I came to the profession as many of you did, if you started your interpreting career ten or more years ago. I had a 15-minute phone interview with an agency owner, and I was hired on the spot and given very few instructions.

In most states, a bilingual individual who wishes to be on the court’s roster of qualified interpreters must meet certain requirements. These are not whimsical or random requirements. The first one is usually an orientation seminar about the court system in the state where the... The post Did you say you wanted a volunteer interpreter, Your Honor? appeared first on NAJIT.

“Elephants have six toes.” “Sally sells seashells by the seashore.” “My friends are named Sam, Stan, Stu, San, Sandy, Dee, and Dan.” What do all these phrases have in common? These three phrases are typically used in the popular children’s game “Whisper down the lane.”... The post Simultaneous Interpreting: Accurate or Timely? appeared first on NAJIT.

The Couch is a learning place, not only for its contributors but also for our readers who engage in the ensuing discussions. The subject of this month’s Couch is the transition to “normal.” As in-person services gradually resume (or at least are on the horizon),... The post The Couch – “The New Normal…” appeared first on NAJIT.

According to Athena, the secret of good note-taking is not in the wrist. It's in your hearing! Could she be right? Read onto find out.

There is something about “being” a translator that is very different from “being” an interpreter. It’s not just about sitting in front of a desk by yourself versus being surrounded by people when you do your work. Translators want to take their time finding that... The post THE SECOND-GUESSING CURSE appeared first on NAJIT.

We hardly pay attention to the way in which we say things, but we certainly know intuitively that we should raise our volume when we want to emphasize something, or lower it when our intention is a bit more secretive or intimate. We know... The post The Power of the Inflected Voice appeared first on NAJIT.

For me, among the specific skillsets that court interpreters use on a daily basis, true old-fashioned consecutive is the one that has the highest potential to showcase our talents. Because this is the mode that we use most often to go into English, on the... The post Getting Back to Crisp Consecutive appeared first on NAJIT.

In the small county seat where I work several times a week there is a traffic circle. It is a small oasis in a not-very-attractive little town. In spring and summer there are shade trees and flowers. There is a central fountain, and a number... The post Appreciate Yourself! Being Your Own Best Critic appeared first on NAJIT.