[Emely Veliz]

After watching the video, I noticed that the interpreter made several mistakes, but she also did some things correctly.

The 11 errors were:

She did not interpret everything the patient said about her stomach symptoms.
She left out part of the patient’s family medical history.
She interrupted the doctor at the wrong moment.
She gave only a short summary of the endoscopy explanation.
She used her own words to explain medical information instead of asking the doctor to clarify it.
She answered a personal phone call during the appointment.
She arrived late for another patient’s visit.
Her introduction was incomplete because she did not mention confidentiality or clearly explain her role.
She summarized the patient’s urinary symptoms and missed some details.
She became too involved by asking or changing questions instead of interpreting what was said.
She did not interpret the complete conversation between the patient and the receptionist when they scheduled the follow-up visit.

There were also positive things in the different scenes. During the first appointment, the interpreter helped the patient and doctor communicate even though they spoke different languages. She gave the patient an opportunity to explain her concerns and helped the doctor obtain information about the symptoms. When they discussed the patient’s stomach problems and family history, she communicated some important details that could help the doctor understand the situation.

When the doctor spoke about possible diagnoses, the interpreter continued helping both people understand each other. During the endoscopy scene, she noticed that the patient did not understand the medical term. It was good that she told the doctor the patient needed more information. She also helped communicate instructions about the procedure, preparation, recovery, and transportation.

In the second appointment, she introduced herself to the receptionist as the Spanish interpreter and treated the staff respectfully. At the beginning of the visit, she asked the patient and provider to speak in short sections and pause so she could interpret. This was helpful for controlling the conversation. She also helped the patient describe urinary symptoms such as burning, pain, and frequent urination. Finally, she interpreted information about the medication and helped with the follow-up appointment.

In my opinion, the interpreter’s main problem was that she did not always interpret all the information accurately and completely. However, she still helped the patients communicate with the medical staff and showed some good interpreting practices in several scenes.

[Emely Veliz]

Medicine is a very large subject, so I know that I cannot learn everything at the same time. My plan is to create my own bilingual glossary, separate the words by body system, watch short medical videos, and practice saying difficult terms out loud; I also want to practice with sample conversations because this can help me understand how the vocabulary is used during a real appointment.
I think medical interpreters are commonly needed in emergency rooms, family medicine, pediatrics, and mental health because these areas receive many patients with different needs. Emergency medicine may be especially challenging because decisions must be made quickly, while mental health requires careful listening since patients may use words to describe feelings that do not have an exact translation.Knowing this affects how I will study because I want to begin with common symptoms, body parts, medications, and instructions that are used in many appointments. After learning the basic vocabulary, I can slowly study more specific areas; my goal is not only to memorize words but also to understand their meaning, so I can interpret correctly and avoid guessing when a patient or provider needs clear information.

[Emely Veliz]

Two areas of medicine that I find interesting and challenging are obstetrics and orthopedics. I chose these two areas because they involve situations that can happen suddenly, and the interpreter needs to understand the information quickly. They also include many terms that patients may not use in normal conversations.

Obstetrics is interesting to me because it focuses on pregnancy, childbirth, and the care of the mother and baby. Every pregnancy is different, and sometimes a normal appointment can become an emergency. Some terminology that may be challenging for me includes dilation, contractions, placenta previa, breech position, gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, epidural, and cesarean section. I also think that words related to the stages of labor can be difficult because the interpreter must communicate them clearly while the patient may be in pain or feeling afraid. In these situations, it is important to remain calm and not leave out any information.Orthopedics is another area that I find interesting because it deals with bones, joints, muscles, ligaments, and injuries. Many patients visit an orthopedic provider after an accident, a fall, or because they have pain that affects their daily activities. Terms such as fracture, dislocation, sprain, cartilage, ligament, tendon, inflammation, and range of motion may present a challenge. It can also be difficult to remember the names of specific bones and procedures, such as a knee replacement or rotator cuff repair. Some terms sound similar, but they do not have the same meaning. For example, a sprain affects a ligament, while a strain usually affects a muscle or tendon.
As a medical interpreter, I would need to prepare for both areas by reviewing vocabulary and learning the function of the body parts involved. I would also practice how the terms are said in both English and Spanish. If I do not understand something during an appointment, I should ask the provider for clarification instead of guessing. This preparation can help me interpret the message correctly and help the patient understand what is happening.

