To become a public service interpreter, you need fluency in English and at least one other language, training in interpreter ethics and the terminology of schools, social services, and government agencies, and practice interpreting in realistic scenarios. Most people can complete focused training in a matter of weeks.
Every day,...
An asylum case often comes down to one person's testimony. The officer or judge deciding the case may not understand the applicant's language, so every date, name, and detail passes through the interpreter. Effective interpreter training improves outcomes for asylum seekers, and the difference between a trained professional and a casual bilingual speaker...
Yes, immigration interpreting can be emotionally difficult. Interpreters can experience vicarious emotional distress from clients' stories of persecution and hardship. But emotional difficulty does not make this career impossible—the importance of these situations is what makes the career meaningful. Many interpreters stay in the field for decades because they know their work helps...
Imagine being asked, over a phone or video line from a detention facility, to describe the worst events of your life to a stranger. You have to be precise about dates, places, and names.
Now imagine you can only do it through someone else's voice.
That is...