“Never let your sense of morals get in the way of doing what’s right.”

Isaac Asimov

I love that quote by writer and professor Isaac Asimov – “Never let your sense of morals get in the way of doing what’s right.” In the real world of interpreting – in fact in the real world of life – things are never simply, right and wrong or black and white. There are always shades to everything we do. Our sense of morals is our internal barometer and may conflict with the rules we are given in our professional life as to what the “right” thing to do is.

There is no Right and Wrong

I recall a workshop on MAiD (Medical Assistance in Dying) that we ran last year at The Interpreter’s Lab and the chat conversation that ignited as the presenter spoke. There were some very important points made on the difficulties of working in such a traumatic setting and situation. And then there were the few comments from some that had not really interpreted in the MAiD program, but nonetheless had a point of view to state. Death, choosing death over life, is an act that touches on many feelings, some of which are deeply ingrained and trigger a moral judgement. Let’s condense the comments into one example that most succinctly summed up the others in the same vein: “MAiD is wrong”. But MAiD is not wrong. MAiD is a legally sanctioned medical and legal act in our community. So, whether your own morals agree with MAiD, it is not intrinsically wrong or right. It just is. And as a professional participating in the process, you need to just do the “right’ thing.

Why is this Session Important?

We only come to an awareness of our professional obligations through dialogue and sharing of ideas. We cannot simply assume that what we believe is “right” is, in fact, right. The possibility of interpreters making mistakes in practice due to assumptions that there are universal beliefs of right and wrong is always present. In training, interpreters are taught ethics and, if they attended a good program, an exploration of ethical decision making, dealing with dilemmas, and assessment of one’s own values and ethical grounding. But even if they did receive these critical lessons in their training, the nature of interpreting requires a constant attention to new situations and conflicts that confront us. As a community of practice, how we understand and deal with new and emergent challenges comes to our awareness in discussion,  through sharing stories, and in understanding expectations and obligations.

This cross-Canada panel will offer a format for discussion and exploration of different perspectives of what doing the “right” thing might mean depending on the situation and individual. As professionals we MUST follow our code of conduct, and the rules of the agencies with which we work, as human beings we need to reconcile those feelings of discord to maintain a healthy emotional and mental balance.

HOW TO JOIN:

This session is FREE to all TIL Members (as are all of the monthly workshops).

If you are not member, consider joining and sign up for a year’s worth of workshops covered by your membership fee. Find out more here aboutTIL Membership

Or, register for this 2-hour workshop as a single session HERE

While technically we are still enjoying the summer, there is something about September that just feels like a transition to a new season. Maybe it’s the back to school and back to routine that signals the change. Whatever it may be, we at The Interpreter’s Lab are also feeling ready to enjoy a shift into something different (but we’d like the sun to stick around for a time still!)

Fall Course Schedule

Check out the new course schedule for the fall. We know that many of you have been waiting for some of our not-so-regular courses to become available, such as Interpreting in Court & Legal Settings and Interpreting in Mental Health Settings. Because our courses are live, interactive, and instructor led, we rely on a necessary number of students before we can run the course. It really is about making the learning as meaningful and engaging for you, the student. We do not rely on asynchronous learning, meaning that we don’t expect you to go at it alone. We know that learning happens with the guidance of a teacher, a mentor who can share not only knowledge but also experience. And as adults we learn best when we talk and connect our new learning to our own life experiences. At The Interpreter’s Lab, it really is real training for the real world.

If you plan on attending any one of these upcoming sessions, we recommend that you register as soon as you can, thus allowing us to also plan and secure the course schedule. All class times listed are in the Pacific time zone.

What our courses offer:

• Live, instructor led classes
• Expert instruction by leading professionals who are practicing interpreters
• Instructors who are Certified Medical, Community and Court Interpreters
• Content matter experts
• Supportive, responsive teaching
• Easy access portal
• Flexible attendance – miss a class? No problem, watch the recording
• Access to online modules and class recordings for up to 3 months from start of course
• Free exam access, with two attempts
• Certificate of Successful Completion
• Support and guidance in connecting to the marketplace to turn your learning into a career

See the full fall 2022 schedule of courses here: Interpreter Education at The Lab  and register soon!

Professional Development – Upcoming Sessions and Masterclass 2022

You will not want to miss the next 3 professional development workshops and Masterclass 2022.

