A Day in the Life of an Interpreter

[angelkittyhalo1993]

I really like this video! Thank you so much for sharing! I appreciate it! I have wanted to be a Physical therapist since I was in 8th grade, but now I am so fond of Languages in Asia. My dream is to become a great interpreter, one who travels, and I want to do my job really good! I want to master in Spanish, Korean, Japanese, and Chinese. :) Wish me luck and I wish all of you guys luck on want to be one! I know it's hard work, but if they can do it you can :) Later :D

[ilidionbeurkley]

I myself am a freelance translator (Japanese>English/Mandarin Chinese>English/Spanish>Englis­h). It is really amazing to think about the differences between translating and interpreting. I admire interpreters and think that what they do is amazing, but it seems like such a high pressure job in many ways; when I translate I can take as much time as I need to perfect my translations, but with interpretation you are right there, on the spot. there are no delays. those who can do it are amazing.

[chiqitita82]

I was just about to say, interesting to compare it to sign language interpreting. I am studying Auslan (Australian Sign Language).

[daberr2]

yeah you both need to improve your accented and annoying english because although you may have accent-less spanish, in order to reach the higher realms of thought in english, you must be able to do it the same way a native english speaker is capable of doing it, and from what i can tell in the video you both LACK that. 

[Beaguins]

@daberr2 They probably don't interpret from Spanish to English. They probably do English to Spanish, in which case all they have to do is understand the English. Most of the translation/interpretation jobs I've seen advertised want native speakers of the language being translated to, not from.

[TSGS21]

Can anyone help me out in how can I get started? I recently applied for court Interpreting here in NY, but they only accept applications at certain times of the year. It seems hard to just gain experience to reach the professional level. I am currently a senior studying Spanish and I am looking into the Interpreting and Translation program at a Master degree level. If anyone can network with me, it would be greatly appreciated. Bye Bye.

[MontereyInstitute]

@MorganeDubled Check out our translation & interpretation programs sometime

[MorganeDubled]

I would love, love to become an Interpreter it's my dream!!

[LonelyaDalilaaa460]

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[RodolfoMartins1992]

Also im currently at university studying spanish/french and im planning to take a master in interpreting.

[RodolfoMartins1992]

I was born in Portugal and moved to England at the age of 13, I speak but Portuguese and English fluent , English with an English accent and vice versa, at home i speak in Portuguese with my family so I am used to switching between the two everyday and also interpret for my parents as at the beginning they couldn't speak English very well. Would this make me a employable interpreter? I can speak Portuguese (fluent), English (fluent), Spanish (nearly perfect) and French (intermediate). Thank you

[waterTmolecula]

@RodolfoMartins1992 You could try looking for translation jobs on the internet, but to work as Interpreter you'll need a degree, or at least some kind of certificate.

[norxcontacts]

Pretty cake job.

[strollerlover3]

Nice portrait of what an interpreter really does. It is not quite as easy as it looks.

[ANTIMERENGUE]

I enjoy every second of interpreting. Its so thrilling but sometimes with stress. But, grace under pressure, as Hemingway once said. Almost 20 years of experience, Carlos Gardel once said: 20 years is nothing. Lifelong learning, my languages are German, English and Italian.

[quelita28]

Does this school have online courses? How can interpreters remember each

word they have to say without a paper that has a script of what is going on?

[tamaramoxham]

I teach American Sign Language Interpreting. So many people don't realize that it takes a whole lot more than being bilingual. My family thinks I teach ASL. I don't I teach my students how to think in two languages at the same time, strip the source language of grammar and look for meaning, then rebuild it in the target language in its dynamic equivalent. The biggest barrier I've seen? Students who aren't skilled in their native language.

[kaatvc91]

@tamaramoxham: Just because you have hands doesn't mean you can play the piano, right? Same goes for interpreting. Many people do not realize that you need an extremely high command of your native language and on top of that, you must be able to think on your feet. I am an ASL student hoping to get into the IPP and see many students struggling with basic English concepts. I want to get into trilingual interpreting and realize that I will have to put in A LOT of work in order to reach that goal.

