10 Lessons From 10 Years of Public Service Interpreting

Everybody loves anniversaries. This is no ordinary one. Exactly 10 years passed since my first professional interpreting assignment. Here are some lessons I'd like to share:

1.     Never guess – always ask. We don’t have the complete knowledge of our own language or access to all the facts. Our perception is very subjective and we are prone to unconscious bias. It’s always safe to make sure you have complete understanding of what you’re about to interpret.

2.     Always double-check the booking info. Familiarise yourself with the venue, the commute, parking details, accessibility and refreshment facilities beforehand. Use traffic aps to receive alerts about the traffic ahead.

3.     Wait for the professional to arrive before entering a service user’s house. The consequences of not following this rule can range from breaching confidentiality to putting your own life at risk.

4.     It is absolutely fine to say no to requests that make you uncomfortable. You are an interpreter, not a chauffeur, a chaperone or a befriender. Everyone has the right to have their boundaries respected.

5.     Never - and I cannot stress this enough – never, never stay by yourself with the service user if you can help it. By that I mean staying in a closed room, a closed off space or a curtained off cubicle. You are risking being subjected to uncomfortable questions, challenges to your ethical conduct or even assault.

6.     Don’t assume that the professional and the service user understand your role. Explain your duties in a pre-session. Lay down the housekeeping rules – interpreting in the first person, confidentiality, taking notes and what is going to happen with your notes afterwards.

7.     If you have any doubts about your ability to carry out the assignment, consider withdrawing from it. A successful interpreter is one that the professional and the service user can trust and feel at ease with. If there’s any risk of a conflict of interest, pass on the offer.

8.     Always look after yourself – make sure you can use the restroom, drink enough fluids, have some headspace after a particularly taxing or upsetting assignment. Don’t ever be afraid to ask for a comfort break. I found that some interpreters want to appear 'stronger' or 'better' by refusing breaks when offered. This is incredibly harmful.

9.     Join a professional association and create a network of colleagues you can recommend, newcomers you can support and successful colleagues you can learn from. There is so much we can learn from one another.

10. Never stop learning and make if fun for yourself. Webinars, conferences, books, workshops, translation slams, online challenges, courses, podcasts – the list is endless. The more attractive the format, the more you will benefit from the learning.