September 15^th – Skills Improvement for Consecutive Note-taking with Katharine Allen (spots still available)

Katharine is back at The Lab this year for a 2-hour workshop. If you attended Katharine’s session last year, you know that this will be a workshop packed with learning and hands-on practice. There is still time to register. This is a unique opportunity to learn from this dynamic, expert interpreter educator.

Members – Free / Non-Members –$55

October 20^th – Interpreting in Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Programs with Baljit Khun-Khun

Working with survivors of violence and sexual assault can be very difficult on many levels for interpreters. Understanding the process and the context of the work of healthcare and other practitioners in these settings can support the role of the interpreter and lessen the impact.

Members – Free / Non-Members –$30

November 17^th – A Canada-wide Panel Presentation on Ethics in Practice with Kiran Malli (PHSA/BC), Allana Carlyle (WRHA/Man), Jane Langes (ECCOE/Man) and Grace Eagan (AALS/Ont).

Join this special presentation and hear how the leaders of 4 of Canada’s largest healthcare interpreting services talk about ethics and their expectations of what ethical conduct really means in practice. It will be an important dialogue.

Members – Free / Non-Members –$30

October 8^th – Masterclass 2022 with Evelyn Cervantes – Best Practices in Remote Interpreting

This 4.5 workshop will give you information, practical knowledge, resources, and hands-on experience. Join us and find out why working as an interpreter in remote settings means so much more than just picking up your mobile phone, or logging into a Zoom call. In addition to looking, acting, and sounding professional, and therefore gaining that professional advantage, not paying attention to the right protocols and equipment can have disastrous effects on an interpreter’s physical and emotional health. Don’t risk it. Learn how to do it right, from start.

Members pay only $44 (register before September 30^th) / Non-Members – $249

REGISTER/MORE INFORMATION 

The Interpreter’s Lab Professional Development Speaker Series 2023 is ready for a sneak preview!

This is what we have coming up in 2023, and that’s just the beginning of the year!

The Role and Function of Questioning in Legal Settings      

Dr. Debra Russell

Understanding Pain Descriptors in Medical Settings

Dr. Priodarshi Roychoudhury

Taxes for Freelancers – What’s New for 2022       

Anisia Hurst

CPA and Financial Advisor

Interpreters and Healthcare Practitioners in Dialogue:

Interactive Panel with Oncology, Occupational Therapy and Medical Social Work Practitioners

Ethics and Self Care -Demand Control Schema

Lorena Castillo

Certified Interpreter/Interpreter Trainer

Professional Advocacy – How ISO Standards can Help Improve Working Conditions (ISO) ISO

ISO TC 37/SC 5 Project Leaders

Become a member today and get all of these workshops included in your membership package. Membership starts when you register and is not based on a calendar year. Become a Member today, and you will get a full 12 months of sessions.

Professional Development Updates and More

Things are already heating up for 2023 and we still have some wonderful sessions coming up in 2022!

Make sure to join us for the following workshops.

Remember that as Members of The Interpreter’s Lab you are automatically registered in the ALL workshops.

September

On September 15^th, the wonderful Katherine Allen will be presenting, and teaching, Skills Improvement for Consecutive Note-Taking. This special 2-hour workshop is free to all Members of The Interpreter’s Lab. If you would like to invite a friend to attend, they can register online HERE.

October

On October 20^th, Baljit Khun-Khun, a nurse with BC’s Women’s Hospital Sexual Assault Program, will speak on Interpreting for Women’s Sexual Assault Programs. This can be a particularly challenging and sensitive setting for interpreters.

November – Final Workshop of 2022

On November 17^th we bring you the final session of the 2022 series, and it is a special one – a Pan-Canadian Panel Discussion on Ethics in Practice with the leaders of 4 of Canada’s largest community and healthcare-based language service providers:

• Kiran Malli – The Provincial Health Services Authority
• Allana Carlyle – Winnipeg Regional Health Authority (soon to be a part of Manitoba’s Provincial Health Authority)
• Jane Langes – E-Quality Communication Centre of Excellence – in Winnipeg
• Grace Eagan – Access Alliance Multicultural Health & Community Services / RIOMIX

I am so grateful to these wonderful women to take the time to come and talk to our members. It will truly be an important dialogue.

The 2022 Masterclass in on October 8th. Members can join for only $44 – that is a $205 discount. But you must register to participate. You can REGISTER HERE using the coupon code you’ve been given for the $205 savings.