[HerrSpieldose]

I only know ASL, Farsi and German enough to be remotely fluent, German as well as English and ASL and Farsi from immersion for the most part from my deaf stepmom and Persian neighbors and I am learning Spanish, French and Italian as an adult and those are simple but easily forgotten without frequent practice and aside from German, I wouldn't pass the test to be an interpreter yet I could sign or speak Farsi more than well enough to communicate with a deaf or persian person with no issue...

[HerrSpieldose]

@HerrSpieldose being an interpreter requires speaking or signing in proper grammar with little exception and while rarely speaking proper English, it is possible as I was raised speaking English and German for as long as I can recall and I understand them both by "getting it" so it is easy to speak it properly with effort... I learned Farsi at around age 8 from friends and sign at 11 from picking it up and conversationally from people and while I can converse it isn't proper and sign spelled...

[masaje0]

I'm an interpreter/Translator myself. Working with English, Spanish and American Sign Language is no easy task, but is a very rewarding job. There's always something new to learn everyday.

My support to fellow "terps"

[ssips720]

wow seems like a tuff job to get.. but HELLA easy $ once u actually do that for a living LOL

[shibadoggie11]

I worked part-time as an interpreter & translator at the age 17. Over 20 yrs have passed since then, and I am currently an IT engineer as well as a technical translator. I always think about the difference (gap) between the two languages I have been using (English and Japanese). I personally think that translation is a great fun.

[YouStoleMyTube]

You need to speak at least 3 of the 6 United Nations languages to even be considered.

But that's just the United Nations...

[AnonymousJuan]

The one with a nose ring is really cute. I love learning languages but I never really had time to actually concentrate and really learn one.

[TucoRamirez2]

@AnonymousJuan Cute? She's drop dead gorgeous! And best of all, she's intelligent.

[yahairajvd1]

WOW VERY INTERESTING!

[randomuser1105]

Been thinking of becoming an ASL, Spanish or Mandarin translator/interpreter. Very informative. Thanks!

[ElizabethxPete]

Seems like a very exciting job!

[hizman]

The video is good for general audience, e.g. your clients, because it gives a basic idea of what interpretation is. Just like with other professionals doing the unseen work like system administrators in IT, people don't realise the qualifications and even personality you need to do your job well as an interpreter.

[rickjuniorable]

I'd like to be a translator, but I kind of gave up this idea. =( there are so many electronic resources nowadays, and although they are not that good, most of people would rather use them than hiring a translator.

[kary213]

@rickjuniorable but you can't use these resources for formal occassions. Conferences, messages, legal documentations. It's different! No single computer program is able to provide the function of translating as well as the human brain.

[roman949]

I know Russian, German, Englisch, French and Chinese. This job was my dream since i was i small kid.

[MrBoffom]

i interpret spanish, english and american sign language, and it can be really confusing sometimes when you are using all 3 at once, but i love waking up to do it everyday. we chose an awesome career dont you think?

[Naancydreams]

No doubt it's a challenging work. But I definitely want to study this career.

[gnarlydork]

I think this video is a great one for the general population to understand what "interpretation" is. I am a Deaf ASL-English interpreter and often people don't understand the hard efforts it takes to be a good interpreter.

Thanks for making this video!!!

[adrip0k0r4]

hey! wow, i really admire you guys; i wanna be an interpreter too!! can you tell me what is the hardest thing for you when interpreting??? what tecniques are useful to keep THAT concentrated on every single detail that involves the interpreting process????? excuse my english :S..thanks!

[TheYankeeSamurai]

It was a fun video! Your confidence showed very well through the camera's eye, ladies. Way to go!

[o0sarcasm0o]

oh man! i miss those days in the booth, I was really good at it, but well I have to be honest, it`s really hard to be a translator and interpreter nowadays, I mean as a freelance.. it's a beautifull job, you learn a lot of different things. saludos a todos desde Chile! alles gute und tschüss!

