
When I was new to interpreting, I would often find myself listening to the patient’s symptoms and making determinations (to myself, of course) as to what the diagnosis was. Not surprisingly, my diagnoses were frequently wrong, and so I came to realize that while I might know a lot of medical terms and concepts, I had no business trying to apply that knowledge beyond the accurate conversion of messages between languages.
Healthcare Interpreters, Protect Yourselves!
Healthcare interpreting can be hazardous, especially for interpreters who work onsite at hospitals and other healthcare facilities. Interpreters need to be aware of potential health and safety hazards and take the appropriate measures to minimize or eliminate the risks.
So, you think you can interpret in healthcare?
Let’s face it. Not all teachers have what it takes to handle Kindergarten, and not all nurses have what it takes to handle the ICU. The same can be said for interpreters. Not all interpreters can handle international affairs and not all interpreters can handle healthcare. With that in mind, how can you tell if healthcare interpreting is right for you?
5 Tips When Debriefing After Healthcare Interpreter Field Observation
As field observation becomes a standard part of interpreter training programs and employee evaluations, the need to conduct effect post-session debriefs (a.k.a. performance feedback) grows. Facilitating a good debrief session is requires preparation and skill just as interpreting itself does. Here are a few tips to consider.