What are the best practices for working with interpreters and translators in community service projects?

I would recommend finding a Interpreter/ Translator who is crossed trained. But he or she would have strong skills in the area you need. Simultaneous interpreting can make some people uncomfortable, anxious. I've seen this with Interpreters who are excellent working consecutive. Court, and Simultaneous interpreting is like acting. Nothing personal.

Interpreters and translators should be equipped with contextual insights, so that they understand not just the words they are asked to translate but the cultural and social nuances behind them. Interpreters in the community-service space should also go beyond word-for-word translations and emphasize instead the intended meaning within the cultural context in which they find themselves, thus ensuring that messages resonate authentically. It is also advisable for interpreters and translators to cultivate ongoing relationships with the community that they serve. Familiarity with the community and its cultural intricacies enables them to better capture the essence of communications.

The terms 'translator' and 'interpreter' are often used interchangeably though they are different services. Please note that not all translators are capable or willing to perform interpreting services and vice versa. It's a good idea to start by confirming the person's skillset, but more importantly do you know what YOUR needs are? My company, Interpreting Your Needs, assesses your needs to determine what is required to achieve your stated goals. Perhaps a combination of both is needed? In such cases, it's important to engage a professional who masters both skillsets! Furthermore, the person hired for community service, must have great interpersonal skills, along with the flexibility and agility to go with the flow when uncertainty arises.

"Interpreters deal with spoken or signed languages, while translators deal with written texts". While this statement is very popular because it is a simple way to establish the difference, Translators deal not only with spoken texts. Oral translation is a method used by a considerable number of translators. They record the translation instead of typing it. They translate audio and video files as well. This is something we could take into consideration when making the difference. I would say "in general, essentially, most of the time" translators deal with written texts. Interpreters might be asked to do sight translation or summarize.

Very simply, THE best practice from an interpreter's point of view is to know when NOT to take on a job because you KNOW you are not suitable for the job. a) You need to be a trained professional b) You need to be qualified to interpret the language combination you are being asked to work with c) You need to understand impartiality d) You need to remain impartial throughout the assignment e) You need to maintain confidentiality before, during and after an assignment.

Check references, talk to your provider and make sure you are hiring not only bilingual individuals but actual trained professional interpreters. Professional interpreters will have completed numerous hours of training, will have titles and belong to unions or associations. Good professional interpreters will undergo recycling training sessions and study general topics. Value providers who also train their teams to suit your needs. Interpreters must always study.

Adicional a lo se?alado, agregaría que el intérprete debe permanecer en contacto y constante interacción con la cultura de las lenguas involucradas, para brindar contexto cultural adecuado y actualizado.

In community service projects, the effectiveness of communication relies heavily on the competence of interpreters and translators. To ensure high-quality language support, it's crucial to prioritize professionals who hold relevant certifications.

Hiring qualified professionals is the key: focusing on language proficiency and their expertise in specific subject matters and cultural contexts. It's important to emphasize that language is a tool that conveys variations, emotions, and cultural specifics, making the selection of experienced and formally trained professionals essential. By insisting on certification or accreditation, and checking their experience with similar projects, you're ensuring professionalism beyond mere translation or interpretation. It's a reminder that in the field of language services, the quality and accuracy of the work can significantly impact the outcome of your project.

Qualified professionals possess linguistic proficiency, expertise, and credentials to navigate complex communication dynamics effectively. Here's why: -Interpreters with formal training and certification demonstrate a commitment to excellence and adhere to industry standards. -Experience working with similar projects and clients equips interpreters with invaluable insights and strategies to address diverse communication challenges effectively. -Cultural competence is indispensable for interpreting meaningfully across linguistic and cultural barriers. Hiring qualified interpreters is not merely a checkbox in the community engagement process but a strategic investment in effective communication and meaningful interaction.

The first step in creating a collaborative environment is to provide comprehensive materials like project objectives, audience demographics, and expected outcomes. These materials inform and empower interpreters and translators to align their work with the project's goals. For instance, during a recent community workshop, we shared detailed agendas and scripts with our interpreters, greatly facilitating the accurate conveyance of complex ideas and terminologies. It's a strategy that facilitates better communication and builds a supportive infrastructure, ensuring that all parties involved in the project can interact seamlessly and effectively.

Consultar acerca de los requerimientos técnicos y estar abierto a las recomendaciones que la persona intérprete pueda brindar en orden de cooperar para un servicio final con la mejor calidad posible.

Preparing interpreters and briefing them won't always be an available option. Here are some guiding principles: Explain exactly what needs to be interpreter, how (verbally, written, etc), and how fast (in real-time, within a few minutes, etc.). If you are conducting real-time interpretation, you need to provide the interpreter with a brief synopsis of the situation (medical emergency, business transaction, legal proceeding) so the interpreter has context of the situation. You then need to ensure that anything that is discussed between the interpreter and the person needing interpretation is shared.

Algo primordial es evaluar al intérprete, antes de asignarle el primer trabajo, estar seguro que domina ambos idiomas plenamente. Además deben de tener un amplio conocimiento de como trabaja el sistema del país en el cual están ubicados y obviamente exigir al Interprete haber completado los cursos para ser un intérprete calificado - en el cual haya aprendido las diferentes técnicas de interpretación.