[Emely Veliz]

The alveoli are parts of our respiratoy system, they are important because they are where the exchange of gases happens. The Alveoli are tiny air sacs located at the end of the bronchioles inside the lungs. Their jobs is help the body receive oxygen and remove carbon dioxide.
When we breathe in, air travels through the nose or mouth, then down the trachea, into the bronchi, bronchioles, and finally reaches the alveoli. Inside the alveoli, ocygen from the air passes through their thin walls and wnters the bloodstream. The blood then carries this ocygen to the rest of the body. Oxygen is necessary because our cells need it to make energy and function properly. At the same time, the alveoli help remove carbon dioxide from the body, carbon dioxide is a waste gas that is produced by the cells. The blood brings carbon dioxide back to the lungs and moves it from the blood to the alveoli, Then when we breathe out, the carbon dioxide leaves our body. The alveoli are designes to make gas exchange easier. They have very thin walls and are surrounded by many tiny blood vassels calles capillaries, allowing oxygen and carbon dioxide to move quickly between the lungs and the blood. There are milions of alveoli in our lungs.
Therefore the alveoli are essential for breathing and suvirval, they allow oxygen to enter the blood and carbon dioxide to leave the body. without them our body would not get enough oxygen.

[Emely Veliz]

As already mentioned, the skin is the largest organ of the body, the role of the skin is protecting us everyday. The skin is made of different layers and each on has their own funtion. These layers are: epidermis, the dermis and the hypodermis, which is also called the subcutaneous layer.
The part of the skin that we can see, which is the outer laye, is the epidermis. Its main job is to act like the barrier between the body and the outside enviroment. It also helps the body keep water inside, so we do not lose too mucho moisture. Also it is important to know that this layer is constatly making new skin cells; the old cells move to the surface and fall off naturally.
The second layer is the dermis, this layer is under the epidermis and is thicker. This layer constains blood vassels, nerves, sweat glands, oil glands and hair follicles.
The deepest layer is the hypodermis, this one is made of fat and connective tissue, its job is to store energy, protect the body from injury, and help keelp the body warm. Also is important to know that this layer of the skin connects the skin to the muscles and tissues under it. In conclusion, we have three layer of the skin that work together that protect our body, controls temperature and helps the body´s health.

[Emely Veliz]

The pituitary gland is one of the most important parts of the endocrine system. It is a tiny gland found at the bottom of the brain, but its job is much bigger than its size. The pituitary gland works closely with the hypothalamus, which helps tell it when to release certain hormones. These hormones travel through the bloodstream and give instructions to different organs and glands in the body.
One reason the pituitary gland is so important is because it helps the body stay balanced. This balance is called homeostasis. For example, the pituitary gland helps control body growth, water levels, stress response, and reproductive functions. It releases growth hormone, which is important for normal development in children and for healthy tissues in adults. It also releases antidiuretic hormone, which helps the kidneys control how much water the body keeps or removes through urine.

The pituitary gland also has an important connection with the thyroid and adrenal glands. It sends signals that help the thyroid control metabolism, which affects energy and how the body uses food. It also helps the adrenal glands respond to stress by influencing hormones like cortisol. Because of this, the pituitary gland affects how a person feels physically and even how the body reacts during stressful situations.

Another important role of the pituitary gland is reproduction. Some of its hormones help control ovulation, menstrual cycles, sperm production, and other reproductive processes. It also helps with milk production after childbirth.

If the pituitary gland makes too much or too little of a hormone, the body can be affected in many ways. A person may have growth problems, tiredness, fertility issues, changes in weight, or problems with water balance. For this reason, the pituitary gland is small but powerful. It helps coordinate many body systems and keeps the body functioning in a healthy way.