The 2023 Speakers Series

Coming in the new year – each workshop at The Lab is eligible, hour for hour, for PDUs / CEUs with CTTIC member bodies and OCCI (Ontario only)

January                        The Function and Role of Questioning in Legal Settings

February                      Understanding Pain Descriptors in Medical Settings

March                           Tax Strategies for Freelancers – What’s New for 2022

April                             Using Standards to Push the Advocacy Agenda (ISO)

May                              Interpreters and Healthcare Practitioners in Dialogue: Interactive Panel

June                              The Challenges of Non-Binary Language in Community Interpreting

July                               Demand Control Schema – A Model for Ethics and Self Care

August                          Interpreting – Transferable Skills to Open New Opportunities

September                   Terminology: Best Practices for Interpreters

October                        TBA

November                    TBA

Masterclass                  TBA

If you have any other suggestions for topics, or speakers, or perhaps you have a favourite from 2021 or this year who you would enjoy learning from again – we would love to hear your ideas as we continue to put this schedule together.

Find Out More About Membership

Members Only Updates

Small group discussion coming to the Monthly Workshops

After 6-months in the current format, we are implementing improvements to Member benefits. One of the biggest complaints I hear from our students and members, and interpreters in general, is that the work can be isolating. Frequently interpreters do not have a place to connect on a more personal, or individual level. While our monthly workshops are amazing (given all the wonderful speakers and topics) the member-only portion of our time together could be improved. So, we will be introducing small group discussions so that we can better share and connect.

After the speaker has completed their hour or designated time (sometimes it is a longer session), we will break into small groups of 4-5 to share and discuss. To keep things efficient, each group will be assigned a facilitator/moderator (timekeeper) and a reporter (to take brief notes) to share with the large group. These roles will be volunteers from the group.

At times, it might make sense to break off into same language groups, or at other times it may be totally fine to stay in the large group. At The Lab we are responsive to your needs.

Goal

• To provide a forum for interpreters to share and learn from each other in a safe space
• To provide a space to debrief about challenging situations (ethics/difficult customers or clients/ working conditions, etc.)

Quarterly Cycle (months of occurrences): October, January, April, July

Dates:

1^st Friday of the month 12 p.m. – 1 p.m.  PST

2^nd Wednesday of the month 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. PST

Schedule and process will be provided through your member portal and you can sign up for one of the session in the months of occurrence)

Process:

1. Small groups created in Zoom
2. Moderator and Reporter are assigned (volunteers will be selected from the Members in attendance)
3. Breakout rooms open and small groups divide
4. Small groups share for 15 mins
5. Large group sharing highlights for 15 mins

Why is the format changing?

The format is changing slightly to allow for more equal participation and discussion. Not everyone is comfortable speaking in a large group. The Lab is intended to be a safe, non-judgemental space for interpreters, and we hope that this small change will facilitate networking and discussion.

What if I can’t stay, will I still get a Certificate of Attendance?

If you usually time your participation around the speaker’s presentation and have other commitments, that’s ok! If you are in attendance for the topic and the speaker, then you will get your certificate. Of course, we would love to have you stay for the full time, but we understand that life is busy.

See you in September with Katharine Allen and remember to check into your Community Hub for more updates and latest information

Angela and the TIL Team 

In a previous blog post, on Why being an interpreter is a good career move for foreign trained health care professionals, I wrote that interpreting in healthcare settings is a smart professional career move for health care professionals who were trained outside of Canada, and it’s true! It is a smart move, not just for foreign trained professionals, but for anyone who is interested in a deeper, closer look into the systems that provide all our public services.

While community interpreters, those who work in community-based settings such as healthcare, legal, social services, and even courts, may not enjoy the bonus of early morning executive breakfast meetings, or touring famous sites with delegations, or even enjoying a free buffet lunch at conferences as conference or diplomatic interpreters might, the role does come with definite perks. An often-unrecognized benefit of working as an interpreter is the privilege of access to forbidden places – settings where the common citizen, unless personally affected, is unlikely to go, such as operating rooms, prisons, psychiatric wards, judges’ chambers, etc.  While these places may not be glamorous or thrilling, the education they offer is undeniable. To be present, to witness (as a participant) how the events unfold, the protocols required, the ways in which the parties communicate with each other, the relationships and expectations involved – these nuggets of information and experience can never be learned in a classroom.

Becoming an interpreter provides a view into a professional realm that is often reserved for the professionals who work within. An interpreter, as a language professional, comes to share that space in their role as language and communication mediator, and comes to learn the inner workings of so many varied and unique places.

