Look who is sleeping

You are on break and looking through a client's pictures on their smart phone. Your client snapped a picture of your team sleeping on the job. What is your responsibly in this situation?

Here's a job for you

It appears as though a coworker-though not an interpreter-will be budget cut. After hearing her situation, you notice an add in the paper/blog/listserv about a job which may suit her. You print the job description and bring it into her.

Supporting a colleague or overstepping your boundaries?

What is your fee?

You get a call from someone, not an agency, asking if you can interpret a meeting. You look at your calendar and see you have a prior engagement. You decline the assignment but recommend a colleague you respect. The person hiring then asks your opinion on the fee they were going to offer.

--if you can't take the job, should you even comment on the fee?
--is it ethical to say, "that is within the range we work", "that is low", or "that is high"?
--should the fee be different since the job wouldn't be through an agency?

But it's my break!

You work all day, on-going at one location. You get a prep period to eat lunch and catch up on things, which may include preparing for a class. Occasionally you are asked to give up your prep to interpret.

Do you
-guard your prep with the ferocity of a tiger?
-agree to give up your prep occasionally because you are being paid through the prep so you can be available?
-agree to interpret during your prep but request another time slot be set aside for your prep?

What are the benefits and downsides to each option?

So I've Heard

You work with a client almost every morning and she is very chatty with you. She often tells you about the interpreters who interpret for her in the afternoon. You're curious about her day and curious about her other interpreters so you enjoy hearing (seeing) her stories.

*Is it ethical to listen to stories about other interpreters rom a client?
*If the client tells you something unethical the interpreter did, what would you do? Do you give your client options for recourse? Defend your peer's actions? Listen and do nothing?

I hate my agency!

Your team goes on and on about the interpreting agency that placed you both on your current job. You share a few choice experiences you have had with the agency.

+Was it really appropriate to dis on your agency?
+What would have been another option?
+How can you be empathetic to your team while still remaining loyal to your agency?

Been there, terped that

You interpret for a college class with a team. The professor tends to repeat himself, saying the same concept over and over. You play with the various ways the professor explains concepts interpreting one concept in different ways. After one concept has been discussed at length, your client looks down to text and you decide not to interpret the last sentence of the thoroughly debated concept. After all, client isn’t looking and the information was already provided. Your team feeds you your un-interpreted sentence.

--Do you go ahead and interpret the fed sentence?
--Do you ignore your team's feed?
--Do you say, I've got it?

My Ex Sucks!

At the end of your assignment your team offers you a ride home. Thankful not to have to wait for public transportation or call someone for a ride, you accept. On the drive home, your team voices her frustration regarding her impending divorce. Her ex-husband is also an interpreter. You're not super good friends with either of them, but are "facebook friends" with both.

Do you:
+smile and nod. You don't want to get in the middle of it.
+readily take her side. She is offering you a ride home.
+tell her you'd rather not know. You may have to work with her ex one day.

+What are the short term ramifications of your decision?
+If you will want a ride from her again but don't want to be drug into her personal saga, how will you avoid the topic of her ex?
+How can you remain supportive but still distanced?

Can I leave early?

You team the last period of a high school class. You are the 2nd team on and half way through class you come in to relieve your team. After the team leaves your student signs, “You can leave. There is nothing happening today.”

Would the following circumstances inform your decision:
1. The student never pays attention and you feel that is disrespectful.
2. They are doing group work and you know the student communicates well with his group.
3. You want to get some shopping done on your way home and would like to leave early.
4. You have nothing else to do and are paid to stay.

Consider the situation with the above variables. What would be the ethical options? What are the practical options. What would you do?

OMG! I've gone viral on You Tube!!!

What do you do if your interpretation of a song is recorded and posted on You Tube? Or, as in this case, you post your final on You Tube.






http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJKA8us6k4k&feature=player_embedded#!

• What are the short term consequences?
• What are the long term consequences?
• If everyone did this, how would that effect the interpreting profession?
  

Coffee or Science?

You interpret in a high school on-going. During earth science you have a team as the material is difficult and the teacher lectures the entire period. Yet today—and about once a week—the students copy questions from the board and work on their own. Your team suggests, since neither of you are “working” you go out to buy your much needed coffee.

*Is it ok to leave during your scheduled interpreting time? Its possible you return the favor next week. And you’ll be back well before the next period.

*What are the professional consequences?

*What are the short and long term consequences?

*What pattern are you establishing for other interpreters in your high school?

Assigning Sign Names to Unsuspecting Acquaintances

You are interpreting in a university with an on-going client and an on-going team. Midway through the semester you, your team and your client are comfortable enough with each other to banter back and forth. You discuss superfluous happenings in your own lives so its not a stretch to, during a break, discuss class events including the personalities in the classroom. Your team says, "I don't like the annoying girl who always raises her hand" and then "I can't believe that guy brings his politics into the classroom. Ugh." (insert eye roll here.) You chime in with a couple of your own choice comments.

Class resumes; your team is 'on'. Professor asks a question and the girl you were all talking about raises her hand. Your team signs, "Annoying girl says... ." You see your client chuckle. Then the guy you were recently talking about raises his hand. Your team signs, "Politician says... ." You feel a knot in your stomach but when you are on you continue with those apt but assumptive sign names.

+What is the ethical conflict?
+What is the Code of Professional Conduct the interpreters should be keeping in mind?
+What should you do?
+What are the consequences of your decision?