1. Choose the right interpreter: Effective interpretation starts by choosing the right interpreter. Ensure that the interpreter has the necessary skills and experience to interpret accurately between the languages involved. Consider their expertise in the subject matter and their cultural sensitivity as well, as these factors can greatly impact the accuracy of the interpretation.
2. Provide background information: Background information such as subject matter, names and titles of participants, context and purpose of the event can greatly help with the accuracy of the interpretation. The more information interpreters have before the event, the better their performance will be. To provide and gather background information is considered a necessity in the interpretation process. To be exact, the interpretation process starts before the event itself.
3. Create favorable environment: Ensure that the interpreter has a clear line of sight and sound to all participants in the conversation. Experienced clients usually treat interpreters with courtesy and thoughtfulness in order to provide a favorable environment for the interpreter to work in. The goal is to help the interpreter enhance their performance and ensure that the interpretation is as accurate as possible.
4. Speak clearly and at a moderate pace: Interpreters must be able to understand the language they are interpreting. Speaking clearly and at a moderate pace can help the interpreter accurately convey the intended message. Avoid using overly complex language, because it can reduce the processing time in interpreter’s brain, help the interpreter render interpretation in an easy and smooth way.
5. Avoid distractions: Interpreters must concentrate to accurately convey both the content and tone of a conversation. Any distractions or interruptions can disrupt the flow of the interpretation process and impact interpretation in a negative way. For instance, if video interferes with audio output, then refrain from asking interpreters to appear on video. Asking interpreters to be on video usually is more distracting than not to be on video. Also avoid any activities that may be distracting, such as talking on the phone or texting.
6. Provide feedback: If there is any confusion or misunderstanding during the interpretation process, it is important to provide feedback to the interpreter. Collaboration rather than confrontation is more conducive to the outcome you would like to achieve in a communication event.

At Monterey Language Services, focusing on our mission – bridging people and cultures through language – gives us positivity. This positivity helps motivate us to continue working hard. Now, at a time when people are physically isolating themselves, it can feel more difficult to make human connections. Our work of connecting people is more important than ever, and we are proud to contribute to this mission in any way we can.

Staying connected with other people is another great way to cultivate positivity. Since we are all required (except for essential workers) to stay at home, most of us are interacting with very few people face-to-face. That makes it all the more important to keep connected to friends and family, which can bring a great injection of positivity. At Monterey Language Services, we apply this at work as well: making sure to continue working together and communicating normally, but also checking in on each other and making sure that everyone on our team is doing okay.

It’s also important to find the positivity in the simple things: take stock of your situation and actively look for the things that bring you happiness, no matter how small. Most of us don’t enjoy being quarantined at home, but we can appreciate that we have a home. We can find the positivity in the fact that by staying home, we are limiting the spread of the virus.

Finally, let’s not forget to bring positivity to those who need it. Many people are hurting or in need, and  this Washington Post article has a great list of charities that are providing critical services during this pandemic that anyone can donate to or volunteer for if they are able.

It can feel difficult to stay positive during an experience like the one we are going through, but it may be easier than you think. At Monterey Language Services, we stay positive thinking about our mission, our work, colleagues, friends, and clients. We’re working to stay positive and helpful during this difficult time, and we hope everyone else is able to find some positivity as well!

Sometimes questions need to be clarified or potential problems need to be identified before we start work. For example, recently we had a client request a Spanish sign language interpreter. Spanish Sign Language (SSL) is different from American Sign Language (ASL), so we had to clarify: which Spanish country is the hard of hearing client from? Does he know American Sign Language at all? Will an ASL interpreter who could also interpret spoken Spanish work? We communicated back and forth with the client rather than making an assumption and potentially compromising the event. It was also a nice opportunity for both the client and for us to get exact information and serve the ultimate client in the most appropriate way!

There are some things we can do to ensure that communication remains smooth and clear. We evaluate all projects and requests when we receive them, identify any potential misunderstandings or lack of information, and speak with the client. This way, we will be able to give the most accurate quote possible. It also helps us determine if the project will run smoothly, rather than getting into the project and finding issues at a later project stage.

When questions do come up during the course of a project, it is important to be unafraid to clarify with clients. Some people might think asking questions makes ourselves look bad, but the opposite is true! Clients will appreciate our attention to detail and commitment to providing the highest quality product possible. It is our job to ask questions and make sure our team has correct information to carry out the project.

While communicating with clients is necessary and helpful, we must find a balance. We don’t want to send too many emails and overwhelm our client! To streamline critical communication, it is best to gather key questions or points of clarification first, send them all in a single (but still concise) email to the client. This makes it easy for the client to quickly answer everything, and is also a nice way to document everything in a logical way.

At Monterey Language Services, communicating with our clients is fulfilling and worthwhile. The feedback and collaboration we get from our clients keep us going stronger every day. We work hard to make sure that our communication with our clients is as smooth, understandable, and enjoyable as possible. This makes our clients happy, and if our clients are happy then we are happy too!