[71Girl]

I love it to..the best job in the world!

[MrSpieldose]

I can do German and ASL interpretation in the US but I picked it up from Natives as a kid so it is easier that way...

[misskarmakula]

Thanks so much guys, im studing that cant wait to finish! n_n

[GennBoy]

I do interpretation for a clinic, I've also done translation, I admit I find interpretation easy, since I'm perfectly fluent in both languages, but even though I could do translating well, I prefer interpretation to translation, I'll say even though interpretation is easy (if you're comfortable in both languages) it's also stressing, I admit that at the end of the day (after 7 hours interpreting), I feel I need to have a break or just end my day, it could be heavy to do it for long hours.

[gospelnews123]

excelente!!!

[iamchus]

I am not a perfectionist but the word "Moneri" (Institute), as Iciar Gomez mispronounced MOn-teh-rre-y, shows an immense disrespect for the Hispanic heritage and origin of many name of places in the United States.

Interpretation has also a cultural compound, and there, from what I can conclude, it is something missing in the teachings of that institute, specially for a Spanish speaking person, as I am.

[gnr80rock]

@iamchus enserio?? Please tell me you are joking? I feel sorry for you.

[iamchus]

@gnr80rock

I am not. Why would I joke about our Heritage and being disrespectful?

[Mesija1]

Hello everyone! I am mastering in Japanese and English, but also can use Spanish and French(I will prefect them in extensive courses even more next year).Could anyone suggest a good Interpretation schools or universities? I am particularly interested in working in the UN as sim. interpreter of these 4 languages.....

[GuillermoVarillas]

I'm hoping someone can help me out here. I am indecisive about which University to choose.

I have 2 offers, one from University of Westminster in London (Spanish/French with Translation studies) And my second option is University of East Anglia in Norwich (Media and Translation Studies with Spanish/French)

I am looking into both Universities as much as I can but if anyone has any relevant information which may help me decide I would be very grateful!!

Saludos a la chica de SS

Aupa Euskadi!

[vietgloria83]

I have been interpreting Vietnamese-spanish in the court, tomorrow I'll have to interprete English-spanish for the frist time in my life, and I'm not a native speaker of both of them. But this translator and interpreter company just throw me the job, just like that, without even training or interviewing me, that's kinda scary for me rite now, and they are a big company, but not so proffesional to do that. Anyway, they give me a chance, I gotta try it ;-)

Thanks for all the tips.

[MsPazmundial]

As a professional interpreter and trainer, I would add my two cents. Do not do it, since you are not a native speaker of either languages. Plus, do you mean your combination is Vietnamese-Spanish? which is extremely weird. Never take a job you are not qualified for, just say NO. Watch for your writing in English, the mistakes tell a lot. Stick to the language pairs you are certified or qualified to work on, particularly if you work in the court system.

[ijansk]

Interpreting is exhausting and stressing, translation is less axhausting and less stressing.

[trevinboy]

Good work, girls. Interpreting/Translating is truly an art, not every bilingual person can be an interpreter/translator. I've been doing Immigration and other legal interpreting/translating for 11 years and it is no small feat. Felicidades a las dos!

[Giaiwtbm]

If you work as a freelance interpreter/translator, how much free time would you have?

[MrLoose26]

wow this job keeps u busy

thought that was easier than that

[ObjectiveBob]

Hmmm...i wonder if an English major might be able to enter the field of interpreting

[trevinboy]

@ObjectiveBob Let's just say that you are further along than just any bilungual person as you are better able to translate (written translation) than others.

[ObjectiveBob]

I'm actually double-majoring in English and Spanish with an option in translation. So I'll be taking several courses in interpretation.

[trevinboy]

@ObjectiveBob That will definitely help you, but there in all sincerity there is no substitute for hands on training, go to Federal Court or maybe even Immigration court in any big city and sit down to observe cases. I used to do that, watch the news in both languages and interpret them on your mind as you go. If you have a word that you're stuck in, look it up, but try to wing it, just to see what word you would've come up with had you been in a real situation. helpful tips

[ObjectiveBob]

Thank's for the tips! I will keep that in mind.