“I think the course is great and I highly recommend it. It opens doors for you. And if you are afraid with how everything works with agencies, this will explain a lot for you. You will have more confidence.”

Mayra

Spanish | English Interpreter

In my earlier blog post on healthcare interpreting, I stated that, “the post-secondary education – the lessons and courses taken – to become a healthcare professional are taught as a formal program, but it is often the unspoken and informal that is most difficult to learn. There are no lesson plans for that, and the few intercultural or cross-cultural workshops that exist may still not provide in-the-field experience. The education of understanding a new system, creating new networks, observing how people interact with each other and with patients, that is an education that is best gained by doing”. This practical observation applies across professional and occupational roles.

Being bilingual or multilingual is a talent that we share with close to 60% of the worlds’ population but utilizing that talent, by gaining the education and training and working as an interpreter, launches that talent into something that not only brings you an income, but also gives you a view into other worlds.  That insight–that valuable exposure–can bring you a return that you may never have even imagined.

Join us for a short-term course that packs a great big return!

See our Course Schedule here

In closing I leave you with the words of another Interpreter’s Lab student:

“I’m always very keen to learn new stuff. I wanted to see what’s in it – because I already knew English and Punjabi – what are the things that they’re going to teach me that I don’t know about?  But once I got into it, then I found out the little I did know…. then you know how much you don’t know – interpretation, going into community settings, or health settings or legal settings… all the valuable vocabulary, there’s so much behind the scenes that you learn in such a little time. It’s just night and day.”

Nick

Punjabi | Hindi | English Interpreter

Curiosity is a valuable trait in interpreters, and one that is commonly associated with those interpreters that excel at their work. Curiosity leads to the pursuit of answers, answers lead to gains in knowledge, and knowledge, in turn, becomes the ingredient that transforms a good interpreter into a notable interpreter.

At The Interpreter’s Lab we know that an interpreter needs to not only pay attention to professional development, that is, the fundamentals of professional skills and information, but that interpreters must also pay close attention to the marketplace and business growth, as well as taking good care of their personal and emotional wellbeing. The factors that make interpreting so appealing and fascinating are the very factors that oblige us to know more and do better. Factors such as the rapidly evolving marketplace, the dynamic interactions that form our work, and the interesting push and pull towards exploring the evolution of their field and their career. It may even include adventuring into the world of translation work, or other aligned occupations.

It has been clearly demonstrated and felt most intensely by the arrival of COVID19 and the simultaneous decrease in on-site appointments, that remote interpreting is here to stay and grow. This applies to Remote Simultaneous Interpreting (RSI), as well as Remote Consecutive Interpreting. What does this mean for interpreters’ professional and career development? With the spreading utilization of remote platforms comes an expansion of the marketplace, in both demand AND supply – more work, more competition. But competition is good. It keeps us alert and focussed, even though it may require us to learn new skills or nurture existing ones.

At The Lab’s monthly Professional Development Speakers Series this past month (April 2022), our guest speaker, Mike Lemay, demonstrated just how essential confidence and an adventurous attitude are in growing your practice and presence. Mike shared how he went from volunteering as an interpreter at his church (which he still does, voluntarily), to interpreting at a UN conference. Now that is inspiring! Confidence is critical, and confidence is cultivated through knowledge, practice, and exposure to new ideas. The participants were inspired by Mike’s presentation!

“Thank you, Mike, for all the information and encouragement.” Gurveen

“Thank you very much!! Amazing session enjoyed it a lot!!” Maria

“Excellent presentation and looking forward to connecting again” Jennifer

So, what are the skills, knowledge, and tools that I believe will help future-facing interpreters?

1. Working with technology, in all its various forms, is a critical skill set for interpreters – remote settings, online platforms, gear to get you started and keep you working (headsets, microphones, etc.), as well as familiarity with agencies and contract negotiation.
2. Embracing social media skills to keep your profile in view and to grow your opportunities – including the conventions and etiquettes that work best.
3. Building community and embracing competition. (It’s not a bad word at all!). By working together we all work better – it’s true! One thing the interpreting community needs to do is shed its proclivity for silos and embrace unity. Join your community at The Lab

Be curious about your interpreting world, ask questions. Dive in and gain skills and knowledge. See where the adventure will take you. And let The Interpreter’s Lab help you along the way.

