Blog
How to work with an interpreter
When an interpreter arrives at an appointment and interprets, that is the visible part of the process. However, the work of the interpreter starts before the appointment, and ends after the appointment. How can a [...]
Children and other family members as interpreters
CLAS Standard 7: Competence of interpreters – Use of untrained individuals and/or minors as interpreters should be avoided According to CLAS 7: Untrained family, friends, minors, and staff often do not possess the necessary skills [...]
Bilingual staff as interpreters – CLAS 7
CLAS Standard 7: Competence of interpreters – Use of untrained individuals and/or minors as interpreters should be avoided The use of clinical and nonclinical staff who speak a non-English language but who are untrained in [...]
How to work effectively with an interpreter
Working with an interpreter involves clear, direct communication. The Washington State Health Care Authority Interpreter Services Program has developed this checklist for working with an interpreter. Some items on the checklist: Look and speak directly [...]
Communicating at various levels of formality
CLAS Standard 7: Competence of interpreters – Ability to communicate in all registers and at varying levels of formality What is a “register”? The “register” is the variety of the language we use in a [...]
The interpreter requests clarification…
I was talking with a colleague about Title VI. Interpreters are supposed to uphold Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, and I was checking what, exactly, that meant. Title VI prohibits discrimination on the [...]