BTW, are there jobs out there in court interpreting? How competitive is the field of interpreting?

[Juicyfield]

I agree, there should be more videos like this on youtube.

[girl4rukia]

there should be more videos like that on youtube ^^

[Grealsa]

"it's a coo year programme"

[141nptt]

I did work as interpreter in iraq with u.s army and my ass got shot every day that is what I know about the interpreter life

[ItsMsAdelyn]

When youre a translator do u have to travel abroad ? I'm askin this question since I'd like to be one (english-french) but i really really.. dont want to travel abroad.. ! please answer me asap =)

[lovesrceforever]

Hi, I study english-french too :) It's good if you travel and get to know the cultures that you are only listening about in school. It may help you with some translations which sometimes have a lot of cultural specific stuff in them. But if you don't like to travel, it's no big deal. My advice to you is to get as many contacts as possible from other countries (ex. via facebook) so you can turn to them in case you have a problem translating a difficult text. So travelling isn't obligatory. Bye!

[Funketeshitman]

You can work within your country if you want, or go abroad, depends on what you want to do.

[Multilinguists]

Its also interesting to see how many do not know the difference between an interpreter & a translator. I've worked in both capacities for several languages.

[apbmusica2007]

Interesante! y gracias x recordarnoslo!

detalles y q barbaras! las felicito!

aqui en California CAL STATE FULLERTON. Extended Education. Hasta ahora; la primera clase muy interesante. Activa y amena.

Es solo mi opinion; Debes entender = comprender, leer , escribir y hablar los 2

idiomas. Saber escuchar: las palabras de diferentes paises. E s V i t a l.

[Mcgreevey009]

This is the best film on interpretation I have ever seen.

[ruggeddusty]

Very interesting video. I interpret between English and American Sign Language, but I don't get to hear what work is like for foreign language interpreters very often. Very similar (though ASL interpreters generally take 20-minute shifts instead of 30 to prevent physical fatigue as well as the cognitive fatigue mentioned in the video).

[douglaskakaroto19]

hmm..the video is pretty well done...i'm studying both careers..."traducción/interpre­tación", en la mejor universidad de latinoamérica, Chile. (Inglés-Alemán-Español)

[jamjerjaxjay]

My understanding about A B C Language since I was born in America and learned English 1st. This is my A Language. I am most comfortable in this language. I then went to school for Sign Language. This is my B language. I am not a 'native' or born signer.

Some other terms are target language and source language. Source Language is the language in which you are recieving the msg and Target Language is in which you are giving the msg.

[Jazzomite1]

Make another video, emphasizing payment procedures!

But the video was great!

[ammarsandwich]

Google EMCI if you re interested in working for the EU institutions. You ll thank me for this

[Eilliniel]

Muy bien el video, ya es hora de que se aclaren ciertos "clichés" sobre la interpretación... como dice la intérprete, no somos loros :).

Espero llegar a trabajar de esto algún día, de momento estudiarlo es mi adrenalina... y mi estrés... jeje.

[CallimacoSpaziale]

to también :)

[cleamodra]

i study interpreting and i realise it´s really hard work, even though i study spanish , i think that an "A" language is obviously english. Actually this job is disappreciated and many persons think that if you know one foreign language it´s enougf for interpreting, it´s bullshit, you have to study to be a good interpreter and translator as well. good luck for everyone...great video:P

[latinforever1]

your statement is bias, why would english be A??? because that is YOUR native language? right.......interpreter here too for more than 24 years and I disagree with your bias and baseless statement

[GVinterp]

did you really study interpreting formally? because then you would know its not a bias. Your first language is referred to as your A language, your second language is your B language and if you know a third but are not fully fluent in it that's your C language. These are common terms in the field and are not based on a bias.