Join us on April 21 and May 19 and get your social media working for you!

Two back-to-back guest speakers that will get you started on the right path.

I must admit it, I am not the most consistent person when it comes to social media. In fact, days could go by when it comes to checking my Instagram or LinkedIn accounts. And literally weeks can pass before I open Facebook or Twitter. It’s not that I have any sort of aversion to social media, it’s quite honestly because I’d rather be doing other things. And on one hand, that is a healthy way to be about social media (if you’ve not yet seen the film The Social Dilemma, I highly recommend you do). Studies have shown the detrimental effect that social media can have on our mental health and well-being. But the reality is also that social media can be a good thing. It helps us stay connected to family and friends around the corner and around the globe, it exposes us to new ideas, products, or services and it can create a community and a feeling of belonging for many people. The point being that we need to use social media, not allow social media to use us.

But for small business owners, like me and you, social media is an absolute necessity. Small business owners, including solopreneurs like freelance interpreters, benefit greatly from social media. It is a free way to advertise yourself and put your brand and best self out there. If you want to grow, connect, and cultivate new clients, then social media is a must.

But is it as easy as just putting up a picture, or a quote or liking someone else’s post? It is not. Social media done right can expand your world and your place in it. Social media done incorrectly can be a waste of your time or can even hurt your public profile. And of course, as interpreters working for a variety of agencies, and for a variety of clients and professionals, we have great responsibility. We must protect and maintain confidentiality, we are to be respectful of our colleagues and, moreover, we should channel support for our profession by always bringing forward the positive.

This year at The Interpreter’s Lab, we bring you two back-to-back sessions (April and May) that will give useful tips, tools, and guidance on how to put yourself out there and grow your business. On April 21, Mike Lemay will present on Social Media as a Marketing Tool and in May Madalena Sánchez Zampaulo speaks to us about LinkedIn 101 – A Guide for Interpreters. LinkedIn is one of the best platforms for professionals, so an important part of your social media skill set.

You can find out more about each of our speakers before you join us by checking out their social media in advance. And come ready for some questions for these two wonderful speakers.

Mike Lemay:  Mike the Interpreter

Madalena Sánchez Zampaulo: M|Z

How to Join:

• If you are a TIL Member, you will automatically be sent the Zoom login for the session.
• If you are not a member, and would like to simply register for one or both of these sessions, you can do by going to The Interpreter’s Lab HERE

Links:

The Social Dilemma: Social Media and Your Mental Health https://www.mcleanhospital.org/essential/it-or-not-social-medias-affecting-your-mental-health

Social Media and Mental Health: https://www.helpguide.org/articles/mental-health/social-media-and-mental-health.htm

The Social Dilemma (on Netflix)

Image: Inside Edition News: https://www.insideedition.com/emotions-are-high-as-interpreter-breaks-down-translating-zelenskyys-speech-ukraine-activist-73545

Mauro Couto

Interpreting demands a high level of accuracy and well-developed time management skills. To perform with precision, the interpreter needs to be fully focused on the task at hand. Hearing the client’s speech, reading their body language, catching intonation, being mindful of all the details involved in communication; then processing this collected information and reproducing it in a different language, transposing their client’s complex expression, through cultural and linguistic barriers, to land safely on the other side with an accurate version, just to start again. This requires rational thought, drive and concentration.

“the fact that interpreters often work in emotionally sensitive situations creates challenges”

Emotional intelligence is essential for performing rationally and achieving those desired results. The interpreter needs to be able to identify their client’s emotions, as well as their own, to then reproduce them appropriately. If the interpreter fails to understand and control their own emotions, harnessing them to their advantage, they risk losing focus and the task may be compromised.

But interpreters are only human and humans are moved by emotions. Maybe one day the profession will be taken over by cold AI-driven software. Until then, the fact that interpreters often work in emotionally sensitive situations creates challenges in this activity. These challenges are, however, not fully undesirable, as they are a by-product of what most motivates interpreters to do their job: the perception of how meaningful their activity is to the people involved, of how much their work impacts their clients’ lives.

This obstacle will eventually arise in any environment in which an interpreter works. In a legal setting, the interpreter will likely face anxiety-laden formal situations more often, while a healthcare interpreter may frequently work with patients who are going through significant personal distress, sometimes informing them of serious diagnoses, but in a more informal and caring environment. Conference interpreting will usually have a less emotionally sensitive setting, with the interpreter striving to develop their emotional intelligence to ground and to stay focused in the moment for greater lengths of time and with fewer interruptions. Nonetheless, conference interpreters are also often exposed to extreme emotional challenges.

