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?

Eye roll!!

Every time your client turns his back the instructor gives you a huge eye roll. The instructor makes, when your client isn't with you, about your client. You feel that, best case scenario, the instructor doesn't like your client. And worst case scenario, the instructor is deliberately sabotaging your client's chance at success.

-what are your options in this situation?
-are you to tell your client what the instructor says when the client is not around?

I have a problem

You are interpreting at a job training center. Your Deaf client starts chatting with you about her personal life. It's not her break and you assume she will get reprimanded for taking a break at an unauthorized time. (not to mention you don't want to know about her personal problems.)

Do you
-chat. Or at least pay attention. If she gets in trouble that is in her.
-advise her to get back to work.

The boss walls by, looks at her and you and asks what is going on. What do you do?

Can you find me a job?

You interpret a job interview. The deaf client turns out not to be qualified for the job. As you are walking out, she asks if you know of any jobs available and if you'd ask around.

--on one hand, you admire her resourcefulness. Of course you'll help.
--on the other hand, you've just met this person and only spoken with her for 15 minutes. How can you possibly help her find a job.

Um, I'd rather not say

You are interviewing with a journalist who is writing an article on work - life balance. You recently had a baby do your input is applicable to this research. You describe what you do and where you work including that your life is so much easier because you have an ongoing gig in a school. The journalist asks which school you work in.

--do you tell the journalist? After all, she wouldn't know any of your students.
--hell, no. The journalist will publish the research and then it'll be all over the world forever more that you work (worked, rather, because who wants an unethical interpreter) at Nice Gig Public School.
--how do you politely decline to give the info?

I heart you

Today you really enjoyed your Deaf client. You understood everything they said, they were nice and polite. You may never be BFFs with this client but you would work with them any day.

So you tell them. After all, everyone enjoys a compliment.

--is telling a client you enjoyed working with them overstepping boundaries?
--is it simply polite?

Shop til you drop

You got an all day job near a shopping center. Very exciting and convenient since you don't have time to shop. You can get your shopping done during lunch and still be home in time to relieve the babysitter.

What you didn't factor in was the big bags you have to carry back to the office. The office where you happen to be working is a job training center for adults getting back on their feet and here you come in with bags full of shiny, new merchandise.

-it's your money and time, you should be able to shop when you like.
-it's not like your taking your merchandise out s d showing it to everyone.
-you should have waited until the end of the day.

What to do?

You are interpreting a state test. Math, to be more specific, but without giving anything away. There is no interpreting actually happening as your client either knows the math formulas or not. During the test you can:

--leave? No interpreting happening anyway.
--play on your phone? Even though students aren't allowed electronic devices, you can play on yours, right?
--read? Traditionally an acceptable pastime for interpreters.
--other ideas?

It's a heliocentric world out there

On a state test you are interpreting a question with the key word "heliocentric". Do you sign "sun center" perhaps giving away the answer, or do you fingerspell the word because they should know that vocabulary anyhow?

Read this

You lent a book to one of your clients.

--ok?
--turns out they love the book. Does that make it ok?
--suppose they don't give it back.
--what was your intention in loaning the book in the first place? (to build a relationship? Because the book and client happened to be in the same place at the same time? Because you encourage reading in general?)
--does your intention with lending the book make the act more un/ethical, less un/ethical, or it's just a simple book! Stop stressing already!!

Substitute teacher=day off?

There is a substitute teacher in your high school math class. The sub handed out a work sheet and took attendance.

-is your job done as there will be no instruction?
-should you stay in the room, just in case?
-your bring paid to be present, so no question, you stay.

Dance dance dance

Your client is performing a short, original dance as a class project. The performance takes place on the classroom and will only be seen by the class. You want to record a video of it to share with other interpreters who work with your client and know s/he is doing the performance.

Is it ok to ask your client if you can record them and share the recording with other people they know?

Suppose it's not a solo, but a group performance. Do you need to get the hearing people's permission too?

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?

How about a poem to me?

Your students are assigned to write a poem praising something. After you interpret the assignment, you suggest writing about your favorite interpreter--you! (me!)--in jest, of course.

Is that overstepping boundaries? Or is that relationship building?

Would it be different depending on the age if the client? (elementary vs high school vs college)

When would this kind if banter be acceptable or not?

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?

Keep your opinion out of it.

You are interpreting in a drug rehab program. You are interpreting a movie (no captions!! Ug!!) which you find to be overtly simple and preachy. You make a face. As soon as you do, you see your client respond...to your face and then respond differently to the movie.

--what are your options to now erase your opinion from the conversation?
--suppose you hear, a week later, your client quit the program. Are you partly responsible?

No phones!

Electronics aren't allowed in school. The students are putting together a dance and the dance teacher, not bring able to go against school policy, asks the class, rhetorically, how they will bring in music to practice if they can't bring in an iPod, for example. She says, "I can't allow you to bring it in. ... If your smart, you'll understand what I'm saying.". She was implying that if the students brought an electronic device, she wouldn't stop them. But she couldn't openly say that.

The implication doesn't come through in your interpretation. So you decide to be obvious. "if you bring your iPhone," you interpret, "she's not gonna take it away."

Enjoy this book

You gave a book to one of your clients. A novel. Because the two of you have been discussing books. You bought it used on a dollar shelf, anyhow. You don't need it back.

Is it appropriate to share books? No? What would it be ok to share? What would it not be ok to share!

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.

You can stay and chat

You are interpreting a doctor appointment and are scheduled for 2 hours. After 1 hour, the appointment is over, the doctor signed your sheet and you are heading out the door when your Deaf client signs, "Your scheduled for another hour. Lets chat." Then he heads to his room in his long term care facility.

*Do you stay and chat? You are scheduled for another hour.
*Do you leave? You are scheduled to interpret, not to hang out.
*What would be the moral thing to do?
*What are your other options?