Dynamic Equivalence Blog

Photo by Aaron Burden I developed my note-taking technique like many other community interpreters have: in the heat of the interpretation, out of necessity. After serving as a linguist for the US Army for 5 years, my first civilian job was as a "Translator" for a large school district. The transition from linguist to translator seemed natural, and I was excited to start a new career. However, as is common for many translators (or interpreters) in education, the role required that I do more than translate documents, I was also expected to interpret. Thus began my note-taking journey. Names & Numbers My first community interpreting experience was during a meeting announcing a new school program. I must admit that I didn't even know what I didn't know. In my preparation, I found that names and numbers were most difficult to recall and interpret accurately, and that note taking is one way to ensure accuracy. At the meeting, I was interpreting simultaneously and had pe...

Photo by Aaron Burden This Thursday I had the opportunity to co-present a webinar for the NCIHC Home for Trainers series with Nora Goodfriend-Koven on Interpreting IEP Meetings. I was able to share some of the key concepts that helped me prepare for and effectively interpret at IEPs, as shared in the Preparing for IEPs online training available through MasterWord. So, what makes interpreting at IEPs unique? Is it legal, medical or educational? In my humble opinion, one of the things that makes interpreting at IEP meetings so challenging is the intersect between legal, medical, and educational interpreting. The individualized education program/plan (IEP) is, as the name entails, a program designed for a particular student to meet his or her personal academic goals. IEPs are only developed for students who have a special need, as established by law, and qualify for modifications to the general (sometimes called regular) curriculum for their grade level. Since it is a program governed by ...

Photo by Engin Akyurt I recently received my first onsite interpreting request since the COVID-19 shutdown. It was not a COVID-19 "hang in there" email with a list of government resources to mitigate any temporary financial hardship due to a lack of work. It also did not request that I significantly lower my rates due to the current economic situation, the lack of assignments, and their desire to provide me "some work" amidst the crisis. It was a legitimate onsite interpreting request like those I received before the outbreak. Well, almost like those. The email was a typical availability request, similar to those I am accustomed to receiving from this particular client. It included key information about the assignment and a few reminders and protocols to follow: remain at the assignment until released, take your badge, sing in and out, etc. The email also included several non-standard requirements. Challenge 1: Acquiring the required PPE By now, we are all too famil...