On February 27th, 2022, Nadiya Kyrylenko, a veteran interpreter for the German news outlet Welt, had been assigned to interpret a speech by Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky live from Kyiv. Three days earlier, Russia had invaded Ukraine, and Mr. Zelensky was now leading his country’s defence and struggling to secure meaningful support from Ukraine’s allies in his nation’s fight for self-determination against a formidable invading force.

The urgency of the matter, the bravery shown by a young leader in military uniform supplicating for assistance for his people, as well as the terrifying realization that the darkness of war was descending over that free nation and of all the suffering that would ensue, created a setting that proved too emotionally dense for the interpreter to maintain her focus and do her job. She interrupted her delivery, cried during the live broadcast, and apologized as she struggled to conquer back her concentration to continue.

As an Interpreter, Ms. Kyrylenko failed at her task that February 27th. Due to significant emotional distress, she was not able to properly interpret Mr. Zelensky’s speech, as it had been expected of her. To anyone who was listening to his speech through her voice, however, her failure was perfectly justified. In fact, in a way, it may have enriched the circumstance. As Russian tanks coldly and mercilessly rolled into Ukraine and the invaded nation pleaded for help from its peers, Ms. Kyrylenko’s failure has already gone down in history as an admirable and defiant expression of humanity.

About the contributing writer:

Mauro Couto is an international Law graduate from Brazil who has had experience practicing Law in his home country since 2006. Mauro has worked as an interpreter with a Vancouver based, non-profit organization providing mental health services to survivors of torture.

Related Links of Interest:

We have linked some articles that may be of interest below:

• https://multilingual.com/german-interpreter-breaks-into-tears-while-interpreting-for-zelensky/
• https://multilingual.com/philip-crowther-ukraine-coverage/
• https://multilingual.com/working-a-warzone-lsp-manager-maria-malykhina-shares-her-story/
• https://www.interpreterslab.org/empathy-and-interpreting-the-curious-case-of-healthcare-interpreting/

I recently came across an article I had written, together with a colleague, for Cultures West Magazine – an AMSSA* (Affiliation of Multicultural Societies and Service Agencies of B.C.) newsletter in 2006. The article, titled Accessible Health Care: A Response Framework for a Culturally Evolving Community was on the subject of strategies for how the healthcare system could improve its outreach to and inclusion of all members of our diverse community. Reading the article started me thinking how the more things change, the more they stay the same.

My entry into language services came from my passion for social justice and equity. For many years, I worked in intercultural communication, anti-discrimination and anti-racism as a project leader, facilitator, researcher and consultant. I was led to this work in the late 1980’s, after having volunteering overseas in South America and became passionate about the issues it involved. It was during my time at MOSAIC as the interpreting services manager that I soon realized how important language truly is in its role as a gateway to equity, justice, and most importantly, to the formation of a cohesive society. You simply cannot have cohesion and a common ground without access to a common language.

In a multicultural and multilingual society, interpreters are the agents of change – not just anyone who is bilingual, but trained and knowledgeable interpreters who are beholden to a common ethical framework, set standard of practice and core competencies to do the work they are trained to do. They are the links that form a society of individuals who can successfully communicate, engage, be heard and fully share all the benefits a nation awards onto its population. Without interpreters, we become a disjointed community, lacking the tools to fully connect.

I may sound a little dramatic (blame it on my Neapolitan heritage), but I believe this to be true. Language can bridge a massive divide that for many, if left as a gulf between client and service provider can, at the extreme, be the difference between life and death or, more commonly, have severe negative impacts on one’s quality of life.

I want to acknowledge that utilizing interpreters does not absolve professionals who serve within a diverse community of the responsibility to consistently practice cultural humility. While professional interpreting services have always been a crucial core component of any access plan, interpreters cannot single-handedly fix the discrimination and racism that exists in Canada. And so more work is always needed.

In going back to the article in AMSSA’s Cultures West magazine which provoked me to write this post, my colleague and I listed 3 fundamental considerations that are critical to the success of a healthcare system in multilingual and multicultural society: these are accessibility, cultural responsiveness and comprehensiveness. These 3 essential factors could never be fully implemented without the inclusion of trained and educated interpreters. Because language is the gateway to inclusion.