[Emely Veliz]

The male and female reproductive systems are not the same because each one has a special job in reproduction. Even though they are different, both systems are needed for a pregnancy to happen. The male reproductive system mainly makes sperm and moves it out of the body. Sperm is the male sex cell, and it is produced in the testes. The testes also produce testosterone, which helps with male body changes such as facial hair, a deeper voice, and muscle development. After sperm is made, it moves through tubes like the epididymis and vas deferens. Then it mixes with fluids from glands, such as the prostate gland and seminal vesicles, to become semen.
The female reproductive system has a different job because it produces eggs and can support a baby during pregnancy. The ovaries produce eggs and hormones such as estrogen and progesterone. These hormones help control the menstrual cycle and prepare the body for pregnancy. Usually, one egg is released during ovulation. The egg travels through the fallopian tube, and this is where fertilization can happen if sperm meets the egg. If the fertilized egg reaches the uterus, it can attach to the lining and begin to grow. The uterus is a very important organ because it protects and supports the baby until birth.
One big difference is that males can produce sperm every day after puberty, but females are born with a limited number of eggs.

In conclusion, both reproductive systems have different organs and functions, but they work together. The male system provides sperm, and the female system provides the egg and the place for a baby to develop. Both are important for human reproduction and health.

[Emely Veliz]

Hi Maria, your post was very clear and organized. I liked that you included the nodes of Ranvier because sometimes people forget about that part. I agree that those small gaps are important because they help the signal travel faster through the neuron.

[Emely Veliz]

A nerve cell, is one of the most important cells in the nervous system because it helps send information through the body. Neurons allow us to move, feel, think, remember, and react to things around us. A neuron has different parts, and each part has a special function.
The dendrites are small branches that receive signals from other neurons. They are important because they are usually the first part of the neuron to get the message, after that, the message moves toward the cell body, also called the soma. The soma keeps the neuron alive and healthy. It contains many important structures that help the cell make energy and proteins.
Inside the soma is the nucleus. The nucleus is important because it has the DNA of the cell. It gives instructions for how the neuron should work and helps control the activities of the cell. Another important part is the axon. The axon is like a pathway that carries the electrical message away from the cell body. This is how the neuron sends information to another neuron, a muscle, or a gland.

Some axons are covered by a myelin sheath. The myelin sheath works like insulation around the axon. It helps the signal travel faster and also protects the nerve fiber. The small spaces between the myelin are called nodes of Ranvier. These gaps are important because they help the electrical signal jump along the axon more quickly.

At the end of the neuron are the axon terminals. These terminals release neurotransmitters, which are chemical messengers. These chemicals cross a tiny space called the synapse and pass the message to the next cell. Every part of the neuron works together, and if one part is damaged, communication in the body can be affected.

[Emely Veliz]

The human body has many important blood vessels, but arteries and veins have different jobs. An artery is a blood vessel that carries blood away from the heart. Most arteries carry oxygen-rich blood to the body, because the cells need oxygen and nutrients to work correctly. Arteries have thicker and stronger walls because the blood moves with more pressure when it leaves the heart. One exception is the pulmonary artery, because it carries blood without oxygen from the heart to the lungs.

Veins are different because they carry blood back to the heart. Most veins carry blood that has less oxygen because the body already used it. Veins usually have thinner walls than arteries, and the blood pressure inside them is lower. Many veins also have valves, which help the blood move in the correct direction and stop it from flowing backward. An exception is the pulmonary vein, because it carries oxygen-rich blood from the lungs back to the heart.
The four chambers of the heart are also very important because they help blood move in an organized way. The right atrium receives blood from the body that needs oxygen. Then the blood goes to the right ventricle, which pumps it to the lungs. In the lungs, the blood picks up oxygen and gets rid of carbon dioxide. After that, the oxygen-rich blood returns to the left atrium. Then it moves to the left ventricle, which is the strongest chamber because it pumps blood to the whole body. Without these four chambers working together, the body would not get enough oxygen. The chambers also help keep oxygen-rich blood and oxygen-poor blood separated. This makes circulation more efficient and helps organs like the brain, muscles, kidneys, and lungs do their job. In my opinion, the heart is like a pump with different rooms, and each room has a special purpose to keep us alive and healthy.

[Emely Veliz]

After watching the video, I understood that mental retention is a skill that interpreters need to develop with practice, not something that happens automatically. The video presented different ways to improve memory, such as paying close attention to the speaker, creating pictures in the mind, not focusing only on words, connecting information with things we already know, and using notes to keep the message organized. I also learned that practicing backwards can train the brain to remember details in a stronger way. In my opinion, these strategies are very useful because interpreters must remember the meaning of what is being said before transferring it into another language. The video helped me see that good retention is not only about having a good memory, but also about listening with purpose, staying focused, and using techniques that make the information easier to recall accurately.

