Improve note-taking 2 | Consecutive Interpreting

Summary

In this session, Juan, an experienced medical video interpreter, shares highlights from his workday, reflecting on challenges and rewarding moments. He discusses interruptions during interpretation, the importance of clear communication, and strategies for improving note-taking. Juan emphasizes the need for self-development in interpreting skills, such as creating personal symbols for efficient note-taking. He also touches on a patient's confidence in practicing a new language and offers advice for handling tough situations with professionalism. The session encourages interpreters to stay focused on accuracy and empathy, while continuing to learn and adapt in their profession.

Takeaways

• 😀 Juan is an experienced English-Spanish medical video remote interpreter with over four years of experience.
• 😀 On April 16, 2021, Juan took a total of 28 calls, a mix of video and phone sessions, with slightly more video calls that day.
• 😀 Maintaining good posture during video interpreting can be challenging, as it can lead to back pain after long hours of sitting.
• 😀 An important incident during the day involved a patient interrupting Juan while he was interpreting, but the doctor corrected him, reinforcing the importance of waiting for interpretation to be completed.
• 😀 Juan emphasizes the importance of allowing the interpreter to finish before speaking to avoid misinterpretation or confusion.
• 😀 In one session, a patient initially spoke a language Juan didn’t understand, but then switched to Spanish, speaking quickly and in a high-pitched voice, which made it challenging for Juan to interpret.
• 😀 Sometimes patients who understand English try to respond in English before the interpreter can assist, leading to misunderstandings, but Juan helped by interpreting what the patient was trying to say.
• 😀 Juan appreciated the doctor's supportive behavior, allowing the patient to practice their English even if it made communication more difficult.
• 😀 In another instance, a nurse asked the patient about their exercise routine, but Juan could only interpret what the patient answered, leading to a situation where the nurse wanted more detailed information than what was provided.
• 😀 When a provider questions the interpreter's accuracy, Juan suggests calmly explaining that the interpreter can only provide what has been said by the patient or provider, and any gaps in information are not the interpreter's fault.
• 😀 Juan advises interpreters to develop their own note-taking symbols tailored to their specific field of interpreting, as this will help them work faster and more efficiently.
• 😀 Juan encourages interpreters to try different symbols during their note-taking practice and not to force symbols that don’t feel natural, as efficiency and clarity are key in the interpreting process.

Q & A

What types of sessions did Juan handle during his workday?

Juan handled a mix of video and phone sessions, with more video sessions on this particular day due to concerns about maintaining proper posture.

How does Juan handle situations when a patient interrupts during interpretation?

Juan allows important interruptions if necessary but generally informs the patient that they need to let him interpret first before speaking, ensuring accurate communication.

What was challenging about the patient who initially spoke a language Juan did not understand?

The patient eventually switched to Spanish but spoke in a fast, high-pitched voice, making it difficult for Juan to understand and interpret accurately.

How did Juan encourage the patient to practice English during the session?

The doctor allowed the patient to respond in English while Juan interpreted, creating a safe space for the patient to practice without embarrassment.

What does Juan say about interpreting responses that are incomplete or do not answer the provider's question fully?

Juan emphasizes that interpreters can only relay what is actually said. If the patient’s response is incomplete, the interpreter should communicate this clearly rather than guessing or providing additional information.

What advice does Juan give for handling situations when the interpreter is wrongly blamed?

Juan advises explaining the situation clearly to both parties, emphasizing that the interpreter can only relay what is heard, and not to take it personally if called out.

Why does Juan suggest building friendly relationships in in-person interpreting settings?

Building a positive relationship can prevent future conflicts and facilitate smoother interactions when working with the same patients or providers again.

What is Juan’s approach to developing a personal note-taking system for interpreting?

Juan suggests creating symbols for frequently repeated words in a specific field, experimenting with abbreviations, letters, or drawings, and discarding symbols that don’t work effectively.

How does Juan recommend choosing which words to create symbols for in note-taking?

He recommends focusing on the most commonly repeated words in the specific interpreting field, such as 'nurse' or 'hospital' in medical settings, to make note-taking efficient and practical.

What is Juan’s overall advice for interpreters learning from mistakes?

Juan encourages interpreters to take mistakes in stride, apologize if necessary, communicate clearly, and use the experience to improve skills without taking criticism personally.

How does Juan encourage language learners in interpreting sessions?

He praises patients who practice a new language, even if imperfectly, and highlights the importance of creating supportive environments that allow learners to try without fear of embarrassment.