[latinforever1]

@GVinterp (

did you finish highschool? are you are too stupid to see her intentions in that context?

it is bias. Imbécil si te vas a poner a discutir conmigo, hazlo con base no me hagas perder mi tiempo

[GVinterp]

sorry didn't realize I was talking to a paranoid freak. You are right it's not worth it to argue. Yes I finished hs I have a BA and two AA degrees, didn't realize that made me stupid...

[ammarsandwich]

GVinterp

I am not sure how to understand your explanation of the terms A,B and C language. But from what you say, you can only have three language pairs, this would indeed be wrong. You can have as many B languages and C languages as you wish- this if your skills are good enough. Same goes for A languages.

Are you an interpreter? I d be delighted if you could share some of the experiences you ve made as an interpreter!

[ammarsandwich]

I think there was a misunderstanding from both sides. I agree with latinforever. Your perception of the "A" language is the same I had. My languages would be Arabic and German, English will be a B language.

[ruggeddusty]

I've learned to use L1, L2, L3, etc. instead of the alphabetical labels. I use them to refer to which languages I'm most or least fluent in, or to describe the chronology of when I learned them, which often relates to fluency.

L1 (or language "A") should be the language (possibly languages) that you're a native speaker of. That's a special level of fluency that rarely is achieved by someone who learns a language academically.

[Macros50]

Whoa, I'm in the last year of Interpreting at PUCV, Chile, and I must say it's a very good video; it should be watched by the students-to-be of Interpreting. This profession is not very recognized in Chile, it's sad because many people consider it an ART as well as I do; one of the most stressful jobs on earth, well, thanks for the video...

[natilagos]

SIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

YO TB SOY D AHI!!! jajaa

hace poco nos mostraron el video.

UUHUUHU LA LLEVAMOS

[Macros50]

alalala la naty!!!!! jajajaja besossss muac!!!

[MarylZ]

It's sort of scary that people don't even know the difference between an Interpreter and a Translator. Very eye-opening! I might use this video in class too, for a presentation. ( :

[vcautin]

I will use this video in a class, does anyone have the script of it? thanks-

[jonmahoney04]

Awesome video. :-)

Thanks.

[Khrulghan]

I'm a postgrade student in Conference Interpreting at the Advanced School of Modern Languges for Interpreters and Translators (SSLMIT) of Forlì. Thanks for posting this video, it's very informative for the regular joe!

[lngwstx]

I love this video and will be using it to educate people. Add a third category for sign language interpreters: transliteration, which is converting a spoken language into a sign system, such as, in the US, Signed Exact English, which is a visual form of grammatically correct English, and is very different than American Sign Language, an independent language with its own grammar. To my knowledge, this third distinction only exists with sign language interpreting -- correct me if I am wrong. ??

[ruggeddusty]

It would be possible to transliterate a foreign language into another language using the gramatical structure of the source. You could call it a "literal translation". The words are translated, but the grammar is retained.

But I agree that transliteration is probably never used in real-time interactions by any other interpreters except those working with Deaf individuals.

SEE1, SEE2, MCE, CASE, and ASL with its natural regional variations make interpreting for the Deaf a very exciting job :-D

[lngwstx]

I agree; why would anyone do that? Except to illustrate the grammatical structure of the source language, which IMO would be less interpreting and more demonstrating. :-)

[aristoteto]

i'm an italian student..i'm 18 and in october i'll start university...i hope i will pass the test to enter one of the best schools for interpreters and translators in italy, in forlì or trieste; i'd like to study german and english, maybe some other languages, so that one day i'll become an interpreter at the institutions of the EU!...that's my dream!

