Getting Ready for an Interpreting Session: Recommendations from a Professional

As an interpreter, you should meticulously prepare for each particular event. However, studying the agenda and researching context may not be enough to perform at your best. Explore several practical tips from our experienced interpreter Yaroslava Lukina.

·       Just like you are warming up your mind with coffee, warm up your mouth with speaking exercises. Laughing and joking will do.
·       Practice pronouncing names and complicated terms that will be used during the meeting.
·       Browse the accompanying pictures and illustrations in advance, as you may not have the opportunity to see them clearly during the event.
·       Recall the world-famous movies. You have watched Terminator and Titanic, haven’t you? You may start with them. The associated allusions may arise throughout the meeting anytime.
·       Coordinate special communication gestures and signs with your teammate. Establish appropriate interaction to ensure a smooth interpretation process.
·       Interpreters usually work in pairs and support each other. One is interpreting, and the other one provides help where appropriate. For instance, in locating a person's name in a long list, or picking a required presentation.
·       It is worth learning specific terminology and agreeing on how to interpret it where variations may exist.

Finally, try to relax and focus, even though it may seem controversial. By lowering stress, you’ll enhance your confidence and efficiency.