I believe that the reason the more things change, the more they stay the same is because reaching the goal of an equitable society is rarely fully achieved, and therefore we continue in our efforts. However, in continuing to work toward this goal, we succeed in making changes that matter and which transform our society for the better.

*To read the original article in Cultures West go HERE

*To find out more about AMSSA  https://www.amssa.org/

In Gratitude… a special offer just for you.

Calling all past students – take the Interpreting in Community Settings course, get refreshed, get your continuing education units done, and pay only $197 (that’s a $300 savings!)*

Register NOW

Coupon code randr2020 (note – returning TIL students only)

What a year it has been.

To say it has been a tough or challenging year is an understatement. From our personal lives to our workday lives, I imagine that most of us have felt the impact of all that this year has sent our way and felt it on many levels.

It is said that when external conditions force adjustment upon us, it is best to contemplate the positive instead of dwelling in the negative. I do not offer this observation lightly: as some of our students know, we here at The Interpreter’s Lab have been touched by loss and sadness in our own personal lives in recent months and so to consider the light rather than the dark is advice that we have also been following.

The quiet time that resulted as a change to everyone’s schedules allowed the team at The Interpreter’s Lab to review and reflect on our own programs and offerings.
Moving to an online learning organization was something that we had planned several years ago, not ever foreseeing the events of this year and how the move to online teaching was a fortunate chain of actions given the pandemic response.

When we first shifted our courses to the online blended learning, some of our students hesitated to join a virtual course, fearing that the technology would be too confusing, that there would be no interaction with other students, and other concerns. But once they actually participated in a class, they could not stop saying how much better online is!

Because we want you all to know just how much better online can be, from now until December 31, 2020, previous TIL students can sign on to our Interpreting in Community Settings Course – online – for only $197 (that is a $300 savings!) – less than $6 per hour for expert content and instruction.

Not only do you get to experience the online environment, you also get:

• An opportunity to take a refresher/update on your skills
• Learn new content – our courses are continuously being updated with the best and latest resources and information
• Learn how to navigate an online environment (useful if you have made or are making the shift to remote interpreting)
• Receive an actual Certificate of Completion as all of our courses now include a final exam

Think of it as an opportunity to take a refresher course for 1/3 of the price.

“People of different backgrounds and experience come together to learn and share. Comfortable learning environment to learn community interpreting. Practical knowledge, case studies and videos that give me a clearer picture of how interpreting world is like as it is hard to understand without examples. I enjoy this online class; it saves me so much traveling time. And it’s actually better than I expected how an online course would be. Being able to interact with everybody online is a plus.”
Student – Interpreting in Healthcare Settings, Spring 2019

The Interpreter’s Lab has been providing interpreter education since 2012. In 2019 all of our programs were fully online which means that for 7 years we delivered our courses in a real, live, physical classroom. The shift to online, blended teaching was done once we realized how much better it could be for our students for multiple reasons:

• More content and resources for students
• Longer duration/time for students to access course content
• Multiple instructors
• Opportunity to watch the recorded lessons if a student misses a class or if they just want to re-watch the lesson

Not to mention no driving or taking public transit, no parking, and no extra costs and time.

So, in this time of change, and as many of you may have some extra time and energy, we want to extend a special offer to all our former students that have taken a course with The Interpreter’s Lab prior to 2018. This is for all those students that participated in a traditional, physical classroom and that have never taken an online course with us.

…Interested?
The next course start September 8, 2020. Register NOW

…Not ready or too soon?
Then register for our October** course.

USE COUPON CODE randr2020 to get your $300 discount*

As long as you take any one of the 2 Interpreting in Community Settings courses available before December 31, 2020 you qualify for the reduced fee.

*NOTE: This offer is only for returning students that have not yet taken an online course with The Interpreter’s Lab.
** NOTE: The Interpreter’s Lab reserves the right to make schedule changes as required. It is recommended to register for the September course to avoid any disappointment should the October course be rescheduled to 2021

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Changes to our course schedule

This fall, The Interpreter’s Lab will be undergoing an organizational improvement plan.

We hope to build, and offer, improved courses and programs for our clients and students, and an improved student experience.

To take full advantage of this opportunity, we have decided to limit the number of courses being offered in fall 2020.

What this may mean for you:

• Only 1 to 2 sessions of Interpreting in Community Settings* will be offered (September and October).
• There will be NO Interpreting in Healthcare Settings course offered in fall 2020**
• The Interpreting in Mental Health Settings course will not be offered again until fall 2021. We encourage students to take advantage of this course offering at this time to not delay your training.

