Is Immigration Interpreting Really Necessary For Our Alumni?
Immigration interpreting training teaches bilingual adults how to become competent language interpreters specifically for immigration purposes. That's why we ask that all bilingual adults demonstrate their language proficiency before class even begins. Because we need to ensure that you can, in fact, understand the languages you will be interpreting before we teach you how to become a language interpreter. You may or may not realize it now, but there is a lot more to professional language interpreting than just knowing 2 languages. In fact, if you've already taken a medical interpreting course, you still need to take an immigration interpreter course. Here's why immigration interpreting training is still important:
4 reasons why our alumni still need to enroll in the immigration interpreting training course...
1. Different courses = different trainings
Immigration interpreter training has a specific syllabus just like legal interpreter training does. Our specialized interpreter training courses all have unique trainings specific to the industry. The vocabulary and procedures we teach in each course is highly specific to situations in the industry, because you most likely won't hear them anywhere else. These situations for immigration interpreting include:
- Citizenship & naturalization
- Asylum & refugee processes
- DACA, TPS, ICE procedures and more
2. The ethics of immigration interpreting are completely different as well
If you have already taken legal interpreter training, you might be wondering why you have to take another specialized interpreter training course. And you wouldn't be alone thinking that. The reality is that immigration interpreting cases require you to work with vulnerable populations. And as a result, the ethics of interpreting must reflect that with:
- Understanding power dynamics in immigration settings
- Handling clients with respect despite the trauma of the situation
- Common ethical gray areas and how to remain professional
3. Nothing is repeated with immigration interpreting training
Some alumni choose to view it as "repeating a course." Which is a mistake, because it isn't true at all. In fact, the only way you can truly repeat any of our interpreter courses is if you keep failing its final exam, and need to learn the same material over again. Also, because passing other courses doesn't mean you are prepared for immigration interpreting work.
Too often, alumni will complete a legal interpreter course and feel like they can take immigration cases. Not only do they struggle through a real-world asylum interview, but their callousness affects a real person who might not ever get another chance. For an alumni to enroll in another specialized course, demonstrates to future clients and employers that:
- You are willing to continue learning
- You are dedicated to your profession
- You can handle high-stakes communication
4. Immigration interpreting training prepares you for the future
Our courses are set up differently than others, because we want you to be as prepared as possible for your new careers. We provide LIVE video-chat classrooms so that you receive the benefits of in-person learning, while also having the convenience of learning online. Because we recognize that your future immigration interpreting clients, and their loved ones are the real people you must prepare for. We understand that financial investments are difficult in this economy. But when your mistakes have real consequences, that can affect the marginalized people you work for, they will also pay a price for your mistakes.
Would you trust a doctor who didn't want to continue their education?... No? Then why would anyone trust a language interpreter who didn't want to continue their training?
Our online translator classes are taught by expert instructors ✅ who have real-world experience in their interpreting specialty. They have worked hard to make fully remote online courses that are unique and engaging ✅ using a hands-on approach that is unparalleled by the competition. If you or someone you know is interested in our online Medical Interpreter Training Programs with live instruction✅, our fully remote yet real time classes ✅ are offered in Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, Russian, Chinese, Haitian Creole, Vietnamese, Farsi, French, Hindi, Korean, Somali, Urdu, Ukrainian languages online and onsite.
