Re-interpretation

Your client is preparing to take a hands on test. The instructor explains what needs to be done for prep then walks off. The Deaf client asks you to repeat what was said. So you re-interpret from memory what the instructor said. The instructor walks back and gives you a look that says, "what?" you realize it looks like you are assisting the Deaf client, perhaps helping them cheat.

--what would you do next time to avoid the appearance of cheating?
--if you weren't done with your initial interpretation--perhaps the client needed a lot of expansion--how could you keep the instructor there?
--what are your options?

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?

One drink, please

You are interpreting at a social event where people are drinking. You don't drink while on assignment. Period. It isn't professional. Plus, it's against agency policy. But even if your agency was silent on the issue, you wouldn't drink on assignment.

You are politely sipping your water when a guest at the function brings you a glass of white wine. You will be with this guest most of the evening and he was clearly uncomfortable with your teetotaling. You accept the wine with a gracious smile.

-Do you drink the glass and get another later in the evening?
-Do you keep the glass on hand so when people ask, you can say you have a drink?
-Do you explain you can't drink while working?
-Do you claim to practice a religion that forbids alcohol?
-What are your other options? What are the repercussions of each decision?

Excuse me, please

An alarm on your cell phone goes off while you are the "on" interpreter. The entire class, including the teacher, looks at you. Of course you have to reach into your bag and turn off the phone. Your client asks what happened.

How do you remedy the situation.
How do you prevent this from happening again?

Educational team

A hearing student comments-loudly-that she is planning on cheating on the test tomorrow. You interpret for your student who advises the cheater in her poor idea. But, the teacher never catches on.

Sure enough, the cheater had an answer written on her hand. She shows a number of her peers. Again, the teacher has no idea.

-what is your responsibility? She is hearing, not yours.
-but you are an adult in the room.

Can you relay a message?

Class is over. Your student left. You are packing your bag. The professor comes up to you and asks, "can you tell your student x, y, and z? Please."

You have seen her talk directly to your student before so you conclude she wasn't avoiding your student but just missed them before they left.

Although you consider
1.) telling her you'll have the student talk to her at the beginning of class tomorrow.
2.) saying when you see the student in class, you'll tell them

Instead you say sure. After all, you'll see them again in 15 minutes.

Right? Wrong? Options?

A few minutes in the life of a Sign Language Interpreter

After getting a chuckle out of the video--who hasn't been there--think about the interpreters responses. Yes, we would all like to be a bit snarky sometimes. What we need to be is respectful. Have fun. Enjoy your job. Smile. Heck, crack a joke. But remain kind and professional.