We apologize if these schedule changes cause any inconvenience but we know that ultimately you, our students and clients, will benefit from these improvements.

*NOTE: we strongly encourage people to register for the September 8th course as we may reschedule the October session to 2021
**NOTE: If you wish to take the Interpreting in Healthcare Settings this year, please email us to be added to the wait-list

Stayed tuned for an even better Interpreter’s Lab!

* The PLS is a program of the Provincial Health Services Authority of British Columbia. Find out more about Kiran Malli at the end of this blog post.

Hello Kiran and thank you for taking the time to answer a few questions.

Hello Angela, not a problem at all. In fact, it is my pleasure.

Q. Kiran, Can you tell me a bit about the service you provide at PLS?

A. As you know, the PLS is the only provincial interpreter services program in Canada and what makes us more unique is the fact that we are a part of BC’s health care system. That means that our standard of service has to meet a high threshold for quality and efficiency. I believe it is imperative that PLS encourages interpreters to acquire the skills and education that is necessary to achieve a certain competency.

Q. Why do you think it is important for interpreters to have training specifically in working in healthcare settings?

A. The importance of using professional, vetted and qualified interpreters in health care cannot be understated. They are essential tools in the delivery of appropriate and accessible health care. The skills involved in interpreting go far beyond those of speaking two or more languages. Just as having two legs doesn’t make one a marathon runner, having two languages doesn’t make one an interpreter. To finish a marathon, training is required, and certain techniques are learned, employed and perfected through the training process. Similarly, a professional interpreter possesses learned skills that are developed and perfected through training. The cognitive process of interpreting can indeed be as grueling as a marathon run.

Q. What do you look for when recruiting interpreters for the PLS?

A. We look for people who are trained, have proven language proficiency in their language pairing and have interpreting experience.

Q. From your experiences, how is the work of interpreters trained to work in healthcare settings different than that of an interpreter without that specialized training and education?

A. A health care encounter is, more often than not, a collaborative encounter in which everyone is on the side of the patient or client getting well. Interpreters with health care training are more confident in their role and fully understand the context and the possible dynamics at play. A trained health care interpreter will know when it is appropriate to sight translate material (patient education material) and when it is not (consent documents). They will understand that sometimes providing cultural context is necessary to achieve positive health outcomes and ensure patient safety. For example, when a health care provider instructs a patient to take medication after every meal, the health care provider is coming from a Canadian context of three meals a day, whereas the patient may be from a cultural context in which tea time is consider a meal and therefore may take the mediation four times a day. A cultural frame must be provided.

Q. What is the feedback you hear from healthcare professionals in terms of the quality of interpreting?

A. Health care providers often comment on the high quality of our interpreters. They have said that PLS interpreters are professional and an important tool in ensuring appropriate and effective patient care. HCP’s are also quick to point when an interpreter does not meet the expected standard. It is important to note that the quality of an interpreter does come through in every encounter.

Q. What are your views on specialized training for mental health settings or complex care situations?

A. Interpreters that work in mental health are especially challenged to ensure that the message is accurately and faithfully transmitted. This is for many reasons, least of which is the significant role that culture plays in concepts of mental health, mental illness and stigma. In addition to that, mental health issues and the system of care are a complex maze of interactive conditions and factors. At PLS we strive to only assign mental health appointments to interpreters that have taken the effort to gain that extra education and training. It makes a big difference both for the client, the family and the mental health care professional.

Well, we would like to thank you once again for giving us a few minutes of your time and hope that we can talk again in the future.

I would love to join you again. Thank you.

Kiran Malli has worked in the area of improving access to health care for people with limited English proficiency since 1996. Over that time, Ms. Malli has developed and implemented interpreting service programs within various health care institutions and health regions across the Metro Vancouver and Fraser Valley regions of British Columbia, Canada.  Kiran is currently in her second, 3-year term as a member of the Board of Directors with Critical Link International.

Kiran Malli believes that meaningful access to health care begins with the ability to effectively communicate with the health care provider. She is a strong advocate for equitable access to care which ties to her experience in the field of anti-racism, diversity, and access. She is an established curriculum developer and facilitator/trainer.

Kiran has been training community interpreters in various aspects since 1996. She has extensive experience developing training modules to suit organizational and group needs and a strong background in program planning and development.