Last updated on Dec 16, 2024

How do you collaborate and share notes with other interpreters or clients using apps or tools?

As an interpreter, you know how important it is to take accurate and clear notes during your assignments. But how do you share your notes with other interpreters or clients who may need them for reference, feedback, or quality assurance? In this article, you will learn about some apps and tools that can help you collaborate and share notes with ease and efficiency.

1 Cloud-based note-taking apps

One of the most convenient ways to collaborate and share notes with other interpreters or clients is to use cloud-based note-taking apps, such as Evernote, Google Keep, or OneNote. These apps allow you to create, edit, and sync your notes across different devices and platforms, and to invite others to view, comment, or edit your notes as well. You can also organize your notes by tags, folders, or notebooks, and search them by keywords, dates, or locations. Cloud-based note-taking apps are especially useful for remote or online interpreting, where you can share your notes in real time with your colleagues or clients via a link or email.

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Grace Hahn

Executive Administrative Assistant | English to Spanish, Spanish to English Translator
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I find cloud notes very effective. The back and forth communication is seamless and I always get notifications when someone leaves a note relevant to the translations I am working on.

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Sergio Ricardo Carré

Working to bridge the language gap for 8+ years, I'm your go-to translator and interpreter in the English to/from Brazilian Portuguese language pair. What can I do for you?
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Some of my colleagues, specially those who use tablet devices, prefer Google Keep because it's visually better for them. Since I use a laptop when in an interpretation assignment, I prefer spreadsheet like Google Sheets or MS Excel for Office 365 because it's easier to share terminology prior to the assignment as well as updating it on the fly. If my colleague is an Office 365 user, we'll go with that one and if not, we'll use Google Sheets and then I'll export the spreadsheet into MS Excel after the end of the assignment to keep it. It's super easy to find a term in the spreadsheets using the Search function.

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2 Digital pens and smart notebooks

If you prefer to take notes by hand, but still want to share them digitally, you can use digital pens and smart notebooks, such as Livescribe, Moleskine, or Rocketbook. These devices allow you to write or draw on paper, and then transfer your notes to your smartphone, tablet, or computer via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or QR codes. You can also convert your handwritten notes to text, audio, or PDF files, and share them with other interpreters or clients via email, cloud services, or social media. Digital pens and smart notebooks are especially useful for on-site interpreting, where you can capture and share your notes without relying on internet access or scanners.

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Dawn P.

WI Supreme Court Certified Spanish Interpreter | Project Manager- PMP® Certified |Language Access | Talent Acquisition | | #SpanishTranslator |
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I’m a big fan of Google Keep. It’s super easy to use, almost everyone has a Google account, and I’ve never heard any complaints from interpreters. Some of the best parts: -Love the colors and labels to help organize. -Syncs instantly across all my devices. -Easily share notes with other interpreters. -voice-to-text Also, it's FREE!

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3 Transcription and translation tools

Another way to collaborate and share notes with other interpreters or clients is to use transcription and translation tools, such as Otter, Rev, or Google Translate. These tools allow you to record, transcribe, and translate your speech or audio files into text, and then share them with other interpreters or clients via email, cloud services, or social media. You can also edit, annotate, or export your transcripts or translations as text, audio, or video files. Transcription and translation tools are especially useful for multilingual interpreting, where you can create and share bilingual or multilingual notes for your colleagues or clients.

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4 Annotation and feedback tools

Finally, you can use annotation and feedback tools, such as Kami, Loom, or Miro, to collaborate and share notes with other interpreters or clients. These tools allow you to annotate, comment, or record your voice or video over your notes, documents, images, or videos, and then share them with other interpreters or clients via email, cloud services, or social media. You can also collaborate with others in real time, or asynchronously, on your annotations or feedback. Annotation and feedback tools are especially useful for quality assurance, training, or evaluation purposes, where you can provide or receive constructive feedback on your notes or performance.

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