[Maria Valencia]

The video discussed many different techniques for good mental retention. The video explained to not focus only on the words but to pay close attention to the speaker by creating mental images and connecting things that we may know already. The videos also discussed using physical stimulation to learn things easier such as tapping or grouping things together like when you memorize a phone number. In the videos he also discussed the importance of exercise like walking or running to boost the flow of oxygen to the brain. Lastly not so much a technique but a way of life is having a healthy and balanced diet.

[Maria Valencia]

Many things can inhibit good mental retention such as not getting the right amount to sleep. When you are sleep to deprived your brain can’t operate at its full potential and it compromises problem solving ability a critical thinking skills. Stress is another major inhibitor of retention because the brain releases many chemicals that are detrimental to the body in large quantities and when your body in under the effect this chemicals you are in fight or flight response and thus not able to concentrate. Lastly maintaining an unhealthy diet can increase the risk of impaired cognitive function.

Good mental retention is key to becoming successful as an interpreter because as an interpreter you need to be on your toes and be ready to react immediately to the things that are being said in the moment. In appointments as an interpreter you may need to remember longer parts of the conversation to recite back to the patient or the provider and having good retention is key for accuracy. As we know accuracy is extremely important as an interpreter as not having accuracy can lead to serious consequences.

In conclusion having good mental retention is a very key part of being an interpreter and being successful in this field relies on this.

[Maria Valencia]

As a medical interpreter it is helpful to know and understand the suffixes and prefixes used in medical terminology because it is a way to better discern what information you are being told. This is helpful because as a medical interpreter you need to be quick and on your toes so knowing what prefixes and suffixes may better help you react to a word that you do not already know in medical terminology. Medical terminology is it own language and fully understanding all of the intricacies can be difficult but knowing what prefixes, suffixes, and roots words may give you a better idea of what is being said. For example if you know that the prefix sub means that something is under and the root cutis means skin, then if you hear the word subcutaneous you could decipher that it is something under the skin even if you had never heard the actual word previously. This helps you with you better judgement and makes you be a more fast thinking interpreter.

[Maria Valencia]

I believe present day legislation is good however there is always room for improvement and nothing is perfect. I do see executive order 13166 being applied here in Rhode Island but it is primarily used by larger facilities like a hospital or a community health centers. I have not seen this type of service provided by smaller practices however, I have seen patients who receive interpreter services from their insurance providers. The access to interpreter services in your language is imperative and can be considered a human right because it can certainly affect a person’s health and wellbeing. In person interpretation is best but with today’s technology access to telephone and video conferencing make it more accessible for someone to receive these services. I do believe that all medical providers should have to implement interpreter services even if they are not receiving federal funding. There can be legislation that provides smaller medical practices with incentives or tax breaks if they provide interpreter services. We all know that services can be costly but incentivizing providers to provide this support could be helpful for everyone.

[Maria Valencia]

There are four chief roles in medical interpreting. The first one is to be a message conveyor which means that you transport the verbal and nonverbal messages from provider to patient and vice versa. This is like when the interpreter is able to convert a the meaning of the message without adding or subtracting anything or changing the meaning.
Another role is to be the message clarifier, which means that interpreters must be alert for possible words or concepts that might end up being misunderstood. When it seems that any of the parties including the interpreter may be confused it is important to interrupt the communication process and alert the parties that there are signs of confusion.
The third role is of cultural clarifier. This means that when concepts and words sometimes exist in one language no not the other it is the interpreter’s role to support both parties understand each other’s explanations on health and illness.
Lastly the role of patient advocate, this is to say that although interpreters cannot be responsible of everything that everyone does but if they happen to notice something go wrong you should bring it to the tension of someone who can correct it.

[Maria Valencia]

The benefits of of doing a pre-session with yourself are vast. This type of pre-session is actually the most important because as the interpreter you make sure that all the prep work is done before entering the appointment. This prep work is where you look at what kind of appointment it will be to best ensure that you know what kind of vocabulary you will be using as well as what parts of the body may be talked about. You also want to consider what you are going to talk to the provider and the patient before helping them with their appointment. The pre session with the patient and provider is also beneficial because you can introduce yourself and clarify your role to help the patient and provider know how to best use your services. This helps patients and providers better understand your role if they haven’t worked with a professional interpreter before. By doing a pre- session you may avoid the patient potentially you asking questions during the appointment or asking you to give medical advice by explaining the role well in a pre-session so the patient knows that they can talk directly to the provider. I believe some sort of pre-session is always necessary even if it just to ask the patient and the provider how much experience they have working with professional interpreters this way everyone is on the Sam e page about what can and can’t be done.

[Maria Valencia]

People seem to commonly mistake a translator for an interpreter but there is a deference between the two. The main difference between a Translator and an interpreter is that translator works with written text while an interpreter deals with direct spoken language in real time. A translator receives a document and will translate it to the target language and can use support from a dictionary or a glossary as it is not done in real time. An interpreter is using spoken language in real time so the interpreter must rely on memory, active listening, and quick reflexes. An interpreter focuses on the overall meaning and tone where a translator focuses on matching the style of the original text.

The biggest challenge of an interpreter is that it is done in real time so the interpreter must be a good listener, pay close attention, and respond accurately with what is being stated. It is something that is as quick as the conversation itself. The interpreter must be able to act in seconds. I think the biggest challenge of translator may be that the the translator must convey the original tone and style of the original text, there is more time to complete the task but this increases the level of precision of the words use to match the style of the original document, the must ensure punctuation is accurate, and the words are spelled correctly.

It is important to understand that a translator is not an interpreter because they are different from one another. It is important to know who does what so that when you need the service you would know where to go or who to ask. Just because someone knows how to speak two languages does not mean that they know proper grammar in both languages and vice versa where just because someone knows proper grammar in one language does not mean that they can pronounce words accurately in another language. Both things are very important and each have their own necessary skills.

[Maria Valencia]

Hi name is Maria Camila Valencia and I go by Camila. I currently live in Pawtucket Rhode Island but I am originally from Medellin Colombia. When I first came to this country it was difficult to learn English and it did not help that I used to surround myself with only Spanish speaking People. Once I entered the work force, I had no other option than to start learning English. I was very shy at first but the more I used the language the easier it became. Once I started working in the medical field I saw how many people need help understanding what medical providers are telling them in Spanish. I feel I am very compassionate to others and often times seeing some patients coming into the office and needing help with basic interpretation I would help as much as I can although I did not have extensive knowledge.

I have always enjoyed helping people and working in the medical field so I thought becoming a certified medical interpreter is a good career path for me. This way I can continue to help people in my community with the actual knowledge after completing the course. Acquiring the knowledge is very important not only in communication because not all words directly translate but also to not make any mistakes when translating, because as we learned in the chapter this can potentially lead to serious medical mistakes. I am looking forward to gaining the knowledge necessary to do a good job and help in those in need.

[Author]

Posts