Speakers will excel in message delivery if they meet the needs of their interpreter, so they too can excel. In a conference setting, interpreters are trained to prepare for the subject matter and presentation format. But they must do this well in advance and not at the last minute. So, ask your interpreter when they need to have your outline and subject matter synopsis and deliver it accordingly. Developing a good relationship with the interpreter creates a seamless presentation that your audience will enjoy and benefit from.

Collaboration and support are pivotal when working with interpreters and translators in community service projects. Drawing from my experiences in the field. Recognizing the unique challenges faced by our interpreters – ranging from mental fatigue to the emotional toll of conveying sensitive information – we established a support system. This included scheduled breaks and debriefing sessions. Feedback and open communication channels were also central to our collaboration. Regular check-ins allowed for adjustments in real-time, ensuring the interpreters felt supported and heard. This approach enhanced the quality of interpretation and fostered a sense of mutual respect and understanding among all participants.

I agree with this point "collaborate and support them" and I believe it is a must-do in every organization. This supports a healthy environment for them to thrive.

This is a MUST. As I mentioned, working with NGOs on sensitive social causes can be overwhelming for all volunteers, including translators and interpreters. Organizations must provide support for everyone involved in the process. A typical example is providing training and mental health support for vicarious trauma mitigation for interpreters who work with refugees and asylum seekers.

Collaboration and co creation is most important trait of ant social enterprise with thoughtful leadership driving change that matters thr most

La collaboration doit être saine et franche, elle doit prendre en compte les éléments pouvant permettre de tirer le meilleur des parties prenantes au projet. Les interprètes et traducteurs sont des parties prenantes au projet. S’assurer qu’ils ont le bon cadre de travail et veiller à ce que les agendas établis puissent leur permettre d’avoir des créneaux de récupération, est un gage d’un bon rendement.

When I served as a court interpreter many of the people I translated would ask for my phone number. I would respond to use the court interpreters assigned to them and the the people I translated for would respond that they preferred how I translated because they could understand me. It is not only about providing a interpreter or translator but asking the target audience if the translated/interpreted information was understandable and useful.

Pour un meilleur suivi et une bonne évaluation du travail, il est important d’avoir un dispositif de suivi-évaluation qui prend en compte les avis et commentaires de ces parties prenantes. Cela aide au réajustement au besoin et à la correction de ce qui n’a pas marché.

Feedback is key for a good collaboration. When working with interpreters it is good to have language experts evaluate them to male sure their delivery is precise and accurate but also it is important to give them time to implement changes based on the feedback.

In my experience, paying gratitude for interpreters during and after finalizing their tasks give them a stronger motivation for future ones! Also, expressing trust before the task has a huge impact on how the interpreters deliver! Motivation makes a difference!

An example I have seen and learnt from is during my participation in the Young Professional Program at Boys Champion initiative. Volunteers are respected, valued and appreciated. This helps to foster a healthy relationship and willingness to collaborate and partner in the programs.

When commended, one tends to push further. Booster doze for me. Maintaining a good relationship with them creates a safe haven for a flexibility

Greetings How to respect each in one other while translation of one language to another shows appreciation. Given the support of any target audience

Respect should be mutual. The recipients of the translation services should be respected and appreciated. Especially in the service of nonprofit organizations the interpreter should reach out and let them know they appreciate the opportunity to use their language skills to assist with the organization's mission.

Specifically for community service projects, it's good to remember that if you ask a translator to come to your premises to translate some documentation into another language, you need to have an appropriate keyboard for them to work on. Alternatively, ask them to bring their keyboard with them and all you will need to do is add another language to the operating system on your computer. Some clients forget that you can't use one keyboard for all languages!

The most critical thing to start with is asking the person what their preferred language it. It is easy to fall into an implicit bias trap and make an incorrect assessment. While enlisting the use of an interpreter, do not alienate the person who is the focus of the interpretation. Speak directly to the person who is part of the conversation, not to the interpreter. Break your sentence structure into smaller components so the interpreter has time to listen, understand and translate what is being said. Wait a moment to ensure the message is getting across before continuing. Ask if there are questions or a need for clarification. These are the basic ideas for fostering an understanding that people can and will be heard.

Para seleccionar un interprete para una organización sin ánimo de lucro Características que debe reunir: -Sensibilización CULTURAL actual con el tema y niveles: refugiafos, ni?as, ni?os y jóvenes en situación de calle, los migrantes, personas con discapacidad, mayores, población indígena y etnias -Empatia y Asertividad. -Idoniedad: no es un empleo para todo tipo de persona -Experiencia con personas vulnerables de diferentes etnias y nacionales * Fundamental Formación prioritaria que recoja esencialmente el Codigo Deontológico para organizaciones sin animos de lucro éTICA, MISION, VISION y VALORES * CONOCER EL TERRENO, SU CULTURA y SITUACIóN donde va a realizar la traducción, INTERPRETE traducen, oralmente en un contexto, lugar determinado

Interpreters and Translators may be certified but does not mean they are bicultural. It is easy to translate and interpret compared to being able to transmit the original cultural idea to the target culture.

Find the connection between the translator/interpreter that you hire and the persons/community that you are trying to serve. Sometimes there are variations in the dialect from differing neighborhoods and communities. Spanish in Puerto Rico is spoken differently from that in Mexico, Guatemala, Brazil, etc., as is Chinese or Cantonese in San Francisco and Hong Kong.