[scully24]

I would like to study Italian, in latinoamerica, we love italian, so...If I had the chance to go for another language, I'd definitely choose Italian. Hey.....american institutions are awesome, but....the EU seems to provide more interesting jobs. In Europe are most of the languages, so.... I'm sure u will get into any colllege u wish. Just prepare ok. Buena suerte

[CharlotteNY]

Realmente, es muy triste que nadie nos conozca, que nadie sepa a qué nos dedicamos, que nadie valore nuestro trabajo. ¡¡Ni siquiera entienden la diferencia entre traductor e intérprete! Estoy acabando la licenciatura en traducción e interpretación, y, sinceramente, aunque lo considero un ARTE en mayúsculas, jamás podria dedicarme a la interpretacion. ¡¡Demasiada presión para mí!!

[appoescoria]

Hola CharlotteNY, de donde eres?

Mira yo estoy interesado en ser Interprete Traductor y quisiera saber informacion detallada sobre esta carrera, por fa si quieres nos pasamos nuestros correos para que estemos en comunicacion.

[eiliniel]

Love it! I´m finishing translation and interpreting this year in Madrid, and i hope i could work as an interpreter!! it´ s not easy at all though but i´m practising a lot :D

Hey, maybe i should already know it, but is Monterrey university the best univ in translation nowadays?? best of all?? thanks!

[ammarsandwich]

wouldnt say that. If you want to for the EU you should go for one of the univrrsities that provied EMCI recognised classes. Check them out, google EMCI

[26111]

great...i am starting in this role....

[botallicrose]

It's a hard job...but i'm fond of languages.

[botallicrose]

This is my future job! thatnks for the criteria, i plan to be a french interpreter in the next 5 years because i am 18 now. i knew that i wanted to do this since i was eleven. now it's just to make the my dream happen.

[assyrem99]

wishing you a succesful carrer in interpretership field;so i do hope that you'll enjoy it; but as a student in translation & interpretership department i can advise you to do your best to master the foreign languages because ,really this field is so so difficult but we can success!! wishing you succesful futuer to be interpreter...

[tazkashan]

yeh i know what it like hahah 4 years interoreter US ARMY,AIRFORCE,NAVY& NATO

[sallychatty76]

thank you for this VDO. I am an interpreter. It makes me realise how much I LOVE my job.

[scully24]

Hahaha I'm so happy to see other guys, like me, who just want to be interpreters or translators, or both. Since I was in junior high school I knew I wanted to do something related to languages and eventually i realized "that something" was interpretation. Now, Im studying journalism, and I'm okay with it, but when I just ran into this video, the memories came back, and Im sure I am gonna go for Monterey international studies, hahah. Wish you luck and good vibs from Mexico

[WandaTheGermanMaid]

Thanks for this vid. I want to be an interpreter just as some of the other comment writers and this vid just gave me one more reason to go for it. Greetings from Poland!:)

[raulsaenz]

i myself am an interpreter. my mother tongue is spanish(im mexican) and i interpret my second language (thai, from thailand) to Icelandic, (the country i live in) It´s a very fun occupation, but mentally exhausting and it requires a lot of concentration and vocabulary.

[honjokun06]

เฮ้ย เจ๋งอ่ะนาย พูดไทยได้ด้วยใช่ป่าวเนี่ย ถ้าอ่านรู้เรื่องช่วยตอบตรงนี้ด­้วย ตอนนี้เราเรียนภาษาสเปนอยู่อ่ะ

(digame si no puedes leer tailandes en tu ordenador ;-)

[anzhelo4ka]

Great video!

[fanticla]

Very nice work!

[shalasagu]

To work as an interpreter is fun, but at the same time it is a great responsibility. You know, some mistakes equals hundreds of mistakes. As you said, self-confidence is an important factor in becoming a sucessful interpreter/translator.

[MontereyInstitute]

Glad you guys liked the video. Please contact us at admit@miis.edu if you are interested in more information about our program.

[elizbethva]

I just want to tell you that I really liked your video. I just completed my major in T/I, I just need to get my license. I can't wait to start working like you! You inspire me! Congrats!

[heimer33]

Few people can't tell the difference between translator and interpreter.

Monterey Institute is the school I intend to apply for. This vid is what I need...because I am interested in T/I. Hope I can successfully get in this well-known graduate school.