[Emely Veliz]

Beign an interpreter requires much more than knowing two languages. One of the most important skills is the ability to reain information while listening and processing a conversation. Without good mental retention, it can be difficult to deliver an accurate interpretation.
Several factors can negatively affect a person’s ability to retain information. For example, poor concentration can cause an interpreter to miss important details during an interaction. Anxiety or nervousness may also interfere with memory because the mind becomes focused on the pressure of the situation rather than on the message itself. Another common issue is mental fatigue. After long periods of work or study, the brain may struggle to process and store information effectively. In addition, a noisy environment can make it difficult to hear and remember what is being said.

Good mental retention is essential because interpreters often need to remember complete ideas, instructions, dates, names, and other important details before relaying them into another language. In medical, legal, or educational settings, even a small mistake can create confusion or affect important decisions. For this reason, interpreters must be able to listen carefully and hold information in their memory long enough to communicate it accurately.
Developing strong retention skills also helps interpreters feel more confident during assignments. When interpreters trust their memory, they can focus more on delivering the message naturally instead of worrying about forgetting information. Skills such as note-taking, active listening, and regular practice can help improve memory over time.

In conclusion, mental retention plays a major role in the success of an interpreter. It supports accuracy, confidence, and effective communication, all of which are necessary for providing high-quality interpreting services.

[Emely Veliz]

Medical terminology can be difficult because there are thousands of medical words, and it is impossible to memorize all of them. That is why understanding prefixed and suffixes is very important for medical interpreter. When we know the meaning of these word parts, we can often understand unfamiliar terms without having seen them before.
Patient safety is one of the most important things and understand medical terminology is part of it. If an interpreter misundestand a medical term, the patient may receive incorrect information about diagnosis, treatments or procedures. Understanding common prefixed and suffices helps prevent these errors and supports clear communication.
For example, if an interpreter knowa that suffix – ectomy means surgical removal and the prefix cadio- relates to the heart, it becomes easier to understand many medical terms used during an appoinment. In my opinion, learning prefixes and suffixed is one of the best ways to improve as a medical interpreter.

[Emely Veliz]

In my opinion, present dat legislation is helpful, but I think that it is not enough to guarantee language access for everyone. Laws such as Executive order 13166 are very important because they require organzations that receive refederal funding to provide meaninful access to people with limited englinsh proficiency (LEP). However, having a law and applying it correctly are two different things.
I currently live in Rhode Island, and I think Executive order 13166 is appliedin some areas, especially in hospitals and larger healthcare facilities. Many hospitals provide interpreter services either in person, by phone or through video interpretation. This helps patients understand their medical conditions, treatments, and appointments. As a future medical interpreter, I believe these services are very important because communication can directlt affect a patients health and safety. At the same time I have noticied that not every place provides the same level of language access. Some smaller clinics, offices, or organizations may not always have interpreters available immediately. Sometimes family members are used to interpret, which can create misunderstanding or privacy concerns. This shows that there is still room for improvement.
I believe that more training is needed so that organizations understand their responsabilities under Executive Order 13166. Also there should be stronger monitoring to make sure language access services are available when they are needed. communities of people who speak other languages besides that english continues to grow, therfore language access is becoming more important every year.

[Emely Veliz]

During an encounter a medical interpreter have many roles.The four chief roles of a medical interpreter are conduit, clarifier, cultural broker, and advocate.
The first role is the conduit role. This is the role interpreters use most of the time. The interpreter listens to what the provider says and say it exactly without adding or changing information. For example, if a doctor asks “When did the pain start?” the interpreter should interpret the question exactly and then interpret the patient’s answer the same way.
The second role is the clarifies. A patient may not understand a medical term or a provider may no underwstan something that pt said, the innterpreter can help clarify the message without changing the meaning.
The third tolde is the cultual broker. Cultural differences can sometimes affect communication ( even if they speak the same language), an interpreter may help explain a cultural belief or practice that is important for the provider to understand.
The fourth role is the advocate. This role is not used often, but it may be necessary when the patient’s well-being is at risk.
All roles are important for a medical interpreter to know, but must know when to use each role to provide acurate communication and help patients receive the best possible care.

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